OK, loyal readers, be honest and tell me this: What do Twin Cities television newscasters have that print journalism reporters don’t?

Talk in our newsroom last week centered around whether it was news that WCCO TV newscasters Frank Vascellaro and Chris Shaffer from the Twin Cities were coming to the lakes area. Part of me said, “I guess it is news because everyone is talking about them.” Another part of me said, “Really? Is their visit to Nisswa and Crosslake really news?”

After all, they also are somewhat of a competing media, though they were here to promote winter in our area.

First I heard news people at the Dispatch discuss whether the famed newscasters’ visit was worth mention in the newspaper. They eventually decided it was worth mentioning because people would probably want to watch the newscasts.

Then I heard Tess Taylor reporting about their visits in several newscasts on BL Broadcasting radio stations.

On Facebook, the Brainerd Lakes Chamber promoted the visit to Grand View Lodge in Nisswa and Crosslake WinterFest activities. The Nisswa Chamber touted the celebrities’ ride on area snowmobile trails and golf game on the ice at Zorbaz. Mount Ski Gull talked about the men’s visit to the ski hill to try snow tubing.

Reporter Kate Perkins’ aunt called to make sure she was aware of the WCCO visit.

My own mother sent me a Facebook message asking if I’d see Vascellaro and Shaffer in Crosslake. I replied that I wouldn’t be at WinterFest until Saturday, so unless the anchor and weatherman turned up at Beach Day at Nisswa School on Friday, I probably wouldn’t see them.

What did Nisswa principal Erin Herman say when she saw me on Friday at the school? “We invited Frank Vascellaro and Chris Shaffer from WCCO to Beach Day and they might come.”

Next I saw a couple of pictures on Facebook of Pine River-Backus Superintendent Cathy Bettino — one with Vascellaro and one with Shaffer at WinterFest.

Hmmmmm, I wondered why she didn’t have her photo taken with me on my recent visit to PR-B School. Perhaps it’s because I didn’t ask her to be a weather watcher for the Pine River Journal.

I have to admit that like many, I tuned in to a couple broadcasts of “Goin’ to the (Frozen) Lake” to see what the men had to say about our area in winter. I also tuned in last summer when they visited.

I just wonder how they’ll promote my visit one day, “Goin’ to the Big City.”

Back to my original question: What do Twin Cities television newscasters have that print journalism reporters don’t?

Maybe I don’t want to know the answer!