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On November 19, 2004, a Reuters news-service story sent shock waves through the Saint Louis, Missouri, journalism community-Pulitzer Inc., the parent company of the "Saint Louis Post-Dispatch" newspaper, was up for sale. Nearly everyone saw the news as ominous. Up until 2004, both "Post" readers and employees have been lucky. Their newspaper is locally owned. That's not the case in most cities. Since the 1970s, large corporations have been buying up dailies at an alarming rate, emphasizing profit margins, eliminating jobs and downgrading news coverage. Suddenly that seemed like a real possibility at the "Post."

The article focuses on the editorial section of the newspaper "The Saint Louis Post-Dispatch." During the 1950s-1970s, the page was led by journalists such as Irving Dilliard and Robert Lasch, and often took unpopular positions on events of political and cultural significance. The influence of the page began to decline in the 80s and 90s, but writers such as William Woo and Edward Higgins conveyed their liberal thinking in the paper's editorial. Writer William Freivogel wrote a series of editorials against the war in Iraq. Kevin Mowbray, the publisher of the "Post," brought in an advisor to talk to the staff about the page, and put a Community Advisory Board in place to guide discussions about editorials. Much of the staff saw this action as a threat to good journalism.

Focuses on the reorganization of editors and reporters at the Saint Louis, Missouri-based newspaper `Saint Louis Post-Dispatch.' Assignment of journalists to certain teams; Role of team leader as a mentor and not an editor; Function of senior editors as providers of team leaders' management guidance and resources; Elimination of the position of general-assignment reporter.

The article presents the author's perspective about the move of right-wing Christian in the U.S. He says that conservative colleges and other organizations want to train journalists to be fundamentalist voices in the country's newsrooms. Right-wing Christians want to turn their word games and intellectual dishonesty on American journalism and they want people to believe that news outlets can be fair and unbiased only if some reporters and top editors are conservative evangelical Christians, according to him.

The article presents the short story "Who's the boss?," by Ed Bishop.

The article comments on the cautious optimism of Saint Louis Post-Dispatch's employees about Lee Enterprises' buying Pulitzer Inc. A large number of prominent journalists at the Post, including its editor-in-chief, has left in the last two weeks. Most of these folks were not eager to leave. Lee's early retirement plan was not an offer they could not refuse. Most of them struggled with the decision. They left because they believed the quality of the newspaper was only going to get worse. And a number of them left positions that normally would have tremendous influence over quality.

Focuses on the author's views regarding the expansion of the journal's mission into the electronic media. Transformation of the methods and sources; Emphasis on the problem that the public sees journalism criticism in the old ways; Importance on the need to educate the general public to the new and broader problems.

The article focuses on the media reform. If the news media give the public accurate information in a thorough and understandable context, citizens will then make thoughtful decisions about how to run the country. Several years ago, Monsanto was facing billions of dollars in lawsuits and cleanup fees for PCB pollution around several of its plants in Alabama. Monsanto executives decided to 'spin off' their less-than-lucrative chemical business in a separate company called Solutia. The former Monsanto chemical products didn't stand a chance. Monsanto dumped its business and ethical responsibilities in a company destined for failure in much the same way it dumped PCBs in the streams and topsoil of Alabama. In short, journalists, academics, activists and the public itself need to rebuild America's belief in government and democracy.

This article reports that when New Times Inc., bought the "Riverfront Times," (RFT) the purchase was an anomaly. The other eight or nine alternative weeklies that made up the New Times chain were bought cheaply because of financial or editorial problems at those papers. Not the RFT. It was a profitable, respected alternative newspaper with 100,000 circulation, and New Times paid top dollar for it. New Times management reassured RFT employees that not much would be changed. Two years later, the RFT was virtually unrecognizable. New Times put its template over the St. Louis alternative and cut it to size. The RFT now seems to be less about St. Louis and more about some form of corporate cookie-cutter journalism. And, once again, the new owners are reassuring employees and readers that few changes will be made. Mary Junck, Lee Enterprises Inc.'s chairman, president and chief executive officer, has said that editorial policy won't be dictated from corporate headquarters in Davenport, Iowa. Most of the folks who work down at the Post are pleased that at least Gannett or the Tribune Co. didn't purchase the paper. They're cautiously optimistic. They're saying that they have to take Lee at its word.

The article comments on several issues relevant to newspapers and journalism in Saint Louis, Missouri, as of November 2004. The author presented his views on the "Saint Louis Post-Dispatch" newspaper's decision to replace its front-page news section with a section on the Saint Louis Cardinals baseball team. He also commented on the newspaper's endorsement in its editorial page of several political candidates, as well as poll findings indicating Americans' views on the U.S. sending troops to Iraq.

