News-Record.com

I'm responsible for the news in the newspaper and online. Allen is responsible for the editorial pages. Our ad director tends to the ads. Our online director has similar responsibilies. My point: We are responsible for every word and image in the paper and Web sites. On occasion, we make mistakes and publish stories that I wish we hadn't. The vast majority of the time, though, it is easily to justify publishing a story or photo, even as it may make some people squeamish.

I'm glad I'm not a local television network affiliate. They can't possibly want to claim ownership of some of the stuff broadcast on their stations.

I was out sick a day last week and spent too much of the day watching television. Programs on incest. Self-help baloney. Marital infidelity. Britney's breakdown minute-by-minute. Sexual dysfunction. And I didn't watch any soap operas.

I understand the difference in news and entertainment programming. I also understand about the different audiences during the different times of the day. Given the number of people who heap all journalism into the stew called "media," I wonder if most people know the difference.

I probably am reflecting this through a middle-aged newspaper editor's eyes. So I readily acknowledge being the wrong target audience. If there weren't money there, I know the programming wouldn't last. But I know what kinds of calls we get about some of our content. I can't imagine the calls TV officials get, even if they are from the wrong target audiences.