Which raises the question: what is the basis for preferring some accents over others? Merely that one sounds more melodious than another, or is it a value judgment on the place of origin itself?

I've noticed that one can hear a much wider variety of accents on public radio and t.v. than on the major networks, probably indicative of the networks' reluctance to risk employing foreign-sounding correspondents. An Ohio accent never offended anyone, as far as I know. And even the least worldly person can understand it.