Do you open the Little Windows into your heart?

By ChrisCobler in Your Advocate: an editor's blog

I wasn't expecting much on a quiet Sunday in Victoria, but we couldn't pass up a chance to visit John Griffin and Lynn Knaupp's beautiful historic home. We knew little about the promised impromptu concert there. I pulled up a ...

Why do bad things happen to good people?

By ChrisCobler in Your Advocate: an editor's blog

You do all you can to protect your children from life. You're never in the least bit prepared for death. Death came crashing far too close to home Monday while we were enjoying an afternoon at the pool. Our 14-year-old ...

For Marco

By ChrisCobler in Your Advocate: an editor's blog

As we near the end of our "Fatal Funnel" series, I am heartened to read so many positive comments attached to the remarkable video produced my multimedia broadcast editor Bill Clough. I hope our print readers will come to this ...

Please say hello to our newest Ranging Reporter

By ChrisCobler in Your Advocate: an editor's blog

I'm pleased to introduce to you J.R. Ortega, the Advocate's newest Ranging Reporter. J.R. comes to us from the University of Texas-Pan American, where he was editor-in-chief of the student newspaper there. He also has experience working for publications in ...

How do you survive or thrive in a down economy?

By ChrisCobler in Your Advocate: an editor's blog

I'm giving the opening remarks at the monthly Victoria chamber of commerce luncheon on Wednesday. Hope to see you there. I believe supporting our local businesses is one of the best things we can do for our community. To test ...

How much do you appreciate where you live?

By ChrisCobler in Your Advocate: an editor's blog

Particularly in a small town, many complain there's nothing to do. I heard that lament often while growing up in Topeka, Kan. However, Victoria is ideal for me. Consider my weekend: -- I spent Saturday morning playing with the friendly ...

You need hocus pocus to please everyone all of the time

By ChrisCobler in Your Advocate: an editor's blog

We work at listening to our readers every day. The trick is readers have many different opinions about what they want to see in their newspaper. Usually, we hear from readers complaining because that's human nature. You don't usually pick ...

How long until the end of TV news as we know it?

By ChrisCobler in Your Advocate: an editor's blog

When I was in Austin this week, I spoke with a couple of longtime broadcasters about the future of local and network TV news. They agreed it was bleak. I take no relish in this assessment. The Texas Association of ...

Driving to Austin on behalf of state's news media

By ChrisCobler in Your Advocate: an editor's blog

I'll be testifying Wednesday before the Texas Senate Jurisprudence Committee in favor of a bill aimed at being sure the media cannot be gagged. You may read an analysis of the bill here. The bill clarifies 2007 legislation that could ...

How credible is online journalism?

By ChrisCobler in Your Advocate: an editor's blog

We're excited to be working with the Associated Press Managing Editors Credibility project. APME is an industry organization that has developed this effort to build readers' trust in newspapers. This year's focus is on online journalism. How credible is it? ...

Newspapers' value starts with community service

By ChrisCobler in Your Advocate: an editor's blog

Our readers are the real judges of our work every day, but it's nice to hear kind words from our peers, too. At last weekend's Texas Associated Press Managing Editors' annual convention, the Victoria Advocate received eight first-place awards, six ...