ATX Good News is their effort to find positive news stories about the people of Central Texas.
AUSTIN, Texas — They made their careers as journalists anchoring television newscasts in Austin and often competed to see who would get the most viewers.
Now, Judy Maggio – formerly of KVUE – and Leslie Rhode – formerly of KXAN – have joined forces to work together; not on TV, but on social media sites like YouTube, Instagram and Facebook.
These days, Maggio and Rhode co-anchor a regular video show called ATX Good News. They recently celebrated their third anniversary of covering local news stories about people and organizations that reach out to help others, and who don’t usually get the attention of major news media outlets.
“We just wanted to simply highlight the positive stories, the inspirational stories of individuals, businesses, nonprofits, doing good to make this community a better place,” Rhode said.
“I think it gives us that sense of community and connection and lifts everybody up,” Maggio added.
Over the past three years, they’ve posted many stories, including some of their favorites.
“One of my most memorable good news stories was about a project called October’s Child,” Rhode said. “It was started by a man, Christoph Wagner, who lives in northwest Austin, and it all arose out of his need to make sure every child gets a free Halloween costume.”
Rhode said that Wagner spends his entire year going to thrift shops and sits behind a sewing machine to create new costumes from the items that he picks up.
“Then he has one day late in September where he gives all of the Halloween costumes away for free,” Rhode said.
Maggio recalled a recent good news story on ATX Good News about a group of local physicians who get together regularly to sing at nursing homes. They call themselves “Docs Noteworthy Ensemble.”
Both said it was their honor to interview local woman Kaylee Williamson, who was one of the first women with Down Syndrome to complete the New York City Marathon.
Those are just a few of the positive stories that Rhode and Maggio have presented that reveal their common goal to “highlight the good people doing their part to make our community motivated and happy.”