CRYSTAL-BALL GAZING

Just what is the future of newspapers? Some people contend that when you are reading a blog such as this one, you already are reading the newspaper of the future. They say there is no use predicting the future -- the print editions of daily newspapers are as dead as the trees they are printed on. The Internet has already won.

Others aren't so sure. They contend that print will survive for years, even decades to come, with newspapers using their Web pages to expand their franchises in ways unimaginable until the Internet came along.

Count me in on the latter group -- I'm a glass-half-full type of editor. But I think it is healthy that the newspaper industry is having this debate, and last week's annual convention of the National Conference of Editorial Writers was as good a place as any to join it.

For as long as there have been editorial pages, the editors have been having to defend their small but influential chunk of newspaper real estate to skeptical publishers, upset readers and outraged politicians (particularly those who find themselves on the opposite side of an editorial page's policy), not to mention sometimes hostile newsrooms. That went with the territory.

Now the Web has allowed opinion journalism to proliferate. A columnist such as George Will or Kathleen Parker has as much drawing power in cyberspace as on the printed page, if not more. With so many Web sites devoted to nothing but the electronic publication of opinion articles, is the editorial page even more imperiled than the newspaper as a whole?

Again, I'm not so sure. Certainly, the Web already has had a profound impact on the way some editorial page editors and writers view their roles. Podcasts have become just one of the many new ways they are trying to deliver their editorials. Blogging is another. Posting online the columns and letters to the editor that do not run in the print edition is an option that didn't so much as exist just several years ago. To me, this explosion of new ideas in which to present editorial page content doesn't so much spell doom as it does opportunity.

Yet newspaper consultant John Oppedahl told NCEW conventioneers that such efforts are only scratching the surface of survival. I've often described Oppedahl (full disclosure: he's a former boss) as one who loves to lob grenades just to watch where they blow up. And in Pittsburgh, Oppedahl was lobbing them everywhere. The essence of his message: That newspapers need to start going almost exclusively local, and that the opinion side must insist on being a greater part of this almost-exclusively local mix. Oppedahl's timeline for this transition? Yesterday. He thinks editorial writers hold the franchise on certain things that will make the newspaper of the future relevant to local readers -- their access to government officials and other policymakers, their ability to explain positions of candidates and ballot issues and either endorse or reject them; in short, everything that makes editorial pages valuable today, although exclusively concentrated on a newspaper's circulation area. As for syndicated columns, The Writers Group's stock in trade, Oppedahl sees them vanishing in as little as three years.

I am in the column business, so of course I think Oppedahl is wrong. I can't see a greater way to kill off local newspapers than to take away the features that bring readers to a newspaper. Nor do I think an all-local format can work. What do you do when you have a 9/11? Pretty hard to localize a story like that. Finally, why so limit your readership when your reach is potentially unlimited?

Yet I think it was fair to lob those grenades to a conventional full of opinion-makers. Food writer Ruth Reichl, former Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill and a host of other speakers did the same at this gathering, whose theme was "Reinventing America."

There was a time, years ago, when about the only thing you brought back from a convention of newspaper editors was a hangover. These days, editors and writers are being challenged like never before to think about the future, and that's both refreshing, and pretty sobering.

JERRY AUSBAND

In a post before heading out to the NCEW gathering, I said I intended to see if we couldn't get a conversation started concerning contributors to op-ed pages who carry a hidden agenda (payola) along with their advocacy journalism. Considering all the other activity I described above, that conversation never got off the ground.

Yet had Jerry Ausband, the former editor and editorial page editor of The Myrtle Beach Sun News, been there, I'm sure at least the two of us would have talked about it. For that's how I got to know Jerry, both before and after Kay Semion of the Daytona Beach News-Journal, NCEW's president at the time, appointed him to lead a special committee that would look into conflicts of interest on the part of outside writers, including syndicated columnists.

Jerry, 68, died in his sleep on Saturday. He will be missed.

James Hill is managing editor of The Washington Post Writers Group.

BLOGGING FROM AASFE

Our third day of the AASFE started with another idea-inspiring session of Show & Tell. The organizers have CD-roms available for editors, so if you are an AASFE member and want to catch up on what you missed, be sure to contact the AASFE office or a board member.

