The Texas Center for Community Journalism is sponsoring an in-depth look at sports coverage in its June 13-15 workshop, “Not Just a Game: Sports Coverage for Texas Community Newspapers.”

The workshop will be held in Arlington, with one entire day spent at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. Participants will meet at a seminar room at the Ballpark and will tour the stadium and the press box and attend a game on Thursday, June 14, between the Rangers and the Arizona Diamondbacks.

The workshop will be limited to 30 participants. Workshop tuition, room and food are covered by a special grant from the Texas Newspaper Foundation.

Faculty for the workshop include sportswriting authority Joe Gisondi, Hall of Fame pitcher and Rangers president Nolan Ryan, ESPN reporter Richard Durrett, and photojournalist Robert Hart.

Tommy Thomason, TCCJ director, said the workshop will enable sports reporters and editors to “re-think how they are covering sports.”

“This workshop will obviously be a lot of fun,” Thomason said, “but more importantly, it’s a chance for sportswriters to think about their jobs and their whole approach to sports.  Sport is an important part of Texas community newspapers and it’s a great way to connect with new readers and younger readers. We’re going to spend this workshop time figuring out how to do that job better.”

Participants can register at http://digital.community-journalism.net/workshops/apply.

TPA NEWSPAPER EXECUTIVES' RETREAT

THE WESTIN RIVERWALK, SAN ANTONIO, TX
JUNE 21-23, 2012

HOTEL DEADLINE: MAY 28 at 5:00 P.M.

Registration is limited to the first 80 newspapers that apply!

Visit the event page to register.

Newspapers are undergoing a transformation — redesigning front pages with fresh looks that showcase what’s on the inside. Now TPA is doing the same.

The association’s annual summer convention is new and improved this year. The convention not only has a new name — TPA Newspaper Executives' Retreat — but also a new format.

Members have often remarked that the biggest benefit of these annual events is the opportunity to discuss industry-related problems and solutions with peers.

That’s why TPA has decided to place a greater emphasis on group discussion. We’re organizing round-table talks at the retreat and asking experts from our own membership to lead the conversation.

  "Smart Phone, Smart Journalism"

Friday, May 11, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
On campus at UT Austin

•  Learn how to make the most of the handiest reporting tool around – your smart phone!

•  Find out about smart phone apps every journalist must have

•  Get tips and advice from the pros

Registration is free to TPA members through a Texas Press Association grant. Registration is limited to 16 participants, so sign up ASAP! Contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it to register. Lunch will be provided.

TCU’s Texas Center for Community Journalism and the Texas Press Association have partnered with the Donald W. Reynolds National Center for Business Journalism to bring free training in business journalism to the community journalists of Texas. 

The daylong workshop, Uncovering the Best Local Business Stories, will take place today, April 26, in the Brown-Lupton University Union at Texas Christian University. Click here to follow live coverage of the event. The workshop begins at 9 a.m. and ends at 5 p.m.

Instructors include Linda Austin, executive director of the Reynolds Center; Carlie Kollath of the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal; Chris Roush of the University of North Carolina; and Doug Swanson of The Dallas Morning News.