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Association will install new officers, directors during annual TPA Convention & Trade Show

Members are gearing up for the annual Texas Press Association Convention and Trade Show later this month, where in addition to industry sessions, awards and networking opportunities, new officers and board members will be elected and installed to reorganize for 2022-23.
Embassy Suites by Hilton San Marcos Hotel, Convention Center and Spa is headquarters for the July 28-30 event.

FOIFT demands transparency in Uvalde shooting investigation

As more questions arise about the actions of law enforcement responding to the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde May 24, some state and local officials have stopped responding to open records requests about the investigations into the massacre.
News outlets across the state and the country have reported their public information requests are being stalled or denied.
On June 23, the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas released a statement regarding the issue.

News outlets report public records requests delayed, denied

In the weeks following the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, when 19 children and two teachers were killed and 17 other adults and children were injured, official stories have changed, information released by various agencies has been corrected and/or retracted and law enforcement’s actions have been scrutinized, prompting some state and local officials to stop releasing public records related to investigations into the massacre.

Newsmakers

Staff additions, promotions and other changes at Texas newspapers as reported in the July 2022 edition of the Texas Press Messenger.

TGCPA sweepstakes winners

Sweepstakes winners in the Texas Gulf Coast Press Association contest were (from left) The Flatonia Argus in Division 1 for small weeklies, represented by Publisher Paul Prause; Port Aransas South Jetty in Division 2 for large weeklies, represented by Co-Publishers Mary and Murray Judson; and The Fayette County Record in Division 3 for semiweeklies, represented by Publisher Regina Barton Keilers and Nonnie Barton. Click here to see full contest results.

STPA members honor past presidents, contest winners

CORPUS CHRISTI — Honors, contest awards and informational sessions were on the agenda when the South Texas Press Association gathered for the group’s 96th annual convention.
Speakers included Bradley Wilson, associate professor at Midwestern State University, where he teaches reporting and mass communication classes; and Robert Muilenburg, associate professor of journalism at Del Mar College in Corpus Christi. They gave sessions on photography and working with student and young reporters.

STPA Sweepstakes winners

Sweepstakes winners in the South Texas Press Association contest include (from left) the Frio-Nueces Current in Division 1 for small weeklies, represented by Editor Marc Robertson ; the Fredericksburg Standard-Radio Post, in Division 2 for large weeklies, represented by Managing Editor Samuel Sutton and Publisher Ken Esten Cooke; and Uvalde Leader-News in Division 3 for semiweeklies, represented by General Manager Pete Luna and Managing Editor Meghann Garcia.

McCormicks retire after selling NCTP newspaper group

VERNON – Owners and managers of the Vernon Daily Record Bret and Teri McCormick have announced their retirement from the newspaper industry and the sale of the North Central Texas Publishing Corp. group of newspapers to Daniel and Michele Walker of Vernon.
The acquisition includes the Vernon Daily Record, Burkburnett Informer Star and Clay County Leader.
The McCormick family invested in the Vernon Daily Record 45 years ago as a part of the Roberts Publishing Group. In 2010, the McCormicks moved to Vernon and Bret assumed the president and publisher’s role for NCTP.

San Saba News and Star acquires Levelland and Hockley News-Press

LEVELLAND – Stephen and Pat Henry have sold the Levelland and Hockley County News-Press to Brett Wesner and his San Saba News and Star corporation.
Wesner owns the Lamb County Leader-News in Littlefield, purchased from the Henrys in 2013, and the Castro County News in Dimmit. He serves as chairman of the National Newspaper Association and is principal in Central Oklahoma Publications, which owns several newspapers in that state. He also owns the newspaper in Gallup, New Mexico.

Kirbyville Banner becomes East Texas Banner following sale by Reneaus

KIRBYVILLE – Amanda Rodrigues has purchased The Kirbyville Banner from Danny Reneau.
The newspaper continues to be published in Kirbyville as The East Texas Banner.
With the sale, Reneau announced his retirement after nearly 50 years in the newspaper business. He praised Rodrigues as one of his former employees and noted she has great ideas and lots of energy to put into the newspaper.

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