Television news is a delicate balance of serving public good and private gain.

Some news managers have been slow to grasp that good television news is always substance over form.

The latest wrinkle is on wrinkles. There is a widespread belief that women can't grow old in television news.

The bad news is that 50 people died in a hotel fire; the good news is that we got exclusive footage.

Well-reported news is a public good; bad news is bad for everyone.

Why something in the public interest such as television news can be fought over, like a chain of hamburger stands, eludes me.