Before I get going, a semi-disclaimer: I haven't watched any of the presidential debates start to finish. But I've watched substantial parts of most of them, including last night's Republican debate on CNN.

My views:
I don't have a problem at all with nutty questions, if they're occasional. Some journalists have written that the moderator was way out of line a few weeks ago with the Democrats to ask if they'd ever seen a UFO. I think that's a good question — it's surprising, and it might shed light on a candidate who actually has to answer something that he or she could not have rehearsed.

There is an axiom about interviewing people for profile stories or Q&As (so you're interviewing someone about himself or herself) that you definitely throw in a surprise question or two: "How early do you get up in the morning? What's your routine before work?" Or: "If you could choose one person other than your spouse/partner to have dinner alone with tonight, who would it be?" Asking a business CEO or a governor a question like that can provide more insight than drilling them on profits or taxes. So I like surprise questions in moderation.

The YouTube thing is hit or miss. Some of the questions are excellent. I thought the question last night about black-on-black crime (from an African-American father and his son) was excellent, though the answers were so-so. Then again, the song that started the debate and the question about gun control — which was funny, but too basic — added little.

There are too many debates with too many candidates. I am interested in politics and have followed them all my adult life, as a citizen and a journalist. But the debates are running together in my mind now and I agree that only the top 4-5 candidates should appear. On the other hand, that may have meant Gov. Huckabee was not at the GOP debates a few months ago. And he's coming on now.

I agree with critics of last night's debate too that NOT asking about energy was a huge mistake. If the YouTubers didn't think of it, Anderson Cooper definitely should have. He is a millionaire and the son of a multimillionaire (Gloria Vanderbilt). Maybe it showed that he isn't concerned about paying $3.10 a gallon for heating oil and gasoline this winter, while the rest of us are petrified. Heck, it's even related to Iraq and the Middle East situation, because of all the oil over there.

Now, I have questions for you. What do you think of the debates, and should we play them more prominently in the Kennebec Journal and Morning Sentinel? No Maine newspaper played the GOP debate on page A1 today but I believe the Boston Globe did. How much should we play up the early primaries in New Hampshire, Iowa and elsewhere? (I say pretty much. Both races are close and the early primaries will be important...). You can post or email me directly at: econrad@centralmaine.com

Dear readers: Sometimes I let you in on the in-house criticism that we routinely share at the Kennebec Journal and Morning Sentinel. Here's the latest example./Eric

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Folks: Since I was away last week, and I read a bunch of the papers Sunday night at home, I thought it was a good opportunity for me to examine all the things we're doing, from big to small, and write a semi-detailed critique similar to what I did my first few months on the job (early this year).

I know that sometimes these comments sting a little, even if I don't name names when I criticize. While I don't mean to zing anyone, and the comments are not "personal," I do see value in these observations because there are lessons here for all of us, not just the folks whose work gets held up for praise or constructive criticism.

Sunday
I was impressed by the way both lead stories -- Colin Hickey on retail theft in the Sentinel and Meghan Malloy on women in prison at the KJ -- were reported, written, photographed and put together. If there was better A1 enterprise at a small daily anywhere -- anywhere -- than these two packages, from the leads to the nugget boxes, I'd love to see it. Well done, and both packages were team efforts. (Photos by David Leaming, Jim Evans.)

Consider this lead by Colin: "Craig Nadeau sees the telltale signs of shoplifting at Marden's Surplus and Salvage story in Waterville on a regular basis: empty boxes, discarded packages, old shoes in place of new ones." (That sets a visual scene doesn't it?)

Or this one from Meghan: "Maine women are gaining ground in an unlikely place: the state's county jails." (This lead is simple and to the point. We've stressed conversational prose in past critiques. This is conversational writing.)

Local column on B1 of both papers referred to Iowans as "white redneck midwesterners." Not OK. We would never allow something like that to be printed about a group with minority status. And it's not true. Education and income levels in many parts of Iowa probably meet or exceed Maine's.

