16 AUGUST 1975, Page 5

Falling sales

From Mrs V. J. Empson Sir: Your article, 'Falling Sales' (Robert Ashley. August 9), makes no mention of the reason why many of us have given up taking newspapers. We were being 'brainwashed. When a press seeks so entirely to manipulate a nation, how splendid if we can close it down! Some of us now begin to dust sheet our radio sets for the same reason; those who consume a daily diet of gogglebox may continue their addiction for longer: only they will know when they wish to think for themselves again. While hard core readers of The Spectator may be discerning one or two reasons why, under new management, The Spectator seems to be putting itself in jeopardy. Vivien Empson Greenacres, Upper Bromlow, Minsterley, nr Shrewsbury