There's an old journalistic axiom that dog-bites-man isn't news, but man-bites-dog is news. Why? Because it's the unexpected, that people want to know about. Associated Press business reporter Sandy Shore, and every editor above her, have forgotten this basic tenet.

Sidelined in the merger game since its failed bid for MCI Inc., Qwest Communications could end up acquiring assets, being acquired or standing alone in the fast-consolidating telecommunications industry.

Thanks, you've told your readers absolutely nothing, and ensured that they won't read the rest of the story. There's got to be some conspiracy where anyone who is actually qualified to do journalism is in no way allowed to do the job.