20 JULY 2002, Page 28

A pinch of opinion

From Mr Tom Carver Sir: Honoured though I am to be mentioned in Stephen Glover's article (Tower without responsibility', 29 June), he surely could have uncovered a more egregious example of opinion in the news than my simple comment that George Bush's speechwriters had produced a 'clever speech'. I am paid to provide analysis as well as facts about American affairs, and in analysis some opinion is an unavoidable ingredient.

If he wants to know what the serious infiltration of opinion in the news agenda looks like, he should spend a few days in America listening to talk radio and the cable news channels. The high-octane opinions that fuel these shows come not from journalists but from former and would-be politicians.

Tom Carver

Washington DC