(FORTUNE Magazine) – THE QUESTIONS COULD come straight out of TV soap operas: Are GE and NBC compatible? Will CBS get over Ted Turner? Can Capital Cities rescue ABC's ratings? Followers of broadcasting's long-running takeover serial can tune in to some answers in the cover story (page 22). For Thomas Moore, a member of the board of editors, finding out how new managements were affecting the larger-than-life styles of network employees evoked old times. Moore's first job after leaving Columbia journalism school in 1970 was three months as news director at a fledgling New York cable TV station. ''The job sounded a lot more grandiose than it was,'' he says. Moore's news staff consisted of himself; his news beat embraced Manhattan north of 96th Street; his prize technology was a $19.95 Polaroid Swinger that took snapshots used in the nightly newscast. At NBC and CBS Moore had easy access to top officials. Capital Cities demurred. Even so, many ABC executives were willing to discuss life under their new bosses. As Moore says, ''Networks are gossipy places.'' Yet some ABC executives suddenly dried up as sources once they appeared headed for a bigger than anticipated role under Cap Cities. Others are still confused. When Moore took one ABC source to lunch, the executive joked to his secretary: ''If my boss calls, be sure to get his name.'' Reporter Nancy Perry, who assisted Moore, also once pursued a career in broadcasting. As an aspiring actress and writer, Perry auditioned for soap operas and TV commercials -- while freelancing as a business writer -- before joining FORTUNE in 1983. She has no regrets. ''But I never got broadcasting completely out of my system,'' she confesses. ''I enjoyed myself more on this story than any other.''

Once a year, at the request of the Junior Achievement organization, FORTUNE's board of editors elects new laureates to the U.S. Business Hall of Fame (page 104). All 101 singled out for distinguished business careers since the Hall of Fame was established in 1975 will be honored in a permanent exhibit opening this summer at Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry.