Crikey, why did we write about alligator hunting?

By ChrisCobler in Your Advocate: an editor's blog

Our Tuesday story about alligator hunting in South Texas evoked a lively online discussion. One reader e-mailed me directly with her concerns about the story. At my request, she elaborated on her concerns: "To be honest,yes, I oppose hunting of ...

Aggies, butterflies, Pandora radio, and keeping Victoria beautiful

By ChrisCobler in Your Advocate: an editor's blog

My former features editor in Denton is now the adviser of The Battalion, the student newspaper at Texas A&M. She invited me to speak to her students Sunday and then to a class Monday morning. First, Aggies are a polite ...

What turns regular people into monsters?

By ChrisCobler in Your Advocate: an editor's blog

Thanks to the reader who sent me this e-mail today: "I'm sure you get messaged a lot, so i'm sorry to add another to the pile. I blog a lot, at multiple sites. I read forums, I participate in many ...

What is it about stories involving dogs?

By ChrisCobler in Your Advocate: an editor's blog

Our front-page story on the wounded dogs generated considerable discussion. I share this e-mail exchange with a reader to help explain the story more: Victoria Advocate,   I am very disappointed with the decision that was made to place an ...

What new technology will change the world?

By ChrisCobler in Your Advocate: an editor's blog

What technological advancements most changed our lives? Personal computers? The Internet? E-mail? Cell phones? Others might be passing fads. Friendster vs. Myspace vs. Facebook vs. whatever social-networking site is yet to come. What might replace YouTube? It's hard to know, ...

Be true to your school

By ChrisCobler in Your Advocate: an editor's blog

Our poll allowing you to vote for the school with the most spirit is up and running. We had some problems with getting it posted as early as we wanted this morning, but the poll is up now. Click here ...

Well, at least it's finally raining

By ChrisCobler in Your Advocate: an editor's blog

I talked to a variety of people yesterday who were less than impressed by forecasts that even to the end called for us to get heavy rain and high winds. Of course, the big joke around town on Saturday was ...

Galveston County Daily News team headed to Victoria

By ChrisCobler in Your Advocate: an editor's blog

Our publisher received an early-morning call from the publisher of the Galveston County Daily News. We're honored to help the News print its Sunday edition. A team of journalists is en route to the Advocate's offices. We'll get them set ...

National company that hosts Advocate news site is down

By ChrisCobler in Your Advocate: an editor's blog

This is the message we received from the company that hosts the new portion of our site: All,   Update: - All sites are down. - MI is in currently investigating the issue with its hosting vendor. - We have no ...

Follow hurricane coverage through Twitter

By ChrisCobler in Your Advocate: an editor's blog

Photo editor Frank Tilley is posting images as he drives around the coast of Calhoun County. Check it out on Twitter by clicking here. I like Frank's shot of reporter Tara Bozick with her pen and notebook at the ready. ...

If we couldn't laugh, we would all go insane

By ChrisCobler in Your Advocate: an editor's blog

Hurricane Ike remains a deadly serious situation for our coastal neighbors near Galveston. Even still, my favorite human trait is the ability to laugh under the worst of circumstances. For my morning chuckle, I thank H. Clay Atchison III of ...

Take a hike, Ike -- newspaper delivery will change Friday

By ChrisCobler in Your Advocate: an editor's blog

A voluntary evacuation makes it a challenge to deliver the newspaper. We will be unable to provide full distribution of the print edition because of the voluntary evacuation, but we're taking extra steps to make the newspaper available to anyone ...

Please share your best storm photos

By ChrisCobler in Your Advocate: an editor's blog

We have our photographers spread out across the Crossroads region, but we can't be everywhere. Please send us your best pictures to newsroom@vicad.com or post them to Seen on the Scene. Be sure to include your contact information and an ...

What are the stories you want us to pursue?

By ChrisCobler in Your Advocate: an editor's blog

Obviously, every journalist we have is focused on covering Ike. Here is a running list of angles we're pursuing: - Update from each of our key coastal counties -- Calhoun, Refugio and Jackson - Evacuation decision in Victoria and elsewhere ...

Advocate partners with Google to make its archives dating back to 1846 available

By ChrisCobler in Your Advocate: an editor's blog

We've partnered with Google to make all of our archives available and searchable online. Google announced the partnership today on its blog. You also may read about the deal on this industry blog. We're just today seeing the results of ...