We’re against that – except when we aren’t: On Dec. 22, Lewiston Sun Journal executive editor Rex Rhoads authored a front-page piece in which he announced that effective Feb. 1, the paper would end its policy of allowing anonymous comments on its Web site.

Play Doe: I wasn’t at the Dec. 20 meeting of the state ethics commission at which a $200 fine was levied against one of the anonymous people behind a defunct Web site called “The Secret File on Eliot Cutler.” But I’m told by those who were there that the testimony – particularly that of the attorney for Cutler, a former independent candidate for governor – left little doubt as to the identities of those responsible for that effort.

In the November election, Portland voters decided to revamp the city’s political structure by creating an elected mayor’s position. During the campaign, the Portland Press Herald editorialized in favor of the change, but it also did a lot more than that.

According to the latest finance report filed on Dec. 14 by the political action committee Elect Our Mayor, Yes on 1, the Press Herald provided supporters of an elected mayor with free advertising.

Ill wind: State Rep. Stacey Fitts’ legislative profile says he’s a “self-employed consultant.” Maybe that’s why so many news stories about developing wind power off the Maine coast quote the Pittsfield Republican without mentioning that he has a conflict of interest.

Crossed wires: Remember AM radio? This primitive form of communication still exists, broadcasting swap shows and local high-school sports in many small towns across Maine. These low-budget operations produce soothing background noise in old-fashioned full-service gas stations, nursing homes and other places where they’ve never heard of Sirius XM or Pandora.

Deserving censure over censure reporting: Last week, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to censure Democratic Congressman Charles Rangel of New York for a variety of transgressions over a number of years. Censure is the most severe form of punishment the House can dish out, short of expelling a member.

Legally questionable: When it comes to following up on controversial statements, Rebekah Metzler, a State House reporter for the MaineToday Media newspapers, sometimes seems to be napping.

Public radio ignores a member of the public: Jonathan Reisman of Cooper is a conservative activist, former congressional candidate, and teacher of environmental policy at the University of Maine at Machias. On October 7, Reisman sent the following e-mail to Jim Dowe, president of the Maine Public Broadcasting Network:

“I am writing to request information on how much support environmental groups have given MPBN since 2001. I want to know the level of financial support and in-kind support/volunteer efforts given to MPBN from the

following groups:

Fill the news hole with the same stuff twice: On Nov. 27, the Portland Press Herald devoted twelve inches of its front page to a Washington Post investigation into the source of guns used to murder police officers.

It was an interesting piece, certainly worthy of space in the paper.

Once.

Missing the MERC mess: The Portland Press Herald has a new reporter covering northern York County. Well, covering might be too strong a word. Let’s go with assigned to northern York County.