News Director Blog
I spend a big portion of my day answering the KVAL Tipline (541-685-KVAL.) The Tipline is one of our best ways of finding out about stories because our viewers are our eyes and ears in every corner of Western Oregon. I receive tips ranging from massive corruption to lost pets and everything in-between. This year we won First Place from the Oregon Associated Press for Investigative Reporting for a story idea we received from our Tipline about traffic lights that stay green at the same time in Albany. Often the stories I hear from viewers break my heart, especially when I feel like I can't help them. Sometimes they make me laugh, while others leave me completely baffled. Here are the first two phone calls I took this morning, just a sampling of viewer tips: ME: Hello, sir. You left me a message? CALLER: Yes, I was watching OPB last week and they had a story about how Hawaii is sending its garbage to Oregon. Did you know that? ME: No, I wasn't aware of that. CALLER: So, here's what I want to know: Why can't they just burn their garbage in the biggest incinerator ever? They've got 'em on the island. They're called volcanoes. ME: Well... I'm not sure. CALLER: I mean, it may sound crazy, and I know people shouldn't go near the edge, but with all of our technology, what if we could build a machine that could dump it in there? ME: I'm not sure... I'll try to find out more about it. CALLER: Okay. I know you think that sounds crazy but that's what this country is missing. People with big ideas. ME: You might be right about that.
ME: You can certainly give me a story idea. CALLER: My friend has been living in the woods and now he's living with me and he just went to the bathroom all over himself. But I found out that Cahoots will come get him and take him to take a shower at a service station. And I just thought that if you did a story on him it would raise awareness on people with mental illnesses because he doesn't take drugs and he's not smoking anything or drinking. And every day he's been eating out of the trash cans and he's only about 30. I want people to see how bad someone can get if they don't take their medication. ME: ... I'm really sorry for all that you're going through, but I would need his permission to do the story, to make him an example. CALLER: (crying) Yeah, he wouldn't want to be in a story. I just wanted to tell someone. ME: I'm so sorry, it must be so hard. I think you are doing the right thing. CALLER: Thank you. Thanks for listening. The world is just hard for people without money who won't take their medication. ME: That's very true. CALLER: Okay. You have a nice day. ME: You too. Good luck. If you have a story idea or a tip you'd like KVAL to investigate, call the KVAL Tipline at (541) 685-KVAL or contact KVAL News at kvalnews@kval.com 
KVAL News earned a 1-2-3 sweep of the 2009 Oregon AP Broadcast Awards for Investigative Reporting in results released Monday. KVAL.com won Best Web site Overall Excellence and Best Breaking News Online. Read more »
Some viewers say we only concentrate on the negative. Others say we're full of fluff. What do you think? Read more »
I've been noticing a big influx of angry emails and online comments. What's going on? Comments on our stories, or the people in our stories, are often crude and spiteful. Read more »
On Friday, Oct. 2, UO football coach Chip Kelly announced that running back LeGarrette Blount could be reinstated to Oregon's football team this...Read more »
While most everyone else was sleeping in and enjoying their Labor Day at home or on vacation, many news folks had to head to...Read more »
Here at KVAL News, we pride ourselves on being first with breaking news that happens in our community. But maybe you've wondered why? Why do we try so hard to get on the air immediately, even if we don't know all of the information? Read more »
During our morning meeting today we debated whether or not people are getting sick of hearing about town hall meetings.
Are you getting tired of the news coverage?...Read more »
KVAL is a local station and we focus on local news, so it is always difficult when we try to tackle large, national issues. However, in the case of health care reform, everyone is affected and the debate is happening on a national and local level. Read more » |
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