Wednesday (out of order, I know)
Good mix of stories on A1 of the Sentinel. Again, Sentinel cutlines were too short and uninformative in the B section. Photographers, please: Cutlines MUST do more than say a man walks in snow on a bridge (when the photo clearly shows that). Copy editors and page designers: Please demand more of your colleagues than this, if you see it again.

Our inside-B pages in the Sentinel can be gray with long court listings and other "news of record" stuff that we know people read. But, on New England pages then, let's take the time to work in AP photos and graphics so they're not gray too (they had no photos this day).

I appreciated the alertness and effort to do something on local Sports today. Gary Hawkins' preview of some 5-K races in the area was an example of pushing out a local story when the fall HS playoffs are behind us. Thank you.

Good hustle and mix on A1 of the KJ too. I liked the fact that we hustled on the weather/storm/icy roads story (Betty Adams plus photo) -- BUT we had a duplicate photo. An accident scene photo ran on A1 and inside B. The desk should have talked this through better; news editors have to be careful if they tell a copy editor to run a photo inside. We need to be sure the A1 and B1 copy editors know what's going where too.

Another re-reminder: Play Maine biz stories ABOVE non-Maine biz stories on our Business page. Almost every time.

Thursday
The Happy Thanksgiving promo above the flag needed 1 more entry, from Sports or somewhere. The Holiday Gift Guide item wasn't enough. Also, we are matching the Sentinel royal blue to the Sentinel colors well but the red we're using in the KJ is nowhere near the magenta/red that the KJ has as its color brand...

I thought I'd been clear about this too, but our Editor's Note nuggets should not, and do not have to, run BEFORE the story bylines. They are to be treated as nuggets on the covers (B1 Sentinel story from Ecuador today). Treat them just like other nuggets but run 'em on the cover if the story is there.

Friday
We also continue to run stories too shallow at the bottom of B1. Here is a good guideline: At least 4 graphs of a story should make the cover before a story jumps. Don't run photos as large as we do (sometimes) to make this guideline happen reliably.

We have to be consistent with bylines, too: PPH writers are not "Staff Writers." And watch our caps and lower cases here.

Saturday
The lead of our game story from the Cony upset over Gardiner says this won't be considered one of the biggest upsets in the rivalry's history. But, we never say in the story which one(s) would be the biggest upset(s). That's frustrating to readers. If you raise something like that, you need to answer the question you indirectly pose.

Good writing by Travis Barrett on the "Upta Camp" story on Outdoors. It was a fun read. But the inside-the-camp photos were weak. Page designers should not emphasize weak photos. The shots of the guys hunting outside were better. They should've led the page. We need to improve our photo report for Outdoors and should consider stand-alones from our photo staff when the submitted photos fall short. This consistently should be one of the best-looking covers in the paper.

Today I wanted to share with you an e-mail about our contest submissions this year. I sent this to our staff earlier.

Folks: We will send a bunch of "Newspaper of the Year" and other contest entries out this week, part of the New England Newspaper Association's annual awards. I want to tell you how proud I was to enter this year. In fact, some of our best papers —and best story-and-photo reports — didn't make it, as we subjectively selected things we hope the judges will appreciate.

Awards and contests are fickle. They're subjective. They're overrated. And they matter. The NENA awards especially are judged by top editors from around the U.S. who are flown to Boston (usually), treated well — and who take this responsibility seriously. We typically have not been considered a NENA "Newspaper of the Year," and we may not again this year. But we're getting close, I'm telling you. If breadth and strength of local content were the dominant criterion, as it is for readers, I think we would win the lion's share.

Here's what's in:
We are entering the Photo of the Year category for both newspapers. I asked Jim Evans and his staff make these selections. I'll ask Jim to fill you in on those Tuesday.

The "For I was Hungry" editorial series will be nominated for a Publick Occurrences Award. Each year, Nieman Fellows select 5-8 top newspaper projects and entries for this prestigious award.

The "hunger series" was innovative, took risks, got attention and is getting results. It has a shot. Good luck to lead writer Naomi Schalit and to Jim Evans and Sharon Wood, who also played roles in this project.