It was a busy day for workshops, with nine being held throughout the day. Amy Lago, WPWG comics editor and my co-hort this week, and I weren't able to attend all of them but those that we covered had valuable tips for editors on redesigns, copyright quandries, serving women readers and visual ethics. A quick recap (we encourage anyone interested in specific details or tipsheets to contact the editors at their individual papers):

Redesigns: The panel included Tom Huang of the Dallas Morning News, Mary Lou Nolan of the Kansas City Star, Debra Leithauser of The Washington Post and Leah Daniels of the Anderson (SC) Independent Mail. All agreed that it was important to invite honest -- perhaps brutal -- criticism of your pages from readers, staffers or other trusted sources, encouraging feedback from those outside the paper (who don't have to worry about offending the boss!) But they cautioned not to do a "redesign by committee", cautioning that the group might be more focused on the anxiety of change than from generating new ideas and visions. For the KC Star's extensive redesign, she went as far as to regularly refer to the Harvard Business Review and took a seminar on how change effects an organization to learn the practical ways to communicate change to a resistant or uneasy staff. "Treat yourself to any information you can get" to build your confidence, Nolan advises.

Visual Ethics: Truth in Images - Christine McNeal, president for the Society of News Design and Deputy Managing Ed. for the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, presented many photos and graphics that were debated for news value, shock value and veracity. Of particular interest was a review of images that were published in papers in other countries and whether such images could be published in U.S. papers.

Serving Women Readers: Chris Beringer of The Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Theresa Johnson of The Wichita Eagle, Chris Macias of The Sacramento Bee and June Wormsley of the San Antonio Express-News covered a lot of ground on how to attract and retain women readers. Beringer started by citing statistics from the popular Miller's monthly e-mail newsletter that show that women are "fleeing newspapers." Beringer added that it was a "business imperative" to work to attract a female audience. "There aren't many industries that can continue to do what THEY want to do even if the CUSTOMERS don't want it," she observed. The panel discussed the different ways in which men and women approach newspapers, offering that men read for information and women read for connections. Profiling the moms of local music icons and reviewing MySpace.com to understand the lingo of teenage girls were given as examples of how small changes can be made to make those connections.

Copyright Quandaries: Thomas S. Leatherbury of Vinson & Elkins in Dallas, TX, reviewed the Fair Use Defense and gave examples. He also fielded questions from the attendees. One of the more interesting came from an editor who had received a nasty letter (something we've all encountered) from a candy bar company. At issue: If a newspaper "Photoshops" candy bars to accompany a story on summer movies (changing the candy bar names to movie names), is it copyright infringement? (Answer: No. In this case, it was clearly parody, which is protected speech. But the candy companies may have legitimate trademark infringement or wrongful interference claims. Those of us who have been involved with trademarking products know that you need to be very careful when using someone's logo or image in a different context. Which is why, when in doubt, it's always better to ask the lawyers first.) One of the more interesting cases Leatherbury discussed is Perfect 10 v. Google, Inc. A U.S. District judge recently granted Perfect 10 an injunction against Google, holding that Google's display of thumbnails from Web sites that infringed on Perfect 10's copyrighted photographs probably violates copyright law. In essence, because Google was redistributing "bootleg" thumbnail images of copyright infringers' Web sites, it too was held to be infringing on Perfect 10's copyrights. Although there were other issues at stake here, Leatherbury would advise thinking twice and doing some research before including thumbnails of other Web site pages your own Web sites. Finally, Leatherbury highlighted a number of key points in tackling infringement issues, but the one that almost always works for me is the "gut-check/golden rule." How would you/your photographers feel if someone else used your material in this way?

Speakers for the day included two engaging Pulitzer winners: Sonia Nazario, who won for Feature Writing in 2003 for "Enrique's Journey" , a six-part 30,000+ narrative, and Dan Neil, who won in 2004 for Criticism for his "one-of-a-kind reviews of automobiles, blending technical expertise with offbeat humor and astute cultural observations." I guarantee if you check out their work, you'll be entertained, educated and hopefully inspired.

Karisue Wyson is North American sales manager for The Washington Post Writers Group.

BLOGGING FROM AASFE

Those of us in the know make sure to keep our calendar clear each year in late September/early October to make our trek to the annual conference of the American Association of Sunday and Features Editors (AASFE). Perhaps it's the daily influx of eclectic and personal stories that make up the features sections. Perhaps it's the diverse and creative journalists who are drawn to features sections. Whatever the ingredients that go into the AASFE schedule, this gathering -- held from this year 9/13-16 in lovely Fort Worth, Texas -- always proves to be one of the most upbeat and energetic of conferences.

That said, there is still much discussion about the state of our industry and how to reverse the trend of declining circulation, budget pressures and staff layoffs. (The day our conference started, as we socialized during an outdoor reception at a rooftop restaurant, we got word of many features folks at The Dallas Morning News who took their company's buyout.)

