Houston, San Antonio merge capital bureaus

AUSTIN — The Houston Chronicle and San Antonio Express-News are merging their statehouse bureaus here. The papers are both owned by Hearst Newspapers.

The goal of the merger is to boost print and online reporting resources, the newspapers reported.

Chronicle bureau chief Clay Robison will be chief of the seven-person bureau. Express-News bureau chief Peggy Fikac will be deputy chief.

23 more papers go narrow

The Banner-Press in Brenham and the Hood County News both completed the switch to the narrower web width last month and 21 other newspapers printed at their sites also changed in the process.

The majority of Texas newspapers now print on the PASS (Preferred Advertising Submission Size) — 344 of the state’s 528 newspapers are on the 50-inch web size that is becoming the new industry standard.

Newspapers in Texas and nationwide began switching to the narrower web width about six years ago in an effort to cut rising newsprint costs.

But The Journal and Courier of Lafayette, Ind., took the smaller web even one step further July 31, switching to the more compact Berliner format at 18 1/2 inches long by 12 inches wide.

Officials believe the daily is the first newspaper in the nation to switch to the Berliner, named after a newspaper designer.

The smaller format has been growing in popularity in Europe in recent years and is used by Britain’s Guardian newspaper and France’s Le Monde, The Associated Press reported.

Directory photo contest deadline Oct. 13

The deadline to submit photos in the 8th annual Directory Photo Contest is Oct. 13.

One winner chosen by the TPA staff will be printed on the 2007 Texas Newspaper Directory with credit given inside to the photographer.

The contest is open to all TPA members. Entries must have been taken by a regular staff member or employee of the newspaper/organization and can include published and/or non-published photographs. Multiple entries by one photographer may be submitted.

To enter, send an original color photograph of a landscape, event or anything that depicts Texas. Digital files are accepted. Preferred file size is minimum 170 ppi resolution, 8 1/2” x 11” and saved as high quality jpeg or eps files. Send via e-mail or mail on CD-Rom to: Texas Press Association, Attn: Pauline Word, 718 West Fifth St., Ste. 100, Austin, Texas 78701 or e-mail paulineword@texaspress.com.

TNF Hall of Fame seeks nominations

For the first time in its 32-year history the Texas Newspaper Foundation is launching a Hall of Fame to honor the people who have made significant contributions to journalism in Texas.

The deadline to submit nominations for the inaugural class of the TNF Hall of Fame is Sept. 30.

Inductees will be honored at the Texas Press Association Midwinter Conference, Jan. 20, 2007, at the Westin Galleria in Houston.

Click here for complete nomination criteria and to download a nomination (PDF)