The KJ daily papers were from July 18 (when John Okie was arrested for the Mills slaying, after his father, too, was found dead) and from Sept. 14, a mandatory date. That paper led with the state rejecting several school-consolidation proposals (Keith Edwards) and a piece on the Farmingdale adult-book vote (Susan Cover).

The KJ Sunday newspapers were from June 3, when we led with a profile of Jean Paul Poulain (AJ Higgins) and a political analysis by Susan Cover. Also, the mandatory draw was Sept. 16, which led with a piece by Betty Adams on Kents Hill School not having all the records about John Okie.

The Sentinel daily newspapers were from July 23, which led with the Hunger series (different judges) and the Sept. 13 mandatory paper which had a good mix of news about a coal-tar cleanup (Doug Harlow), vermin house (Joel Elliott) and an award being offered for a murder (Larry Grard).

The Sunday papers were from Sept. 9, which led with an analysis on college costs by Colin Hickey, and the mandatory date of Sept. 16, which led with a piece on rafting by Joel. Both mandatory draw dates were generally favorable for the Sentinel.

Finally, we will enter the KJ of Feb. 26 for a "front-page award." There is only one front page recognized annually so you know this is tough, but I felt the Slates fire coverage (Elizabeth Comeau, Susan Cover, Andy Molloy) needed to be entered somehow.

We may submit more editorial and other articles for specialized awards too, but these are the highlights. The NENA contest is not a writing contest with a lot of categories. Those are NEAPNEA (New England Associated Press News Executives Association) and MPA (Maine Press Association) and they come a little later.

Dear readers: Actually, we read you, too.

For several years, some readers have told us we're "too liberal." It's a charge that just about all newspapers face today amid the daily barrage from radio and TV pundits who really are talking about big-city newspapers and TV newscasts. But we hear it locally more often than we hear that we're too conservative (though we get that sometimes, too).

We've also sensed a yearning for more commentary on local news and Maine issues, from experts and from the "general public." We know that our letters to the editor sections of the newspapers are popular; so much so that we struggle to keep up with the supply. We have a hard time fitting all the letters into our papers that meet our generous guidelines, which allow us to print as many letters as we can.

Starting Sunday, Nov. 18, we will address these points in a significant expansion of our "op-ed" ("opposite the editorial page") content. We will devote an additional half-page to our A section for letters and new opinion columns. Here are the details:

We are adding three syndicated columnists: Kathleen Parker, Mona Charen and Garrison Keillor.

Parker, generally billed as a conservative writer, lives in South Carolina. She writes about family and social issues primarily. She is one of the most widely distributed newspaper columnists in the U.S., trailing only one or two writers, including George Will.

Charen, also a conservative, writes more about political issues. She is a lawyer by background and frequently appears on "The Capital Gang" TV show. She wrote a book, "Do Gooders: How Liberals Hurt Those They Claim to Help (and the Rest of Us)."

Keillor needs little introduction. The acclaimed host of A Prairie Home Companion on National (and Minnesota) Public Radio, Keillor writes with humor, satire and verve. He leans liberal in his politics. His newspaper column, which started in 2005, is called, "The Old Scout."

We are adding four local columnists who will write for us once a month: Dan Billings, Theo Kalikow, Kay Rand and Liz Soares.

Billings is a lawyer from the southernmost reaches of our circulation area, Bowdoinham. He is a conservative commentator and frequent poster at the Web site, "As Maine Goes." He says he "frequently disagrees with the editorial opinions" of the Kennebec Journal and Morning Sentinel. But — hey, I can interject an opinion once in a while — I don't think he reads us closely enough. He generally would agree with our editorial views on state and local government spending, at least.

Kalikow is president at the University of Maine-Farmington, an important institution in an important town for us. She promises to offer variety, from "nagging about public issues" to writing stories with morals to even offering recipes. If you've met Kalikow, as I have, you know her as bright, intriguing and full of energy.

