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An apology to Metromix and MomsLikeMe editors

[Two guests at the Static/Major Pre Grammy Party]

In more than 2,420 published posts, this will be my most prominent acknowledgement that I've screwed up -- and it starts with the photo of those two men, above, at a Grammy awards party in Louisville, Ky., covered by The Courier-Journal's Metromix unit. That's some terrific work. I can't explain why I like that photo series so much, although it certainly starts with the fact it's so different than the usual fare -- and I'm talking about what I see in print papers.

Metromix, MomsLikeMe and the other new all-digital offerings fall outside journalism's mainstream, and especially the culture of the traditional newsroom, where I spent 20 years working for Gannett. Now, I've never laid eyes on any of the women (and I'll bet many of them are women) responsible for putting out Metromix and MomsLikeMe pages.

But here's what I imagine: You don't always feel 100% appreciated by the "real" newsroom. Maybe it's because you work offsite. Or maybe you were hired only recently, and never worked the weekend cops shift, or ran around election night with your hair on fire.To the extent that I've encouraged that digital division between old and new, I'm sorry. Here's the reality: Metromix, etc., look like money-makers to me. And as a former print journalist now struggling to make a living online, I'm more sensitive than ever to the realities of paying for the news.

What's next?
The challenge for Metromix and Moms and all the other ones that will get launched in their shoestring budgets. For a little bit more, the quality of original reporting could compete with the traditional newsroom. For all I know, Metromix and Moms could be the next newsroom, rather than solely a source of racy photos to bolster homepage traffic.

I'd like to focus more attention on the good work and success stories at Metromix and Moms sites -- as well as the inevitable mistakes. This isn't meant to be a happy-news-only discussion. It might mean launching a separate blog at some point. As always, I value your feedback.

Please post your replies in the comments section, below. To e-mail confidentially, write gannettblog[at]gmail[dot-com]; see Tipsters Anonymous Policy in the green sidebar, upper right.

[Credits: Latasha Lewis and members of 2-Fresh and the Fly Gang hung out at Ice Breakers Friday night; today's front page, Newseum]