Real Name: Chris Cobler Address: 311 E. Constitution St. Victoria, TX 77901 Gender: male Member Since: September 16, 2007 Last Signed In: August 20, 2008 Profile Views: 2023 Blog Views: 11994 We've reserved a seat for you at our morning planning meetings What headline would you put on the Ratcliff story? Will newspapers be the last mass medium? Ethics board discusses how we handle tough photographs, stories Are you wild about the Texas Zoo? I'd say the future is in good hands What comments do you have for next ethics board meeting? Many lessons left to learn from Fatal Funnel How much do you think a funeral escort costs? Who knew what and when? September 07 October 07 November 07 December 07 January 08 February 08 March 08 April 08 May 08 June 08 July 08 August 08 
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What story deserves the front page and why?
When we place a story on the front page, we are not advocating for it.
Rather, we make our news decisions based primarily on how interested and important our readers might be on any given article. In the case of Monday's story on the first gay-pride event in the Crossroads region, we thought many readers would find it interesting. We figured some readers would object to the event while others would celebrate it, based on their individual political and religious backgrounds. We were looking at the story, however, only through the filter of what is news. Of course, any definition is subjective, but most journalism textbooks cite these characteristics: timeliness, impact, proximity, controversy, prominence, currency and oddity. By this standard, you can see why the first gay-pride event in the Crossroads region would fit the definition of news. Every day, we weigh the local menu of stories and see what's best to serve up on the front page. If you would like to see this process in action, I encourage you to e-mail or call me at 361-574-1271 to arrange a visit to our afternoon news meeting. After Monday's story appeared, I called a Yoakum reader who had canceled his subscription. He shared that he thought Americans were losing their rights and didn't think a conservative community wanted to endorse such an event. I told him I agreed with him about the importance of our individual liberties. My bias, based on my line of work, is that a locally owned newspaper, such as the Advocate, provides the foundation for those rights in a democratic society. The First Amendment protects not only the freedom of the press, but freedom of religion, freedom of speech, the right to peaceably assemble and the right to petition the government. I encouraged him to exercise his rights by voicing his opinion about this event and any other news. We ended our call on a positive note, and I told him I hoped I'd see him at the Yoakum Lions Club meeting on May 20. I just learned today I've been invited to speak to this group. He said to tell the Lions I'd talked to "a grumpy old man." I hung up with a smile on my face. Even when we disagree, I am heartened when we can do so agreeably. 32 comments from 16 users
posted by
SugarMagnolia
on May 12, 2008 at 08:10 PM
Chris - you know that sometimes I can be a critic of the Advocate, because I know that in every case I feel I must speak up and voice my displeasure; the roots of this lie in my love for this area and, yes, for the Advocate. I sometimes criticize simply because I KNOW yall can do better, and I hold the VicAd to a high standard. In this case, the VicAd did the right thing by announcing the gay-pride event. You have made me proud, and I appreciate that others might be offended by it. I understand their position, and am glad Mary Ann voiced her opinion, as did the gentleman from Yoakum. Maybe you can take heart in that lost subscription by the one I have recently begun, thanks to your and Hamp's help. Like it or not, there ARE gay, bisexual, and transgender people among us, even right here in our neck of the woods. I grew up in Houston, where events like this are just part of normal life, and it is no big deal. It's not for everybody, and those who oppose it are free to voice their opposition and even protest peacefully. I have seen both sides of the issue, and am so glad to be an American where we all have a voice. I think it was totally appropriate for the VicAd to do a small write-up on this event that involves some of its citizens. It is a step toward enlightenment for this community, I hope. I do forget that so many things that were part of everyday life in a large urban area, things I grew up around and was exposed to and always took for granted to be part of EVERYBODY'S life, are not necessarily so in a smaller community. I learned that lesson when I moved down here. It was an adjustment for sure, and not necessarily a bad thing. There are many things I love about this area, or else I would not stay. Having said that, I believe you are taking bold and necessary steps with this inclusion in the paper. After all, agree or not, they are part of this community as much as you or I. Thank you, VicAd, for being progressive and inclusionary. posted by
maryann
on May 12, 2008 at 06:16 PM
I was disappointed that the Advocate chose to put this story as a main headline. Homosexual acts are offensive to many, and I'm not surprised that someone from Yoakum cancelled the subscription. I haven't left the paper around today for the kids to glance at the front page, and they will not find it either. IMO, homosexual sex doesn't need to be explained to a kid because he saw it on the front page of the "hometown" newspaper. There will be another time to discuss this, but the discussion won't be generated by this newsource which in my opinion, is practicing in-your-face tactics with this headline. I think that's part of the intention, and as a reader, I don't appreciate it. I realize that opinions differ on this issue. I'm glad that I can voice mine here. |
