Rural journalists in Texas and other states are invited to attend “Courage, Tenacity, Integrity and Innovation in Rural Journalism,” a free, one-day conference at the University of Texas on Feb. 29. The symposium will feature six Texas community journalists, including two winners of the Tom and Pat Gish Award for courage, integrity and tenacity in rural journalism.
By KEN ESTEN COOKE, TPA President 2023-24
As this is written, the holiday period brings both gratitude and gifts. As we turn the calendar page on another year, it’s time to add a third “G” — grit — to face a still-challenging publishing environment.
A new year brings a chance to hit the refresh button. We’ve all done our 2024 budgets and we now set out with energy and optimism for a fresh start. We do so knowing our industry will continue to be challenged, but with a determination to do our best and serve our communities.
By BENJY HAMM
Director, Institute for Rural Journalism University of Kentucky
The Alex Murdaugh murder trial in South Carolina is a good example of how a judge can balance the free press needs of the media with the defendant’s fundamental right to a fair trial, according to Jay Bender, a veteran First Amendment attorney.
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.
By AL CROSS
University of Kentucky
Nonprofit newspaper journalism, until now largely a feature of urban areas, is going rural – especially if the National Trust for Local News keeps up what it’s doing and plans to do.
“By December, we will be the fifth-largest independent newspaper operator in the country” among those that are not publicly traded or owned by hedge funds, the trust’s chief portfolio officer, Ross McDuffie, told the New England Newspaper and Press Association conference Oct. 19.
Are you having challenges with photos or laying out your pages? Do you have issues when building ads, or it just seems too slow? Do you have problems with your workflow or creating PDFs for production and print? Do you…well…the list can go on and on as to the many challenges newspapers face while producing each issue.
With nearly two years until the next legislative session, opponents of Texas’ anti-SLAPP statute have already announced they will try again in 2025 to roll back important protections in the law.
Texans for Lawsuit Reform, an influential group that pushes for business-friendly changes to the court system, told its members in a newsletter last month that changes to the statute will be a “priority” next session.
Attracting and keeping top talent can be difficult today. AffinityChoice, a new employee benefit group insurance program, is designed to help TPA members meet that challenge.
Eligible employees of participating members are offered a menu of voluntary group employee benefit coverages including life, dental, vision and short-term disability insurance.
A special feature included for TPA allows member publications with as few as two full-time employees to participate. Normally, only employers with a minimum of 10 employees are accepted.
By KEN ESTEN COOKE, TPA President 2023-24
Two important developments surfaced recently which are huge for our newspaper industry.
Before we get to those, let’s celebrate our recent wins in the Texas Legislature. We had some minor setbacks, but thanks to the diligence of the TPA staff and our members who testified, we beat back a lot of bad legislation. A list of wins and losses can be found in the July Texas Press Messenger or online at www.texaspress.com/2023-session-one-toughest-most-successful.
More than a year after a gunman killed 19 students and two teachers at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, a judge has ordered the Texas Department of Public Safety to release information about the attack and the law enforcement response.
On June 29, Travis County District Court Judge Daniella DeSeta Lyttle ruled in favor of a national media coalition which sued DPS to release public records related to the tragedy, including information regarding the 91 DPS officers who responded to Robb Elementary and the agency’s subsequent investigation into the law enforcement response.