Rand, a consultant and government/political analyst for the law firm Bernstein Shur, lives in Hallowell. She was the chief of staff under former Gov. Angus King. A lifelong Mainer, she says she is a lifelong Democrat, too. She calls herself an "expert in confused and pragmatic politics."

Soares isn't new to many of our readers. Rather, she is "moving." Her columns have appeared weekly on the Local & State page of the Kennebec Journal. Her column now will appear monthly on the op-ed page of both the Kennebec Journal and Morning Sentinel. Soares is an Augusta librarian and long-time city resident.

Apparently some Web magazine had nothing better to write about than to name the "21 most intriguing people in publishing." You can read the story and list here:

www.minonline.com/news/5558.html

I can't believe I'm not on it. But in fact, no one from Maine is on it. No one from the newspaper industry is on it. In fact, I have no idea who these hot shots are.

And you know what? I'm really not that intrigued.

Last weekend, there was a piece by a Portland sports writer suggesting U-Maine's football coach, Jack Cosgrove, is asking, or should be asking, college officials how much they want to win. This as the college president and Cosgrove decide whether his contract should be extended.

The piece went on to say Cosgrove is renowned among Divison I-AA football schools for "doing more with less." Huh? I'm sorry, but didn't Harold Alfond finance and build a darn nice stadium up there a few years back? You know, the one with a lot of seats, luxury boxes and artificial turf that we were all told the harsh autumns of Orono, Maine, desperately required? Didn't word follow quickly that the football training and weightlifting facilities now compared well to Division I-AA opponents?

So Maine is being challenged about how much it wants to win? Maybe someone should challenge the U-Maine coaching staff about how much it can win.

Look, I have nothing against Cosgrove. I met the man one time, briefly, and he was professional and upbeat. I've heard only good things. But after 15 years, his record is 80-89. He has recruited a few talented quarterbacks Maine's way and when he had them, Maine came within striking distance of a national championship. But in the years they didn't play here, his teams have been — I'll say it — weak. Like this year. And last year.

Some say Cosgrove "does more with less." I think that's an insult. Maine's football stadium is not less. Maine football is no more an outpost than Maine hockey, Maine women's basketball, Maine men's basketball and Maine baseball. John Winkin, Shawn Walsh, Tim Whitehead, Joanne Palombo, John Giannini, Sharon Versyp and — here's a prediction —Cindy Blodgett didn't complain much about "doing more with less." They're winners. Their teams will win, have won.

If President Kennedy at Maine wants to extend Cosgrove's contract, fine. Cosgrove has a reputation as a nice guy, a stand-up guy, a family guy in the Orono community. It may be a good move.

But no more veiled shots about football in the hinterland of Orono, Maine. That's the same kind of "woe is us" mentality that holds Maine back in other ways. Let's recruit some kids and kick field goals every time we should, which is more often than Maine did this year.

Interesting story today from staffer Lynn Ascrizzi about how a 1977 Colby College grad, Jeff Gottesfeld, is one of the 3,000 writers in Hollywood out on strike.

Gottesfeld and his wife write for the soap opera, "The Young and the Restless." The Maine ties with that show are semi-amazing. Lynne Dufour, of Lewiston, is the script editor and Christian McLaughlin, of Fort Kent, also writes for the show.

When Gottesfeld contacted me about the story, and mentioned the Maine connections, I told him I have to watch more soaps.

You can read Lynn's article here: Colby grad joins with Hollywood strikers.

Personally, I'm bummed that the strike may mean no "24" this season. The "24" series typically starts in January. I'm not a big TV watcher. I watch sports, parts of political talk shows (until the shouting gets me down), old movies -- and I never miss an episode of "24."

It's really the only "show" I watch and look forward to, though last season wasn't so hot.

Thought I'd briefly recap the elections here, and offer a view or two of my own. I'm not Dennis Bailey, George Smith or John Martin. I don't breathe this stuff. But I've been editing Maine election stories, meeting state leaders — and working election nights — for going on 12 years now. Here are a few quick takes:

Racino: Once again, southern Maine opposes gambling so it failed statewide. My take on the currently operating Hollywood Slots in Bangor is it's lucky to have passed. It was on the same ballot as the full-fledged, Sanford casino (which failed). The Bangor racino passed, I believe, because some voters saw it as a compromise in that election (they voted no to the glitzy Sanford plan but yes to the smaller Bangor racino). Plus, Bangor voters went for it. Maine may have more legalized gambling some day but it won't be easy. Maine seems split 53-47 on this issue rather consistently.

