WNYW/Ch. 5 general manager Lew Leone starred in the first of what's expected to be a series of editorials by him on the station's newscasts this week. During the first "Lew's View" this week, he weighed in on the controversy about a proposed mosque near Ground Zero downtown. Editorials are as old-school as TV gets, yet there's a movement to resurrect the format. Since Bill Carey took over the news operation at WPIX/Ch. 11, he's added a handful of commentaries to the 10 p.m. news, notably ones by Larry Mendte, who has addressed topics such as LeBron James and …

Between World Cup buzz and a pair of hit novelas, it's been a very, very good summer for Spanish-language network Univision. Last week, Univision was tied with ABC as the number-two broadcast network among the key adults 18-49 demographic, with an average 1.5 rating/5 share. Plus, its strong performance was led by the "2010 Premios Juventud" awards show -- which beat all four of the major broadcast networks on Thursday night. Overall, 11.4 million viewers watched all or part of the annual youth-focused awards show, in its seventh year. And while the network has long been competitive among viewers …

AOL appears to be positioning itself as a go-to ad destination for politicians and advocacy groups looking to persuade the masses prior to the 2010 mid term elections. The company rolled out the AOL Advertising Politics hub (www.advertising.aol.com/politics), which is designed to serve as a sales tool and do-it-yourself ad purchasing platform for political advertisers. The site provides detailed information and recommended tactics for multiple varieties of political campaigns, ranging from fund-raising to location-based get out the vote efforts. The site directs user to two different buying options. They can launch a campaign on their own via AOL's Ad …

As television newsrooms expect more of their journalists to work solo, the trend is affecting both newsgathering and the product that airs. Many news managers believe VJs offer more flexibility at a lower cost with little or no reduction in quality. But new research suggests it's not all good news. Mary Bock of Kutztown University spent two years studying the VJ revolution. Her unpublished dissertation highlights many of the challenges faced by journalists who report, shoot, write and edit. Some may be obvious: It's tough to do this kind of physical work and still look good at 5 p.m. Another …

From gimlet-swilling adulterers on TV's "Mad Men" to seven-figure fines for deceptive ads touting cold remedies and credit scores, the ad industry could use an image makeover of its own. Industry leaders are teaming up with the University of Missouri School of Journalism, to launch the Institute for Advertising Ethics. Among the research center's goals is to improve the public image of a business that spent $125 billion last year but isn't exactly known for its bedrock principles and unwavering scruples, says AP. Whether it's the duplicitous exploits of fictional television character Don Draper or the latest penalties …

Though her reported $15 million annual contract is not up until next June, one idea that was floated was for CBS to buy out the remainder of Couric's contract this September and put in someone new this fall. Couric may even wind up back at NBC. According to sources, NBC CEO Jeff Zucker has communicated to Couric's agent, Alan Berger at CAA, that NBC would welcome Couric's return when she is available. And Couric herself sees the media writing on the wall. Her next act in TV will likely be part of a larger media brand she hopes …

Beginning Monday, Sept. 20, Tribune CW affiliate WPIX New York's PIX 11 Morning News will sign on at 4 a.m. Expanding the newscast, the station said, allows it to be the only local station broadcasting news at 4 a.m. with local coverage straight through to 9 o'clock. Said News Director Bill Carey. "PIX 11 is the leader with the most viewers in that half-hour, so we will lead the way again and expand to 4 a.m. This is a nice fit for people who have a long commute and busier days, as we remain committed to serving the changing …

Ten years ago, ABC and NBC had a median age audience in the low 40s; today, ABC is over 50 and NBC is right under 50. CBS is the oldest-skewing network with a median age in the low 50s.Even Fox and the CW -- supposedly the younger-skewing networks -- are aging. Fox's audience was in the mid-30s 10 years ago, and now it's in the mid-40s. The WB (which merged with UPN to become the CW) was under 30, now it's risen to just under 40. The data comes from TV research guru Steve Sternberg, who says it's the …

ABC will reinstate its current programming department after eliminating it one year ago; no timetable has been issued. The current programming department, which oversees shows already on the schedule, was disbanded last June as a cost-cutting effort. At the same time, ABC Entertainment President Steve McPherson also assumed oversight over ABC Studios. But ABC over the past two years has been the network putting the most new shows on the air and the thinking now is that there needs to be more specific attention given to those shows. It has not been announced who will become the new …

ESPN's internal journalism watchdog sharply criticized the cable-sports network for what he said were ethical missteps in its recent broadcast of a TV program devoted to basketball star LeBron James, reports The Wall Street Journal. The Walt Disney Co. network two weeks ago aired a one-hour special about James, who used the program to announce he signed with a new team, the Miami Heat. In an unusual arrangement, James's sports-marketing company suggested the program to ESPN and brokered an arrangement whereby the show's advertisers donated money to the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, a charity James supports. …