News-Record.com

My colleague Mike Fuchs, the news department's main online guy, has posted links to the 10 most-viewed N&R stories of 2004.

Now, given that we don't post all our staff stories online, I'm not sure how much to, um, read into this. You will notice -- I sure did -- that not one of the 10 constitutes "hard news" as that phrase traditionally has been understood. The important work done by my colleagues on the enterprise/investigative team, Taft Wireback and Stan Swofford, on such issues as Project Homestead, video poker, school violence and crack cocaine appears nowhere on the list.

That's not to denigrate the work of other colleagues on the stories that did make the list. But the makeup of the list raises a question: What are the ramifications as the N&R proceeds with plans to remake its Web site and its news operations? Should we produce more stories like these? Should we give people what they want, or what they need, or both? Is serendipity dreamt of in the philosophies of those who will be working with and advising us on our plans? Why stories about mysterious creatures but not stories about jet-powered outhouses, which, as we all know, are much cooler?

Inquiring minds want to know.