Open Mike

Editor: My assistant came twice into my office this morning to check if I was okay. Turns out, while reading the Roger Ailes Q&A, I laughed so loudly she thought something was amiss.

Great stuff! The questions were tough, but Roger can take care of himself—in spades.

Reading this was the most fun I've had since watching Fox News coverage of the Iraq War.

Russ Patrick, president, Patrick Communications, Los Angeles (Received via e-mail)

Editor: Congratulations on selecting Roger Ailes as your Journalist of the Year. It doesn't surprise me that your interview ran 5,000 words because once Roger's passion for the news in general and Fox News in particular kicks in. Hold on! I've never met anyone with so much passion for what they do.

Cullie Tarleton, retired broadcaster, Blowing Rock, N.C. (Received via e-mail)

Editor: I just can't believe it. The state that American broadcast journalism has degenerated into is bad enough. Your "fair and balanced" decision to name Roger Ailes "Journalist of the Year" makes about as much sense as awarding the Emmy for best news anchor to Ted Baxter.

Ralph Donald, professor, Department of Mass Communications, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (Received via e-mail)

Editor: I guess it shouldn't be surprising that, in an era of lowest-common-denominator programming and profit-over-quality management, BROADCASTING & CABLE has selected Roger Ailes as its first-ever Journalist of the Year. But it is shocking and extremely disappointing.

The profession of journalism is an honorable, generations-old profession of principles, hard work and sacrifice. Roger Ailes in no way represents that profession. He does represent financial and ratings success, but, where I come from, that's not journalism. Name him Cable Businessman of the Year, if you like, but you disrespect the profession and what it stands for by calling him a journalist.

He's not even original. All he has done at Fox News is apply the Murdoch print news model to broadcasting. He has contributed to lowering the quality of our national political discourse into shouting, disrepectful one-upmanship. In your introduction, you call Mr. Ailes "controversial." No, he's just an unhappy man. In your interview, he assaults his peers, our nation's most respected newspapers, college professors, agents, female broadcasters and his bosses. He does have respect for someone, however. In your four page interview, he uses the word "I" or its derivatives 137 times.

Don Mcguire, president and CEO, McGuire Media Properties, Dallas (Received via e-mail)