I've spent most of my day in Albany, first to record this week's Media Project program for WAMC Northeast Public Radio (it airs Sunday at 6 p.m. and Monday at 3 p.m.), then to a meeting at the Fort Orange Club, where the New York Newspaper Publishers Association Foundation's trustees were considering grant requests.

The radio program includes the usual sparring between me, Rex Smith of the Albany Times Union, Alan Chartock of WAMC, as well as a lively discussion of some of the week's media issues. I'm happy to say it's one of the station's most popular programs. (By the way, WAMC is rightfully proud of how well it did in the recent Arbitron ratings: It is rose to No. 6 per quarter hour for the entire Albany market. Quite an accomplishment.)

The publishers' foundation doled out lots of money -- including some for an Ulster County agency. If your non-profit organization is involved with reading, literacy, newspapers and the like, send inquiries or formal requests to Diane Kennedy at 291 Hudson Avenue, Suite A, Albany, N.Y. 12210. The foundation board meets at two or three times a year to weigh proposals.