We have been very busy over here on Fish Hatchery the past few months but I miss talking to you so I'm back on the blog.

Managing Editor Tim Kelley and I spent many hours dreaming up and putting in place a news room reorganization to help our journalists get more comfortable with online issues.  Laura Sparks, our newly minted multimedia editor, led her team to produce the high-quality video on NASCAR that you can access from madison.com/wsj or the madison.com homepage. That's an example of new tools we will be using to tell our stories.

I really see the next five years as a moment in which new tools are going to give journalists even easier ways to reach readers/users.  It will also be the time when anyone can become a publisher by starting a blog or a website. Everyone will be able to build communities online.

Several years ago I couldn't get my arms around this. Now I have faith that yet unimagined technology will help all of us converse about issues important to us and help journalists produce credible news reports with even greater range. I know that some of you disagree with me and believe that I am the last of a breed.  

The way I've practiced journalism probably is doomed. My optimism about journalism is based on the readers/users rather than on the practitioners and teachers of our craft. I simply believe that when my daughters are off on their own they will want and need verifiable information to lead their lives. It may look different than today's newspaper and web portal. But someone will fill the role because, as we all know, the truth shall set you free.

I will watch for any feedback to my postings, which I hope with the help of Opinion Page Editor Scott Milfred will become more regular. To talk to me and the world wide web, just click that little box above that says "Join the Forum." Believe me, we are working on making this much easier but that may take some time.

I've tried to post something twice before and this posting technology, which we call the news tool, ate it. So I am being very brave and trying it all again.

I don't expect too much chatter today because the Badgers are on the television tonight and it is just so lovely outside. I may have to leave early to vote. Ahem. I do hope you voted?