Thursday morning sessions "walked the tightrope between political absurdity and total despair," as one speaker observed. We kicked off with a riotous visit from satirist Kinky Friedman who is running for governor of Texas. In addition to explaining his political aspirations and laying out some of the aims of his campaign (sometime slogan, "How Hard Can It Be?") he also read one of his many Texas Monthly columns, this one titled "The Hummingbird Man."

Following Kinky was James O'Byrne, Features Editor for The New Orleans Times-Picayune, who introduced T-P columnist Chris Rose, but not before delivering a sobering and heartwrenching photo montage of the catastrophe of Hurricane Katrina. As the photos of death, destruction as despair flashed before us -- including dozens of pictures of wrecked T-P staffers' homes -- the sound of soft crying was audible in the large meeting room. Rose, a finalist for the 2006 Pulitzer Prize for commentary, took the stage to recount his journey from T-P entertainment columnist (where his job included bra shopping with Erin Brockovich and stalking Jessica Simpson outside the House of Blues ladies room), to Katrina evacuee, to disaster team reporter, to his current role as the voice of New Orleans. His book "1 Dead in Attic" is a collection of columns he wrote from August 29, 2005, to New Years Day 2006, and he read several passages that readers have praised as giving voice to the experience they all share in recovering and rebuilding in New Orleans. Rose described how being a participant in the Katrina disaster has drawn the newspaper closer to their readers, exclaiming, "They LOVE us now! The walls of separation between you and the story come tumbling down very fast. ... Objectivity goes out the window." He recounted how staffers would bring copies of the T-P to residents stranded at the Convention Center to overwhelming emotional response. "(The paper) was the first physical manifestation of their old life." He acknowledges that the life-changing experience that many T-P staffers share with their readers means they view stories a different filter and can be brutally honest. In the heart of the event, "I stopped writing and reporting and just opened up a vein and bled it onto the page." His advice to editors who strive to make this same connection with their communities: Get naked, metaphorically speaking, in the paper. Bleed.

Following the ever-popular "Show and Tell" sessions (where editors share their best pages and encourage colleagues to swipe their ideas), our luncheon included Scott McGehee's induction into the AASFE Hall of Fame and an address from crime novelist Patricia Cornwell. McGehee was honored for her trailblazing work -- 30 years within the Knight-Ridder chain -- to earn Features sections the same attention, respect and journalistic standards as the A-section, Sports and Business. Cornwell, a former journalist who held jobs as varied as TV Book editor and police reporter, urged Features journalists to not chase the competitive influences of TV and the internet and harness "the power of the word."

Wrapping up the day (and leading up the the evening's Silent Auction) were additional sessions on the future of features and workshops on use of video in multimedia reporting, arts and entertainment criticism, and building communities on the Web. The latter included four panelists who gave several examples of how they have built online and print communities through blogging, podcasting and citizen journalism. Unique on the panel was the engaging "non-journalist" Margaret McKenna, a lawyer who became a stay-at-home mom and with her husband created MilwaukeeMoms.com, a resource for moms and caregivers of children ages 6 and under. It was acquired recently by the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.

Karisue Wyson is North American sales manager for The Washington Post Writers Group.

REMEMBERING 9/11

No news event in my career has quite had the impact as the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. I think the same goes for just about everyone in this business.

We at The Writers Group began working the story within minutes of watching the second plane hit the World Trade Center. And we've been working it ever since. It is a story, as we were reminded again this week in marking the fifth anniversary of that horrific day, that will never -- and must never -- go away.

I'll not try to capsulate the wide-ranging output of The Writers Group's columnists and political cartoonists on the fifth anniversary. Rather, please follow these links.

Nick Anderson

David Broder

Marie Cocco (1, 2)

Richard Cohen

E.J. Dionne Jr.

Ellen Goodman

Jim Hoagland

David Ignatius

Ruben Navarette Jr. (1, 2)

Kathleen Parker (1, 2, 3)

Neal Peirce

Eugene Robinson

Robert Samuelson

Signe Wilkinson

George F. Will

FULL DISCLOSURE

Newspaper opinion pages and Web sites are, by nature, full of advocacy. But what if the advocate is not telling you why he or she is advocating? Is that a sin?

Most in our business think so. That's why op-ed editors try to give pertinent information about a writer by adding tag lines explaining an author's professional bona fides and affiliations. You'll see one for me at the end of this posting.

