Newsletter
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Why report on a death when the family might not want coverage?
By ChrisCobler in Your Advocate: an editor's blog
Few events in a person's life rival the pain of a friend or family member's suicide. This is an intensely personal experience. Into this difficult territory, we try to tread lightly as journalists. At the Victoria Advocate, it is our ...
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What is the proper news coverage of civil courts?
By ChrisCobler in Your Advocate: an editor's blog
In criminal cases, we know those accused are presumed innocent. Even so, information usually is available from law enforcement and others about why the person is being accused of the crime. The defendants generally are advised by their lawyer to ...
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How do you survive a long car ride?
By ChrisCobler in Your Advocate: an editor's blog
We had a wonderful family reunion in Arizona, where my parents are retired after too many miserable Kansas winters. Our car ride there was another story, oddly reminiscent of Midwestern winter road trips. I generally don't mind driving, particularly when ...
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What are best practices for reporting on suicide?
By ChrisCobler in Your Advocate: an editor's blog
Suicide is one of the most difficult subjects any journalist encounters. Coverage may lead to feelings of anger, pain and denial directed by survivors toward the media organization. Additionally, various national studies have shown certain types of coverage might lead ...
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What are your top journalism movies of all time?
By ChrisCobler in Your Advocate: an editor's blog
My co-workers have been laughing at me this week. How is that different from any other week, you might ask. Well, this week, Advocate graphics designer Julie Zavala decided to put me in a Superman costume for her illustration with ...
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What stories of serendipity do you have?
By ChrisCobler in Your Advocate: an editor's blog
My terrific editing professor, John Bremner, told me the story of "The Three Princes of Serendip," and I've loved the word ever since my college days. The princes were always making desirable discoveries by accident, providing the inspiration for what ...
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What ever did we do without email?
By ChrisCobler in Your Advocate: an editor's blog
Our work email went down today, prompting a flurry of Dilbert-like jokes: -- Old boss: Email is down -- productivity is skyrocketing. -- Boss to manager: Email all to let them know email is down. -- Manager: Going to lunch. ...
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What made you smile Saturday morning?
By ChrisCobler in Your Advocate: an editor's blog
I appreciated this photo by Todd Krainin on many levels. Obviously, it's a sweet moment -- the look on the boy's face is priceless. On a deeper level, you realize this is a Victoria West girl kissing an East player. ...
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How much does school spirit matter?
By ChrisCobler in Your Advocate: an editor's blog
"We've got spirit, yes we do. We've got spirit, how about you?" We all know the cheer, which ends, regardless of the outcome, with each side chanting, "We've got more." As long as everyone is having fun, does it really ...
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How do you want to spend your retirement?
By ChrisCobler in Your Advocate: an editor's blog
Goff dives with stingrays in Grand Cayman. Gayla Goff dives headlong into life. A Victoria native, Goff is retired but hardly retiring. The winner of the Advocate's Steve Jobs headline writing contest, she stopped by this week to collect her ...