Readers' reactions

Last week in The THES... Mark Griffiths argued that letter writing can improve academics' career prospects.

Mark Bennett Reader in developmental psychology University of Dundee. It seems hardly surprising that an academic whose interests include addictions, gambling, video games, cyberpets and fame should write so enthusiastically about the advantages of courting media attention.

More surprising is Griffiths's avowed willingness to speak in the capacity of an academic on the basis of either personal or professional knowledge, and his undertaking of scholarly research following media conferral of expert status. At a time when the public esteem of academics is in decline, it seems fitting to suggest that Griffiths's host institution consider establishing a Captain Oates chair of psychology.