June 2003

CNHI sells 3 dailies

The Big Spring Herald, Borger News-Herald and Sweetwater Reporter have new owners. Illinois-based Horizon Publications Inc. purchased the newspapers from Community Newspaper Holdings Inc. and took over May 16.

The three Texas newspapers were among 12 CNHI sold to Horizon, including newspapers in Oklahoma cities Antlers, Guymon and Poteau; Pennsylvania cities Kane, Punxsutawney, Ridgeway and St. Mary’s; Broken Bow, Neb.; and Plymouth, Ind.

Horizon has 70 newspaper products in 16 states including 23 dailies but the purchase is its first holdings in Texas.

“Horizon has one mission, to produce and deliver quality community newspapers to our subscribers while providing maximum benefit to our advertisers,” CEO B.J. Riley said.

Chronicle will no longer accept handgun advertising

HOUSTON — The Houston Chronicle will no longer accept classified ads for handguns, except from licensed firearms dealers and will not accept classified ads for assault weapons from anyone — licensed or not, according to PR Newswire.

The Chronicle will continue to accept classified ads for long guns, rifles and shotguns. The new policy went into effect on May 1.

The Chronicle changed its policy after receiving a request from Texans for Gun Safety.

“Newspaper classifieds are an open door for criminals, domestic abusers, minors, terrorists, and others who cannot pass a background check to get guns with no background check, no questions asked and no records kept,” Dave Smith, president of TGS, said. “We call on all newspapers and media across the state that carry advertisements for the sale of firearms to join this action by the Houston Chronicle in promoting public health and safety.”

Texans for Gun Safety is a participating organization in the National Campaign to Close the Newspaper Gun Loophole, which the campaign says is the unregulated sale of firearms through classified ads without a background check on the buyer.

The National Campaign to Close the Newspaper Gun Loophole is a coalition of approximately 25 gun violence prevention organizations.

The campaign is asking newspapers all across the country to voluntarily stop taking classified ads for firearms from unlicensed sellers.

Since the campaign began in November 2001, newspapers changing their policies include Chicago Tribune, Philadelphia Inquirer, Miami Herald, Sandusky (Ohio) Register, Willoughby (Ohio) News-Herald, Denver Post, Rocky Mountain News, Detroit Free Press, Detroit News, Dubuque (Iowa) Telegraph Herald, and now the Houston Chronicle.

Additional information on the National Campaign to Close the Newspaper Loophole can be found at www.gunloophole.com.

New weekly starts in Kingsville area

KINGSVILLE — American Consolidated Media, Inc. of Dallas announced the launch of The Kingsville Journal, a new weekly newspaper serving the community of Kingsville. The first issue was published on April 27.

Tony Morris, publisher at the Alice Echo-News Journal, will serve also as publisher of The Kingsville Journal. In addition, Morris will continue his responsibilities for The Freer Press, The Premont Journal, Orange Grove Journal and The Flying K, the twice-monthly newspaper serving the Naval Air Station in Kingsville.

Mary Rodriguez-Goetsch, longtime Kleberg County resident and former publisher, regional ad manager and ad manager at the Alice Echo-News Journal, will serve as general manager.

ACM, directly and through its affiliates, owns and operates five daily and 20 weekly and semiweekly newspapers in Texas and others in Oklahoma.

Express-News names scholarship for slain reporter

SAN ANTONIO — The San Antonio Express-News Charitable Foundation is accepting applications for the new Philip True Memorial Scholarship. Deadline is June 16 and the $2,000 award will be paid directly to the chosen student’s college or university.

The scholarship was named for True who was the Mexico City bureau chief when he was killed in 1998 while on a 100-mile hike through the Sierra Madre Occidental to research the Huichol culture. He was 42 when he started working as a full-time journalist and the scholarship is named in his honor for anyone pursuing a journalism degree, regardless of age.

For more information contact 210-250-3233.

Brownsville revamps site

BROWNSVILLE — The Brownsville Herald revamped its Web site and added content and a link to its Spanish edition El Nuevo Heraldo.

The site was developed by the staff and systems manager Doug Fullerson and technical support assistant Max Gajowski. One addition is a comment section for readers to voice their opinions on articles and editorials.

The new site also has archives dating to 1993, five more years than previously available. Free archive access will be available until the end of the year and then for a fee starting next year.

Sterling City changes size

STERLING CITY — The Sterling City News-Record began publishing as a broadsheet in May. The newspaper was five columns by 16 inches and now is 21 1/2 inches and printed on newsprint.