I CLOSE-UP WOMEN'S SPRING SALE Local Opinion Favorable Toward Peter Jennings PHIL JACOBS Managing Editor Save 25 to 50% on an ex- tensive collection of Spring suits, dresses, blazers, skirts, blouses, sportswear and accessories. Featuring selections from Max Mara, Laurel, Nancy Heller, Barry Bricken & Others. The Claymore Shops 722 N. Woodward, Birmingham Just North of Maple, 642-7755 Open Mon.-Sat. 10-6, Thurs. til 9 S PECIAL JUNE-JULY-AUGUST BROKEN WINDSHIELD MANY THANKS Call for Appointment 355-1200 PURITAN AUTO GLASS SERVICE CENTER to all my relatives and friends for their prayers and kind wishes during my recent hospital stay. The Puritan Auto Service Mall • 21545 Telegraph Rd. (Just / 1 2 Mile South of Nine Mile), Southfield Monday.friday 8 a.m..5 psn., Saturday 8 a.m:Noon HECKY (HAROLD) PLATT Domestic Cars Only $ 3 0° 0 1 , When you pay with cash or off your deductible with cash Let Us Plan Your Perfect Honeymoon! BERKLEY TOURS & TRAVEL, C INC. 559-8620 or 1-800-875-TOUR 44 FRIDAY, MAY 31, 1991 Men's furnishings ana accessories 19011 West Ten Mile Road Southfield, Michigan 48075 (Sotwoon Soultdiold and Evoigr000) Hours: 352-1080 Mon: Sat. 9:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Thursday 9:30 a.m.-7 am. PARKING AND ENTRANCE IN REAR I f there is any question regarding Peter Jenn- ings' bias for or against Israel, the regulars at the Plaza Deli in Southfield don't know about it. When it comes to world affairs over coffee and a bagel, not much goes unnoticed here. "I think he's knowl- edgeable and does an excellent job of reporting the news," said Dr. Allan Bram- son of West Bloomfield. "If anything, he might create a lot of his own interest by perhaps blowing things out of proportion. But that's nothing uncommon in the media." Les Kaplan of Southfield said he didn't see any slant or bias to Peter Jennings and just like Dr. Bramson, he called the ABC anchor- man "excellent" at what he does. Don Schlossberg of Southfield also agreed with his two breakfast compa- nions, adding that Mr. Jenn- ings seems to have an in- sight that his network com- petition might not have. Most local Detroiters interviewed agreed that Peter Jennings does present a professional level of repor- ting the news, even the news of the Middle East. Any dissenters usually deferred talking specifically about Mr. Jennings, instead choos- ing to criticize the TV news industry as a whole for bias. Bob Rowe, program direc- tor of ABC-affiliate WXZY TV-7, said he had not heard of a single charge of bias about the network anchor- man. "I've never heard about anyone who has called to complain," he said. "I've always heard favorable things. Peter Jennings cer- tainly was considered the nation's most credible news anchor during the Persian Gulf war." Charlotte Dubin, com- munications director for the Jewish Welfare Federation of Detroit and a person who works one-on-one with the local media, does see Mr. Jennings as sometimes be- ing less than fair to Israel. "Based on what I hear, there are people out there who are sometimes puzzled by this fellow and have not been happy on Middle East issues," said Ms. Dubin. "My feelings as a media per- son is that I'm sometimes disappointed that his reports are less than balanced when it comes to Middle East coverage. I can't attribute it to any mean motives. I just feel his coverage is not bal- anced." Sharona Shapiro of the American Jewish Com- mittee did not want to com- ment specifically about Mr. Jennings. She, instead, called for a more balanced approach to Middle East news from all of the major networks. "Yes, I'd like to see a more balanced approach," she said. "But one of the major weaknesses I see is that news people are not inform- ed enough to put their news in a historical context. For example, I get concerned when I hear the term `occupied territories' whenever mentioned on an issue concerning Israel. The implications are negative "I do think he is more likely to take on the role of journalist and question, and I think he does this with Israel." Jessica Daher and I think they are pur- posely done that way." Outgoing Jewish Com- munity Council President Paul D. Borman agreed with Ms. Shapiro. Though not taking aim at Mr. Jennings, he said that all of the major networks need to improve when it comes to even- handed reporting on Israel. "There is a dramatic under-reportage of incidents in which hundreds of Pales- tinians have been killed by fellow Palestinians, while there is an over-emphasis on staged demonstrations designed to provoke the Israel Defense Forces," Mr. Borman said. Jessica Daher, the re- gional coordinator for the Arab-American Anti- Discrimination Committee, doesn't see Mr. Jennings as pro-Arab or anti-Israel at all. She did say, however, that the anchorman will ask more questions when it comes to Middle East issues, often challenging the an- swers.