This article comments on political-related events in the U.S., reported as of June 2004. The recent apologies from the newspapers “The New York Times,” and the “Saint Louis Post-Dispatch” and other news outlets for misleading their readers about Iraq having weapons of mass destruction - and its concomitant effect of the foreign policy of the U.S. - were fine as far as they went. They apologized for believing the neo-conservatives in the Bush administration and Ahmed Chalabi without verifying any of their assertions. But the news media did not apologize for ignoring and even belittling those who were right about Saddam Hussein's weapons of mass destruction - Hans Blix and the government of France. This article also reported on the complaints received by listeners of the radio station KMOX against the alleged attacks made by Rush Limbaugh against anyone who does not agree with his radical right-wing ideology.

This article comments on political-related events in the U.S., reported as of June 2004. The recent apologies from the newspapers “The New York Times,” and the “Saint Louis Post-Dispatch” and other news outlets for misleading their readers about Iraq having weapons of mass destruction - and its concomitant effect of the foreign policy of the U.S. - were fine as far as they went. They apologized for believing the neo-conservatives in the Bush administration and Ahmed Chalabi without verifying any of their assertions. But the news media did not apologize for ignoring and even belittling those who were right about Saddam Hussein's weapons of mass destruction - Hans Blix and the government of France. This article also reported on the complaints received by listeners of the radio station KMOX against the alleged attacks made by Rush Limbaugh against anyone who does not agree with his radical right-wing ideology.

This article recounts the story of some journalists who worked for the newspaper "Post." The author relates that the first journalist to make it into Berlin, Germany during World War II was Virginia Irwin. It is noted that for almost 60 years, no war reporting by any "Post" reporter has even come close to Irwin's stories. On April 18, 2004, the front page of the "Post" carried two outstanding stories on the fighting in Iraq by reporter Ron Harris, along with battle-action pictures by photographer Andy Cutraro. Cutraro's appeared on the front pages of various newspapers, while Harris was either credited or mentioned in the war news of those newspapers.

This article asserts the need for U.S. journalists to maintain fairness and remain nonpartisan when reporting. The author remembers a local reporter who addressed a gathering of the Missouri College Media Association. Like past speakers, he was trying to reinforce the students' idealism, encouraging them to challenge authority and to always look for the truth behind every story. His appeal drew a mix of praise and criticism. Apparently in the students' journalism class, asking questions was considered to be a liberal idea. The author asserts that most of the U.S. media's coverage of the war in Iraq are one-sided. Details of the murder of eight soldiers in Baghdad were reported at The Fox News Channel. Here the reporter constantly tagged soldiers as terrorists and hoodlums. Journalists insists that the invasion of Iraq was not about oil but for the sake of democracy, although Iraq's political and economic potential is evident.

Looks on the contribution of Charles Klotzer on the "St. Louis Journalism Review" periodical in St. Louis, Missouri. Klotzer's promotion of local journalism; History of the migration of Klotzer's family from Germany to the U.S.; Academic and career highlights.

Recounts an attempt by a man to seek the help of journalists attending a journalism meeting in Saint Louis, Missouri, to address his personal problems. Issues addressed during the discussion; Beliefs of the man on the power of journalism; Lessons on public relations learned from the encounter.

Focuses on the lies that were told the American journalists before the beginning of the Gulf War in 1991. Fabrication of lies by an organization called Citizens for a Free Kuwait about Iraqi President Saddam Hussein's crimes; Identification of other lies told by government officials and army officers to journalists; Implications of the lies on the journalism profession.

Reflects on the news reports and commentaries against France's refusal to sanction the U.S. government's plans of taking military action against Iraq. History of U.S.-French relations; Influence of France over American history and culture; Humorous and angry reactions of journalists to the French position.

Comments on several issues concerning journalism. Influence of Pulitzer Prizes investment in the news coverage of Cardinals journal; Citation on the Europe press conference of U.S. President George W. Bush in Europe; Consideration of public relations men on journalism.

Analyzes criticisms laid on the periodical `Saint Louis Journalism Review' and its writers for their stance against public journalism. Alleged tendency to portray civic journalism in tones of stark black and white; Intellectual thuggery of major proponents of public journalism.

Comments on KSDK television station's interruption of an early evening newscast in June 1999 with a so-called `breaking news' item about the police investigation of the drowning of a boy at a preschool swimming pool. KMOV station's earlier broadcast of the tragic event as its lead story; Television news departments' destruction of journalistic terms, such as `breaking news.'

Presents information on the actions of the media in relation to the 1998 elections held in the United States, referencing the sexual scandal involving President Bill Clinton and Monica Lewinsky, a former White House intern. Indication that journalists have been calling for President Clinton to resign; Performance of Clinton in the elections; Reaction of the media to the US public's lenient attitude toward Clinton.

Opinion. Examines the influence of money on journalism as reported by editor William Randolph Hearst in his April, 1912 edition of `New York American.' Views of Hearst regarding monetary influence on journalism; Implications for democracy.