HEADLINES sell newspapers. Shock-horror headlines sell even more newspapers. Whereas good news rarely warrants a mention.

So it is hardly surprising that newspapers, which are commercial organizations and not charities, invariably carry banner headlines of bad news. The Citizen is no exception.

Currently we have had a spate of critical articles and letters about 'our boys' in the Gulf, striking firemen and the deficiencies of the service provided by the police.

Yet when the chips are down (or should that be the steak and chips) the British Tommy gives best to no other soldier in the world. Likewise, when the flames are licking my feet, I would much prefer to see a British fireman on the other end of the ladder.

And the 'Bobby' is still the envy of the world.

So it is not acceptable for any section of the media to dish up a diet of unrelenting bad news.

A dash of optimism would present a fairer more balanced meal for public digestion.

A case in point is the impressive improvement in the crime statistics reported to the Revoe Area Forum recently. Using the same recording criteria for like for like periods -- April to December -- in 2001 and 2002 in Western Division of Lancashire Constabulary, which includes Blackpool and St Annes, all recorded crime was down 17.8per cent.

Domestic burglary down 45.5per cent. Vehicle 'taking' (theft to you and me) down 25.4per cent and theft from vehicles down 35.4per cent.

Now if that doesn't deserve a banner headline over a photograph of our Community Officer Sgt. Steve Hodgkins, who gave us the good news, I don't know what does.

Mike Edwards, vice-chairman

The Revoe Area Forum

Blackpool

Fair point but please consider the following. Citizen banner headlines do not sell any papers... how can they? And, while I don't doubt the great work done by the officer mentioned (and others), I have noticed that when there's a dramatic increase in the recorded crime figures, for some reason this is almost always due to "better recording techniques' or an increase in public confidence in approaching the police etc. Never is it put down to the man or woman on the beat.

And statistics are odd things. Consider for example that, compared with never having smoked, cigarette smoking has been shown statistically to reduce the risk of developing Parkinson's disease.

Smoking undoubtedly kills, as the packet legends tell us, but so can gorging yourself on fatty food and you don't see warnings like that on your pie and chips do you?

All I'm saying is that the interpretation of statistical data is not an exact science and people will present this information in any way they can to boost their own cause. You have to take the rough with the smooth and I think you'll find, if you really look, there's more good news reported than you may imagine -- Ed.