Term limits: Rep. Pat Flood, a Winthrop Republican, nailed it. Flood told a Capital Weekly reporter that his constituents saw changing term limits as a very low priority. He felt the Legislature looked self-serving putting this on the ballot without popular demand. They did so and they got hammered. Some people feel the referendum question should have been to repeal term limits entirely. That would have been shelled as well. For better or worse, term limits are here to stay.

College bond: Hey, at least it passed. There is some concern that it passed narrowly. Why did it? Perhaps an odd combination of conservatives feeling the state gets plenty of money without bonding, so why ask for more (this was espoused by the Waterville Mid-Maine Chamber of Commerce, which opposed all the bond questions)? Perhaps a bit of reverse-classism: "If these college people can't get by on the money we already give them, have 'em charge the students more and leave my money alone." But Mainers generally support statewide bonds and this one did get through this year.

Land bond: A simple one here. Mainers live in Maine because we love it here. Preserving more of what we love is a natural thing to do. Plus, protecting waterfront access and public land is something many of us can enjoy once we do it. You don't have to be a college family. You don't have to gamble or live in Washington County. We all enjoy the outdoors and, by preserving more public areas, we know that our children and grandchildren will have places to enjoy too.

The Associated Press has had a good investigative project going. The AP is tracking how many teachers are accused of sexual misconduct but also showing that, if they try to teach again, it isn't always easy for the next school district, perhaps in another state, to know the complete background.

So you thought the Sports barrage was over with the Red Sox World Series win?

Not yet, it isn't. Not even close.

Coming in Saturday's newspapers:

High school football playoff coverage. I love the slice of Americana that you find by going to late-fall football games in Maine. I eat too many french fries but enjoy the games.

Coming in this Sunday's newspapers:

A 10-page special section from our Sports and Advertising departments celebrating the Sox' World Series championship.

Complete coverage of high school soccer and field hockey state championships. Central Maine has teams playing in games from East Millinocket to Windham. It's a challenge for our Sports staff and we can't have a photographer at every game (many are being played at the same time), but our coverage will be comprehensive.

A two-page preview of what, in reality, is the 2007 Super Bowl: The undefeated Patriots play the undefated Indianapolis Colts. Tom Brady vs. Peyton Manning. Nice guy Tony Dungy vs. not nice guy Bill Belichick. Wow.

And, of course, we'll have complete coverage of the Patriots-Colts game in Monday's newspapers. You won't have to look hard for that. It will begin on A1.

Bill Nemitz, metro columnist for the Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram and probably the best-known journalist in Maine, paid a visit to our newsroom Wednesday to talk about his talent for putting "real people" into his columns, for writing about issues through the eyes of those most affected.

Bill said journalists spend too much time writing about process and quoting only officials. Rather than offer my "take-aways" from his talk, I asked Joel Elliott, a young reporter at the Morning Sentinel, to provide his. Here's what Joel had to say:

"We heard that we should make people, not process, the focus of our stories. Although Bill Nemitz as a columnist has a measure of freedom that most reporters do not in choosing assignments, he provided examples of how we can produce better stories by looking beyond the usual suspects for interviews -- say, elected officials -- to seek out the people who are most affected by a given event.

In deciding how to write about a school board's decision to give middle school students access to prescription birth control, Nemitz didn't just interview the principal or the school board members. He got to the heart of the story by interviewing the students. He also found a unique, human angle on the Nielsen murder trial by interviewing the man's attorney, who had been placed in the less-than-enviable position of trying to defend a man who refused to talk to him and made bizarre statements in court without warning."

Eric Conrad
Executive Editor
Kennebec Journal and Morning Sentinel
Telephone: 207-621-5630