What many editors can't know, especially on copy they receive through a wire service or a syndicate, is what a writer is not telling them. Writers from think tanks would naturally be expected to advocate positions that are in keeping with their organization's mission and philosophy. Ditto for writers who represent lobbyists or any number of special-interest groups that promote legislation or try to influence the national dialogue.

Say, however, that a writer offers an editor the required bona fides -- a scholar at a reputable research institute who comments frequently on high-tech issues, for example -- but neglects to add that a Silicon Valley software company has underwritten the research.

This is an issue that, sadly, never goes away (hat tip: Romenesko). When the subject is raised by editors' groups such as the National Conference of Editorial Writers, a vigorous debate usually takes place. But as Bill Adair of The St. Petersburg Times pointed out, the practice has gotten more sophisticated. It's been laundered. Instead of making a direct payment for writing what really is a PR release, corporations are now trying to get their message out -- or protect their image -- by helping fund think tanks or underwriting Web sites. Thus the writer has at least one degree of separation from the funding source.

Editors in the past have asked The Writers Group to assure them that the columns, political cartoons and comics they purchase from us are free of such taint. We find that a reasonable request, one we respond to gladly. But shouldn't editors have a policy on all material that goes into the paper, to assure their readers that they are getting full disclosure?

James Hill is managing editor of The Washington Post Writers Group.

WELCOME BACK MARCELA SANCHEZ

No one can say for sure what will happen in Mexico now that the Federal Electoral Judicial Tribunal has affirmed Felipe Calderon as president-elect over Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador. But one person who is working hard to find the answers and provide insight is Marcela Sanchez, whose Desde Washington column returns after her three-month maternity leave.

In addition to Mexico, Marcela finds a full plate of Latin American issues awaiting her: Fidel Castro's surgery and temporary handoff of power to his brother Raul; Evo Morales' short honeymoon as president of Bolivia; Hugo Chavez's actions in Venezuela and throughout the region; Brazilian elections next month, plus the U.S. immigration debate and numerous free trade actions and proposals.

Her first column will move Wednesday, Sept. 13, for release Friday, Sept. 15. We're glad she's back.

Oh yes, the particulars: Sophie Ana Bender was born June 12 at 12:45 a.m. at Sibley Memorial Hospital in Washington, D.C. Daughter, mother and father are still doing blissfully well.

CONVENTION TIME

Pittsburgh was supposed to host the annual convention of the National Conference of Editorial Writers in 2001. The terrorist attacks of 9/11, occurring the day before the convention was to open, forced its cancellation. NCEW officers moved quickly to find another slot for the Steel City, and next Wednesday, Sept. 13, more than 100 editorial page editors and editorial writers from around the nation and Canada will at last gather in Pittsburgh for a convention featuring speakers such as Frances Fragos Townsend, assistant to the president for homeland security and terrorism; Paul O'Neill, former treasury secretary; Ed Rendell, governor of Pennsylvania; Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., and Margaret Spellings, secretary of education.

I'll be attending, as will marketing representative Jennifer Ferrell.

Meanwhile, Comics Editor Amy Lago and North American Sales Manager Karisue Wyson will travel to Fort Worth for the convention of the American Association of Sunday and Feature Editors, also opening on Sept. 13.

In years past, both Alan Shearer and I have helped judge AASFE's Excellence in Feature Writing contest. Like NCEW, AASFE is a great group of dedicated journalists, and the conventions I attended in the late 1970s when I was a feature editor are still remembered fondly.

WHEN THE DEAN SPEAKS, PEOPLE LISTEN

And what David Broder, the dean of Washington political commentators, has to say about the role of the media in the quickly flaming out Valerie Plame leak investigation should be read and tacked on the office wall by journalists everywhere. Read it here.

OUR MAN IN TEHRAN

It's been many years since The Writers Group published columns with a Tehran dateline, yet David Ignatius managed to get into Iran in late August and has filed four columns, including his next one for release this Sunday.

"Watching President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad at a news conference here Tuesday, I had the same mesmerizing anxiety as a passenger in a Tehran taxi," Ignatius wrote in his first dispatch from the Iranian capital. "He has moved boldly -- recklessly, it seems to Americans -- into the international traffic flow. He keeps revving his motor, and it looks as if he and the West might be heading for a dangerous crackup over Iran's nuclear program. Will there be a collision, or will leaders produce a compromise at the final instant? Normally, drivers here stop in time -- except when they don't."

You can find the link to this Ignatius column here, and a second and third column here.