Dear readers:

Got some bad news today. I was informed by Rob Maynard, the new Radio Program Manager for Georgia Public Broadcasting (he replaced St John Flynn in that position) that "Fridays With Jackie" is canceled effective immediately. Mr. Maynard said he had listened to the program a couple of times and found it to have "no focus." He added it is "not at the level of content 'Morning Edition' requires."

Funny, I thought the show was pretty good and served a purpose. This appears to be another case of "arts information" in Georgia being randomly eliminated. Though I do not place myself in an equal position with Teresa Weaver who was removed as Book Editor of "The Atlanta Journal," I do think this is yet another blind decision to reduce the value of literary information in our state. I always thought GPB would promote this type of information rather than find it without "focus." The intention of "Fridays With Jackie" was to shine the spotlight on a variety of literary and entertainment endeavors in our state, and on activities of this type outside our state by Georgians.

If you would like to keep "Fridays With Jackie" on the air, please e-mail Rob Maynard with your comments. He can be reached at rmaynard@gpb.org. Also please send a copy to his supervisor Bob Houghton at bhoughton@gpb.org, as well as to me at jkershawcooper@aol.com. I am asking you to send me a copy of anything you write so I will have proof that responses of support were made.

Whether we get it back on the air or not, I certainly do appreciate the support you have shown for "Fridays With Jackie." I have heard from so many of you who either listened to it live on air, through the Internet, or through the archives GPB has on their site.

Any support/help you can give to "Fridays With Jackie" will be greatly appreciated. If you have friends who you think would also be supportive, please pass this e-mail along to them.

JACKIE K COOPER