So, seriously: if you're going to make something as news-free as the identity of Spitzer's prostitute as the day's top story, at least have the guts to post the listener comments complaining about it instead of having them disappear down the memory hole. Seriously uncool, folks.

Sent by Stewart | 2:44 PM ET | 03-13-2008

(Okay, actually, I had a very nice email conversation with Laura about this, and apparently somehow my initial comment about this never showed up in the queue for whatever reason. At her request, here it is again.)

I'm not normally one to complain about this sort of thing, but I was kind of offended by today's Top Story. It's not that I have any strong feelings -- pro or con -- about either prostitution or Eliot Spitzer, so I'm not sure why I'm so put out by this, but I just don't see the news value of seeing this poor woman's real name and hearing her music and quotes from her Myspace page. That's just prurient. It was worse than prurient, actually. As a fellow southerner, Laura will understand all of the nuances of this: it was tacky.

I expect this kind of "Hey, look! Prostitute!" stuff from Fox, but the BPP is better than that. It particularly galls me because now it's come out that Spitzer has used this escort service eight times at least: so, what, now you're going to do a collector's series of all of the governor's call girls? Because if you're not, then you've shamed and embarrassed this woman -- whose life clearly was already not working out as she had hoped and dreamed -- for no good reason that I can see. Because now that I know what the real name and career plans of "Kristen" are...what exactly am I supposed to do with this information?

Okay, MAYBE I could see this story being mentioned in the Ramble, but...Today's Top Story? Really?

Sent by Stewart | 4:15 PM ET | 03-13-2008

I'll take the responsibility for suggesting we break out the Spitzer story. We did discuss it for quite a bit. While I appreciate your comments and I'm sure your feelings are genuine--I do have to say I don't agree with some of your points.

Just because a story is about prostitution doesn't make it tacky. I think the information in our story actually showed she is a real person not some cartoon headline, has a real life--in fact a difficult life-- and real aspirations.

We explained her current legal woes--- having to go to federal court and having to testify in future actions. The reason she needed a lawyer was because of the place she allegedly worked and we tried to explain a little more about that place through information obtained through FBI documents. It is a story that deserved more than a cursory hit in the ramble--I actually think that would have been tacky.

On a bigger issue-- I really don't think the show or we as journalists should ever be "better" than a story. I think it is a case by case thing.

So maybe that explains where we were coming from this morning. Of course you may not agree...AND THAT'S COMPLETELY COOL...but you seemed like you wanted somefeedback...sooooooo.
I know we appreciate your listening and writing in.

Sent by Alison Stewart-NPR | 5:28 PM ET | 03-13-2008

Seriously, does NOBODY think those little bunnies are super cute?

Sent by Tricia, NPR, bunny fan | 7:39 PM ET | 03-13-2008

Alison: I totally see where you're coming from, but for me as a listener, the part about her legal problems really got lost in the rest of the story, especially the part about her Myspace page and her desire for a career in music.

Just to be clear, I don't think the show is better than the story, or that the story shouldn't have been covered. My complaint was about form, not content. It's just that the presentation of the story struck me as sensationalistic, and that a shorter piece that focused more exclusively on the sudden major legal mess she's found herself in would have sounded more sympathetic.

And that's the real issue for me, because my sympathy in all of this is with her: she was in a bad place that has now gotten exponentially worse through absolutely no fault of her own, and that truly sucks. Putting out there the part about her desire for a music career just sounded to me like adding insult to injury, because from now on, the best she possibly could hope for in music is some cheesy one-off like the '70s disco hit "More More More" by ex-porn star Andrea True. (It's actually a pretty good song, but it was marketed really sleazily at the time.) I'm not saying that that's what you MEANT to do, just that that's how it came off to me.

As I was saying to Laura this afternoon, I can't put my finger on exactly *why* this rubbed me the wrong way, but it did. I'm actually entirely over it now, but thanks for clarifying your position on it.

Sent by Stewart | 7:43 PM ET | 03-13-2008

Tricia: see, I'm a regular viewer of cuteoverload.com, so actually, you had me at "Bundown" itself.

Sent by Stewart | 7:59 PM ET | 03-13-2008

The bunnies are pretty awesome. I think I smell a spin-off. Bryant Park Bunnies on Saturday mornings. Who says NPR doesn't target the younger demographics?

Sent by Seymour | 8:46 PM ET | 03-13-2008

Yeah, Tricia, the bunnies are cute. Not Matt Martinez cute, but cute.

Sent by Maura | 10:41 PM ET | 03-13-2008

Bunnies.... Mmmmm... Pass the BBQ sauce, please!

Sent by Will G | 10:58 PM ET | 03-13-2008

Yes. I love the bunnies. Can't wait for the segment to air next week! Thanks for hooking us up with Bunnytown Tricia!

Sent by Alison Stewart-NPR | 7:40 AM ET | 03-14-2008

We have had calls for more Cowbell - Now we call for more Bunnies. By the way I thought the one on the left of the screen looked a bit "Wolfy" to me - was I the only one that suspects that deception and tragedy might be in store for us?

Sent by Robert Paterson | 10:41 AM ET | 03-14-2008

Probably too late in the queue about the Spitzer thread- while I think the story should have maintained Kristen's anonymity her the nom de plume (Kristen), it was incredibly powerful to hear about her background and past in the wake of Alan Dershowitz's highly vocal assertions that Eliot Spitzer (his friend and former student) committed a "victimless crime," and even worse, that the cadre of prostitutes solicited by Spitzer and other elite men are not exploited and are well payed. (About the first point on anonymity: prostitute is not exactly a label that earns this women tremendous respect in our particular culture. She is a really young girl who probably does not fully realize how such branding can negatively shape her life. I feel she deserves some shelter by the press.)

Sent by Anna | 2:07 PM ET | 03-14-2008

BEST RUNDOWN EVER. In an world tainted by lies and whores, the cute will always prevail.

Sent by Michelle Legro | 2:14 AM ET | 03-15-2008