Since I seldom am home when the news is on television, I often go to my computer to view video news. I was enthused to learn that a new service would be becoming available to online patrons of our newspaper.

The Daily Dunklin Democrat now has this new service available to online patrons. The new service: Video from the Associated Press.

Video is now available on the Daily Dunklin Democrat's web site for Internet users using computers with Microsoft Internet Explorer 6, Microsoft Media Player 10, and Macromedia Flash 6. The software is not yet compatible with Macintosh computers.

There is no cost for this service either to the newspaper or to our customers; it is free and provided by the Associated Press for customers in the United States.

The video will provide video summaries of breaking news stories for Web sites. Simply go to www.dddnews.com, find the "AP VIDEO" icon and click on it.

According to Associated Press Kansas-Missouri bureau chief Randy Picht, speaking to editors of Delta Publishing recently, the service will eventually be able to receive video from member newspapers, including submitted video from the general public, in much the same way newspapers currently accept photographs submitted by private individuals and other organizations. "And think about it," he said: "It doesn't get more local than your paper, and there is no way a TV station can get a news crew out to an event as it's breaking unless it's right in their city.

"And if they're 50 miles from you, and you're right there, who's got the best chance for real-time video?"

The aim of the AP Online Video Network, according to the Associated Press web site is to satisfy the real-time video news appetite of a growing audience.

So if you have not noticed the service yet, go to our web site and look for the "AP VIDEO" icon, click on it and watch!

Jack Rollins is the managing editor of the Daily Dunklin Democrat.