Some viewers say we only concentrate on the negative. Others say we're full of fluff. What do you think?

I recently received a package in the mail that surprised me quite a bit. Inside was a clipped out newspaper article about a barber giving free haircuts for a good cause. There was a handwritten note with the article that read:

"Dear Jenny- I challenge you to do this kind of reporting and make our community a better place."

This gave me pause because I feel like KVAL News reports a lot of stories about the good things going on in our community. But this person obviously had a much different opinion.

This question of balance is something I've been wondering about for a long time. Many viewers complain that we only cover the "negative" stories in our community. But others complain we do too much "fluff."

Here is an example:

On March 2, photojournalist Kelly Lyon did a story on a local band that has been together for 20 years. The first comment posted on the story on KVAL.com was:

"This is not news!!"

A few comments later, someone wrote this:

"Thanks KVAL for this news story. With all of the depressing and negative news lately, it's good to read a story that is a bit more cheerful and uplifting."

It is also confusing to look at the stats from KVAL.com as a guide for what people are interested in. Here are the most viewed stories on KVAL.com for the last three weeks:

WEEK 1: NW man dies urinating on downed power line
WEEK 2: Driver found dead in truck overturned in creek
WEEK 3: Duck star James pleads not guilty to charges

I have always tried to guide the newsroom to do stories that affect the most people in the community. That means tackling tough issues and tough questions. But I do think our newscasts should have a balance of news, including stories about crime, politics, the economy, schools and the things that make our area unique.

So, what do you think? Do we do a good job of being balanced? Would you like to see us do more "happy" news? Or would you like us to be more aggressive? What kind of stories do you like to hear about?

By the way, if you ever have a story idea, you can email me at jkuglin@kval.com or call the KVAL Tipline at (541) 685-KVAL.