http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/ChrisCobler/6468 Not many communities of our size have local TV news. In terms of size, I've been told KAVU-TV is the 205th out of 212 TV markets. A letter writer yesterday took a KAVU newscaster to task for a laughing fit about a story.  I didn't see this particular newscast, so I don't have any opinion about it. I have laughed or groaned at other newscasts, but then I've laughed and groaned (mainly groaned) at Advocate mistakes. It's a tough business we're in, and we should be held accountable for our mistakes. We regularly publish criticism of the Advocate in letters to the editor, Speak Out calls and online article comments. I note this because we intended no slam against KAVU-TV by publishing yesterday's letter. In fact, we publish almost all letters to the editor we receive unless they're libelous or contain some other problem. Our goal is to engage the community in a conversation, not to dictate what is said. I've lived in a city larger than Victoria that had no local TV news. All of the TV news came from the metro stations about 60 minutes away. I don't consider that a good situation for getting as much news covered as possible. Those metro stations almost never came to our community, even to cover an NCAA-IAA football team. As would any TV viewer or newspaper reader, I might criticize what I see or read from time to time. But I think we're all much better off with as much news coverage as we can get. I see a time when the newspaper and the TV station might work together to provide even better coverage of the community. With the Internet blurring the lines between print and video, the media world is changing rapidly. Already, you can watch local video all of the time at VictoriaAdvocate.com. Check out our video player on our home page. Another new exciting feature of our home page is AP video. Whenever it's convenient, you can watch the latest news from around the world. If you want just sports video, go to our sports section. You no longer need to wait for the morning or evening news. Our increased emphasis on video has given me new appreciation for what TV newscasters do. Yes, you certainly can look foolish on live TV. They're working without a net, and most in Victoria are relatively new to the business. But I don't take any delight in their mistakes. Despite any past conflict between print and broadcast journalists, KAVU is not our competition. Those who watch local TV news likely will turn to the local newspaper or Web site for more.  The greater good is keeping you informed and involved. Our biggest competition comes from those who don't care to be either. Not many communities of our size have local TV news. In terms of size, I've been told KAVU-TV is the 205th out of 212 TV markets. A letter writer yesterday took a KAVU newscaster to task for a laughing fit about a story.  I didn't see this particular newscast, so I don't have any opinion about it. I have laughed or groaned at other newscasts, but then I've laughed and groaned (mainly groaned) at Advocate mistakes. It's a tough business we're in, and we should be held accountable for our mistakes. We regularly publish criticism of the Advocate in letters to the editor, Speak Out calls and online article comments. I note this because we intended no slam against KAVU-TV by publishing yesterday's letter. In fact, we publish almost all letters to the editor we receive unless they're libelous or contain some other problem. Our goal is to engage the community in a conversation, not to dictate what is said. I've lived in a city larger than Victoria that had no local TV news. All of the TV news came from the metro stations about 60 minutes away. I don't consider that a good situation for getting as much news covered as possible. Those metro stations almost never came to our community, even to cover an NCAA-IAA football team. As would any TV viewer or newspaper reader, I might criticize what I see or read from time to time. But I think we're all much better off with as much news coverage as we can get. I see a time when the newspaper and the TV station might work together to provide even better coverage of the community. With the Internet blurring the lines between print and video, the media world is changing rapidly. Already, you can watch local video all of the time at VictoriaAdvocate.com. Check out our video player on our home page. Another new exciting feature of our home page is AP video. Whenever it's convenient, you can watch the latest news from around the world. If you want just sports video, go to our sports section. You no longer need to wait for the morning or evening news. Our increased emphasis on video has given me new appreciation for what TV newscasters do. Yes, you certainly can look foolish on live TV. They're working without a net, and most in Victoria are relatively new to the business. But I don't take any delight in their mistakes. Despite any past conflict between print and broadcast journalists, KAVU is not our competition. Those who watch local TV news likely will turn to the local newspaper or Web site for more.  The greater good is keeping you informed and involved. Our biggest competition comes from those who don't care to be either. en-us I have my opinions... but lately I wish I could be a "comment flip-flopper" and take back some things I have said. We are lucky with what we have and being from Shiner I should have thought about that before I was quick to pass judgements on writers and their articles. Open mouth... insert keyboard. http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/ChrisCobler/6468/#c_35247 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/ChrisCobler/6468/#c_35247 I have my opinions... but lately I wish I could be a "comment flip-flopper" and take back some things I have said. We are lucky with what we have and being from Shiner I should have thought about that before I was quick to pass judgements on writers and their articles. Open mouth... insert keyboard. Chris, you're a gracious man! Two big stories this past week were the TCEQ public hearing in Goliad and the TxDot meeting in Victoria. Was KAVU at either? I saw nothing on the newscasts about either. Did I miss them?  http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/ChrisCobler/6468/#c_35248 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/ChrisCobler/6468/#c_35248 Chris, you're a gracious man! Two big stories this past week were the TCEQ public hearing in Goliad and the TxDot meeting in Victoria. Was KAVU at either? I saw nothing on the newscasts about either. Did I miss them?  Kenneth - KAVU was at the TTC meeting... but they showed a little 30 second blip about it - well into their newscast. I just thought that with 1100 people showing up and that one LONE person clapping FOR the TTC - that someone would have said something about it. But .... I am the new Toni. I am going to stay positive and just post things on my blog and my massive email list... :) http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/ChrisCobler/6468/#c_35256 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/ChrisCobler/6468/#c_35256 Kenneth - KAVU was at the TTC meeting... but they showed a little 30 second blip about it - well into their newscast. I just thought that with 1100 people showing up and that one LONE person clapping FOR the TTC - that someone would have said something about it. But .... I am the new Toni. I am going to stay positive and just post things on my blog and my massive email list... :) I don't find us particularly lucky to have a news station that will NOT cover important events in our city.  Every news cannot be a happy smiley face story and that seems to be what KAVU wants to only covers.  How can the residents of Victoria really learn about local events if they are not informed?  THANK you, Victoria Advocate, for giving us the news like you see it with warts and all.  THANK you for caring enough to actually send a reporter out to do a story (rather than hanging your head out the studio door with a camera and filming Furr's again)!!  Thank you for asking the right questions to get an answer. So rather than focusing on the bad of KAVU, let's focus on the good of the Advocate.  THANK YOU.... http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/ChrisCobler/6468/#c_35258 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/ChrisCobler/6468/#c_35258 I don't find us particularly lucky to have a news station that will NOT cover important events in our city.  Every news cannot be a happy smiley face story and that seems to be what KAVU wants to only covers.  How can the residents of Victoria really learn about local events if they are not informed?  THANK you, Victoria Advocate, for giving us the news like you see it with warts and all.  THANK you for caring enough to actually send a reporter out to do a story (rather than hanging your head out the studio door with a camera and filming Furr's again)!!  Thank you for asking the right questions to get an answer. So rather than focusing on the bad of KAVU, let's focus on the good of the Advocate.  THANK YOU.... I agree....If KAVU boasts that they are our "Hometown News" shouldn't we see more local news? Yes. If I wanted to see national news at 5, 6, or 10 I will watch CNN or Fox or MSNBC...  It's sad when KENS 5 coers more local news aroound Victoria than Newscenter 25 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/ChrisCobler/6468/#c_40019 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/ChrisCobler/6468/#c_40019 I agree....If KAVU boasts that they are our "Hometown News" shouldn't we see more local news? Yes. If I wanted to see national news at 5, 6, or 10 I will watch CNN or Fox or MSNBC...  It's sad when KENS 5 coers more local news aroound Victoria than Newscenter 25