Merc columnist Mike Cassidy, in his series about ideas for improving the Merc, today answers several questions from readers, such as this one:

Q: “The front pages of many of the issues [of the Mercury News] … appear to attempt to appeal to the nonprint readers — a lot of questionable fluff.”

Answer: The Mercury News does run stories about sports, entertainment and social trends on the front page. Why? Because we try to appeal to a wide range of readers, and a significant number of them are interested in those topics.

“What you focus on on the front page,” [Editor David] Butler says, “is largely what’s going on in this multicultural, fascinating Silicon Valley.” The paper, he says, works on “giving people information and taking people places that otherwise they might never get to.”

Cassidy also explains why the Sunday TV book costs extra and why business is often found in the local news section. And he says the Merc is adjusting its subscription prices, which apparently have varied due to promotions for new readers.