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Newsmakers

New hires, promotions and other staff changes at Texas newspapers.

MARIA DOUGLAS REEVE

Houston Chronicle

HOUSTON – Maria Douglas Reeve, executive editor of the Houston Chronicle, has been named vice president-editor for content initiatives for Hearst Texas.

Make reservations now to attend Convention & Trade Show

TPA members and their families have great opportunities for extended summer fun during the TPA Convention & Trade Show June 1-3 at Kalahari Resorts and Conventions in Round Rock.

The special hotel rate for the TPA convention includes access to the huge Kalahari entertainment complex, including two water parks and an arcade/adventure park.

JT Strasner named publisher of Kingsville Record

KINGSVILLE – JT Strasner has been named editor and publisher of the Kingsville Record.

Strasner previously served as a publisher in El Campo, Brenham and Port Lavaca, as well as group publisher over five newspapers in Missouri.

The Kingsville Record was purchased by the Kingsville Area Industrial Foundation in late 2019.

Houston County newspapers merge

Polk County Publishing Company Inc.’s owner, Alvin Holley, sold the Houston County Courier, a newspaper formerly in the PCPC group, to Kelly Nicol, owner and publisher of The Messenger, a competitor newspaper in Houston County. The merged newspapers are now the Houston County Messenger. The final issue of the Courier came out April 13.

By Emily Banks Wooten, editor@polkenterprise.com

PCPC Publisher Kelli Barnes made the announcement recently “with great emotion and mixed feelings.”

M. Roberts Media acquires The Henderson News

HENDERSON — M. Roberts Media, owner of several East Texas newspapers, including the Longview News-Journal and Tyler Morning Telegraph, has acquired The Henderson News.

The acquisition was formalized March 29. Terms of the deal between M. Roberts Media and Henderson News owner Hartman Newspapers were not disclosed.

Newsmakers

Promotions, new hires and other staff changes at Texas newspapers.

Katecey Harrell, Tyler Morning Telegraph

TYLER - Katecey Harrell has joined the Tyler Morning Telegraph staff as a multimedia reporter, covering nonlocal government and breaking news.

She also works with the Morning Telegraph’ sister publications, ETX View Magazine and the Longview News-Journal.

The appointment was announced by Managing Editor Santana Gallacher.

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Obituaries published in the May 2023 edition of the Texas Press Messenger.

Roger Dewayne Cline

Roger Dewayne Cline, 54, managing editor of the Big Spring Herald, died April 19 in San Angelo following heart surgery.

A native of Baltimore, Maryland, Cline grew up in Port Arthur and attended the University of Texas at Permian Basin, where he earned bachelor degrees in computer science (2004) and English (2005), graduating summa cum laude. He also attended Lamar University in Beaumont.

Three selected for Texas Newspaper Hall of Fame

AUSTIN — Texas Newspaper Foundation announced the selection of three exemplary journalists — Dave Campbell (deceased), Suzanne Bardwell (deceased), and Larry C. Jackson (retired)— into the Texas Newspaper Foundation Hall of Fame for the year 2023.

The induction ceremony will take place during the Texas Press Association 2023 Convention and Trade Show at Kalahari Resorts and Conventions in Round Rock at 11:45 a.m. Friday, June 2. The Hall of Fame Banquet is sponsored by Explore Branson.

Only uncertainty is certain in the Texas Legislature

AUSTIN — It’s a perfectly natural question for an editor to ask an Austin journalist at this point in an odd-numbered year, when the Legislature passes the halfway point in its biennial session: “What’s going on in the Capitol?”

The perfectly honest answer to that perfectly natural question is this: “Stuff. Lots of stuff, but not much has actually happened yet.” That’s when both the reporter and his editor have their work cut out for them.

Commentary By DONNIS BAGGETT, Texas Press Association

Make plans now for TPA Convention & Trade Show

The TPA Convention and Trade Show June 1-3 in Round Rock includes a trade show featuring top vendors showing off their products and services, informative general sessions, networking opportunities, a hospitality event with live entertainment and awards ceremonies honoring the best in the Texas newspaper industry.

Registration is now open for the event set at the unique Kalahari Resort in Round Rock. The African-Themed resort features multiple restaurants and one of the largest indoor water parks and gaming areas in America.

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