Dear reader

Anyone can blog a rumor, but a good journalist presents verified information.

The story from the judge's table is different than the story covered by the reporter.

The new design of our Web site was launched Tuesday night. Help us work out the bugs. Is it working? Are you having trouble viewing a story or video? Please go here to leave a comment, share your ideas for future improvements and see what others have to say.

Improved access to advertising, photos, multimedia, stories and blogs are just a few of the improvements being made on ColumbiaMissourian.com.

The Columbia Missourian is sponsoring “Watching the Watchdogs,” community forums meant to better understand the role that media should serve in our changing democracy. To what extent should voices in the community be required to identify themselves, and to what extent should they remain mere voices?

Columbia Police originally refused to release the name of Cortez Johnson, the 2-year-old who was found dead this week.

What motivates readers to choose the stories they choose? That’s the topic ofthis summer’s “Watching the Watchdog” events.

A former Columbia KOMU/Channel 8 anchor talks about the devastation of flooding in Iowa, and how journalists are helping keep residents informed.

New ideas come from a conference focused on civic media and people-to-people journalism.

A merger with the Tribune would cut costs for the Columbia Missourian while maintaining the mission of the MU journalism school.

After we ran an Associated Press story that identified bird deaths as one of the downsides of wind energy, one reader pointed out that wind turbines aren’t as detrimental to birds as many people think.

No matter the topic — an earthquake in China or the new Missouri Theatre — photos give a story the human element.

Missourian editor Tom Warhover encourages citizens to engage in debate about the state of the news media.

Missourian readers contributed to the community conversation via e-mail and Web site comments after a trembler in Illinois was felt nearly 300 miles away in Boone County.

Jim Buell spent the week sleeping in a box.

Jim and his fellow MU students raised money for Habitat for Humanity by spending the week in cardboard boxes. Jim also reports for the Missourian.

With the election results coming in sooner than expected, the Missourian staff was juggling three options for delivering the news to you.

Even sewage systems factor into decisions made on Election Day.

Community members as well as the press need to effectively discuss the issue of race in the First Ward, especially as the April 8 election approaches.

Use of new technologies can give a fresh view on news stories.