The evolving relationship between technology and publishing takes new twists and turns with the arrival of each new gadget. The question is: Will news sell e-readers or will e-readers sell news?

Publishers of newspapers, magazines and books are rushing to adapt their products for the newest wave of personal readers -- iPads, Kindles, Nooks and other e-readers -- in hopes of finding a way to get paid for their content and keeping their writers and editors employed.

Technologists, Steve Jobs among them, are anxious to stock their gadgets with "content", and profess a new concern over the fate of professional writing."I don't want to see us descend into a nation of bloggers myself," Jobs said Tuesday at the AllThingsD conference. "We need editorial more than ever right now."

But, in the end, whose interests will be served -- the technologists' interests to sell new technology, or the publishers' interests to sell information?
Doug Page, a former newspaperman, warns that the newspaper industry shouldn't be drawn into the false dream of a digital paradise.
This relationship will see a further test when Yahoo, a longtime advertising partner with newspapers, rolls out its local news Web sites in direct competition with newspapers. Will Google follow? And what does this all mean for maintaing a thriving democracy?

If you haven't already checked out the Washington Post Writers Group Editorial Roundtable, take a moment to look. Each month, Alan Shearer and James Hill introduces subscribers to the syndicate's features to editorial page editors around the country. Most recently, the editors profiled J.R. Labbe, editorial page editor of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram and a former NCEW president.� The feature captures J.R.'s sense of dedication and absolute zeal for the calling of opinon writing.

Shearer and Hill have featured NCEW members Harry Austin and Dick Hughes and also Richard Burr, president of the Association of Opinion Page Editors. To meet luminaries of our craft, read here.

I'm happy to report that�the NCEW Nominating Committee -- this year, Chairwoman Linda Campbell and�Pete Wasson (with the NCEW prez an ex officio member)�-- has a� slate of candidates for members to consider for election at the annual business meeting this year in Dallas�on Sept. 25.

The six candidates for three board seats are:

John Bersia, University of Central Florida��

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Jeff Charis-Carlson, Iowa City Press-Citizen

Claire Duquette, The Daily Press, Ashland WI

Jonathan Gurwitz, San Antonio Express-News

Scott Milfred, Wisconsin State Journal, Madison

Tricia Vance, Star-News, Wilmington, N.C.

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The candidates for officer posts are:��

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President -- Dan Radmacher, Roanoke Times

Vice President -- Froma Harrop, Providence Journal

Secretary-Treasurer -- Bob Davis, Anniston Star, Ala.

Thanks go to Linda and Pete for fielding such an outstanding slate. Whoever wins will serve NCEW well.�

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With the rise of the national Tea Party movement, NCEW members have wondered how to refer to individuals who subscribe to the many and sometimes contradictory views gathered under the Tea Party banner. Some pundits called them "tea baggers," a term with sexual innuendoes that quickly became a slam by those criticizing the tea partiers' views.

Members engaged in a lively online discussion last week about whether to even allow the term "tea baggers" on the editorial pages in letters to the editor. Compelling arguments were made on both sides.

Member Rick Horowitz offered this link as background.

So is the term self-identification or a pornographic slam?

Pittsburgh-Post Gazette Editorial Writer Dan Simpson takes the Clinton State Department to task for a less-than-complete briefing for editorial writers.Simpson was among the two dozen NCEW members who attended the April State Department briefing organized specifically for NCEW members.�

Simpson wonders why the State Department doesn't work harder to inform Americans outside the Beltway about the foreign policy it pursues. "Administrations then wonder why there is little understanding -- not to mention support -- for its foreign policies," Simpson wrote.

To read his column, click here.