A humor blog pointing out the lighter and more satirical side of Richmond culture, politics, and people. Billed as "Richmond's most accurate source of misinformation".

The blog can be found at http://tobaccoave.wordpress.com/.

Awards and Recognition

  • Named "Best Blog" in 2008 by RVANews.
  • Named Best Blog in 2009 by Richmond Magazine readers.
  • RVANews also awarded Tobacco Avenue the "Post of the Year" award in 2008 for this post about NBC12 anchor Gene Cox entitled Sources: NBC12 anchor Gene Cox pissed he didn’t make Style’s Power List.
  • NBC12 report on Jeff Kelley NBC12.com

History

The site was started in December 2007 as an "Onion"-type satirical news site, but localized to Richmond. The site publishes daily fake news stories.

Most all of the site's articles are penned by former Richmond Times-Dispatch reporter Jeff Kelley. The site's "editor and publisher" is the non-existent Randolph J. Strummer Jr.

A cartoonist, The Martin Agency's Travis Jones, contributes weekly "Headlines" comics, while graphic designer Dana Craig creates Photoshopped art and faux "Tobacco Avenue Magazine" covers.

All of Tobacco Avenue's articles are written in a professional news style, adhering to AP format to give the site a very "newsy" feel. Columns typically run once a week, purported to be written by local residents or celebrities, though all of them are developed by Kelley.

In February 2011, the site attempted to relaunch itself as a general humor blog. After a couple of such posts, the blog went silent.

Content

Like a real newspaper, the makeup of Tobacco Avenue strives for balance and moderation in coverage and political leanings. The blog frequently touches on the news of the day in Richmond, national politics, pop culture, restaurants and trends. Names are often made up except when public figures or well-known people and organizations are being satirized.

The site is also known for its recurring jokes, such as: -Jokes regarding Gene Cox, veteran NBC12 newsman, as though the anchor were a superhero or mythical Richmond figure. -Mayor Dwight Jones is typically satired as a big eater. -During his campaign in 2008, Richmond candidate for mayor Paul Goldman was frequently satirized as an extreme sportsman, though the political guru is a rather thin, nerdy character in the city.

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