C O N F I D E N T I A L


                                     10 November 1975
DG I US
                                     cc:  THE GUARDIAN WW
DG I COMM US
                                          GUARDIAN COMMITTEE
DG COMM US

DGUS


             RE:  CHINA SHOP:  CLEARWATER SUN


Dear Dick,

       Here are some observations and data on
Clearwater Sun recently received:

       A study of the paper does not show a political
or intelligence angle.  Only evidence that the paper
attacks everyone.  Any Good News is converted to attack.
This paper (Clearwater Sun) may influence the two other
papers that have offices in Clearwater (St. Petersburg
Times and Tampa Tribune, I believe) or these two influence
the Sun.

       The only conclusion that can be drawn is that
somewhere in the editorial structure they have an
institutional case - a has been one or a should be one.
For it is a characteristic of insanity to attack
everything.

       JOHN E. RICKETSON:  PUBLISHER

       AL HUTCHISON:       EDITOR & GENERAL MANAGER

       RON STUART:         MANAGING EDITOR

       TERRY PLUMB:        ASSOC EDITOR

       MIKE PRIDE:         CITY EDITOR (per Sableman)

       MARK SABLEMAN=      WRITER

       ALSBURY:            WRITER

       NORMAN MORGAN:      WRITER

       STEVE SNOW:         WRITER


       CIRCULATION:        30,000

       AD SPACE:           Not spectacular

       FINANCE ESTIMATE:   Not so hot (their finance condition)

       OWNERS (per Sableman):  JEFFERSON PILOT CORPORATION OF
              (and B-1 Man)    GREENSBOROUGH, NORTH CAROLINA

       Our target on this, very confidentially, is ownership
or control of the paper.  So, as you know, the finance
information on the paper, its debts, its income (and how
it could be cut) are prime information needs.  Also detailed
info on the posts of the staff editors, etc.

                        Love,

                        Henning
                        DGUS


HH/bc