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TCCJ is committed to you in 2024

By AUSTIN LEWTER, TCCJ Director

As we bid farewell to another incredible year, we find ourselves reflecting on the cherished partnerships that have made 2023 truly extraordinary.

It is with immense gratitude and joy that we extend our heartfelt thanks to you — the hard-working news folk throughout the Lone Star State. The Texas Center for Community Journalism exists to serve you and we sincerely hope we have fulfilled that mission in 2023.

We covered a lot of ground over the past year.

Celebrate careers in Texas journalism: Nominations sought for TPA awards

Texas Press Association is seeking nominations for awards to be presented at the 2024 TPA Convention & Trade Show June 20-22 in College Station.

The honors include:

• Golden 50 Award

TPA’s Golden 50 Award honors men and women who have displayed exemplary service and selfless contributions to journalism for 50 or more years.

To nominate an industry veteran, download a nomination form from the TPA website and return the completed form to TPA Executive Director Mike Hodges, mhodges@texaspress.com, by March 1.

Ask an Attorney: The GDPR’s ‘right to be forgotten’ and its applicability to Texas newspapers

The European Union’s (EU) General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is a comprehensive data privacy and security law that imposes an array of obligations onto organizations that target the European market and collect personal data related to people residing in the EU. Article 17 of the GDPR, also known as the “right to be forgotten,” is one of its key provisions, allowing EU individuals to request that organizations delete their personal data if they no longer want it to be held and processed.

By MALLIKA DARGAN and GAVIN GEORGE, Haynes and Boone, LLP

The challenges of hiring good people

By KEN ESTEN COOKE, TPA president 2023-24

Hiring, firing and personnel issues are my least favorite parts of being a publisher. Most of us have had to deal with a bad hire – a surly receptionist, perhaps, or a reporter who shoots his mouth off on social media.

We’ve got to work constantly on good hires to build strong teams.

The Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde of artificial intelligence for newspapers

By Russell Viers, Digiversity.tv

I still remember the first time I showed Photoshop’s Clone Stamp Tool to a newspaper audience. It was 1997 and it was called the Rubber Stamp Tool back then. The room was silent in amazement as I eliminated various marks, spots, and objects from the image. I think I removed a hot air balloon from the sky in a photo as well.

Russel Skiles retires after four decades with Lamesa Press-Reporter

By MARY ELIZABETH DAVIS

Lamesa Press-Reporter

 

During more than four decades as a Lamesa Press-Reporter journalist, Russel Skiles has told the stories of a Holocaust survivor and the community-wide effort that brought a state prison to town.

But those are just a couple of the many stories which Skiles recalled as he retired July 19 as the newspaper’s publisher.

A war for accountability

Two bad public notice bills mark beginning of session

ANALYSIS By MIKE HODGES and DONNIS BAGGETT
Texas Press Association

Guest opinion: Retired editor-publisher: Editorials matter, and here’s why

This essay was originally published on the The Rural Blog, Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues, based at the University of Kentucky. 
Gannett Co.’s recent recommendation or directive to local editors that they offer less opinion, and keep it local, has prompted reflections by rural editor-publishers.

Advertising’s blast from the past

By John Foust, Greensboro, NC

Op-Ed: School Districts are empowered to enact appropriate security measures  to protect their students

School Districts are empowered to enact appropriate security measures  to protect their students

            I know parents are asking themselves this question today: As a parent concerned about the safety of my child at school how do I get involved? 

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