The Texas Better Newspaper Contest online portal opens today, Feb. 15, accepting 2017 contest entries from TPA member newspapers. 

AUSTIN - Combinator-backed OwnLocal announced Feb. 6 they have acquired Print2Web, a pioneering digital service provider for the newspaper industry. 
The acquisition fits into OwnLocal’s strategy to make localized digital marketing accessible to all businesses through traditional media outlets, such as newspapers. 

Lee Hartman, Fort Bend Herald
ROSENBERG – Lee Hartman, a third-generation member of a Texas newspaper family, has been named editor and publisher of the Fort Bend Herald, according to Clyde C. King, Jr., president of Hartman Newspapers, L.P. 
Hartman, 50, is starting his 26th year at The Herald, having worked in the pressroom, as an assistant photographer, an advertising sales representative and as general manager before assuming the editor and publisher’s job. 

Leonard Woolsey, president and publisher of the Galveston County Daily News, shares ten steps to successful magazine development.
1. Identify your niche: No need to be No. 3 in a three-horse race. Bring something new and interesting to the market. If lifestyle is already done with two competitors beating each other up, you might consider looking for an overlooked category. Health, parenting, even dining are easy to access entry points. 

The U.S. Postal Service has long provided a website, Postal Explorer at pe.usps.gov, with an abundance of useful information at the ready for those willing to “explore.” It has been rebuilt in recent months to comply with certain standards, and although confusing at first, prior users can find everything, and more, that they are used to seeing.

A number of years ago I lived in a small town that had what most small towns have: a community newspaper. In this particular case, the owner of the paper also held political office (Justice of the Peace). He had very strong political beliefs, and they came through very clearly in the pages of his newspaper.
In fact, his beliefs were so strong, and so extreme, there was little if any tolerance in his newspaper for opinions that were not in line with his.
This period came to mind because there was, in that newspaper, what I consider to be a huge conflict of interest.

FRISCO, Texas — Texas Press Association members approved a bylaws amendment regarding rules for participating membership during the Midwinter Conference and Trade Show.
Seventy-seven percent voted to allow newspapers that do not meet the requirements of active membership to be participating members if approved by a majority vote of the board of directors.  The vote exceeded the required two-thirds majority of active members present and voting at the convention.

SCOTT ALLEN
JOSHUA McKINNEY
MATTHEW FULLER
FREDERICKSBURG – Three new employees have joined the staff at the Fredericksburg Standard-Radio Post, publisher Ken Cooke announced. 

AUSTIN — Submissions are sought for the 2017 Texas Gavel Awards, which honor outstanding journalism that fosters public understanding of the legal system.

Entries published or broadcast during the 2016 calendar year will be accepted for print, broadcast, and online categories until 5 p.m. April 3. There is no entry fee.

The awards will be presented at the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas’ annual conference Sept. 14, 2017 at the Hilton Austin.

The Texas Governor’s Committee on People with Disabilities announces the Barbara Jordan Media Awards call for nominations for media content created or published in 2016. 

The award is presented in several different categories, including TV Feature, Internet, Photojournalism, etc. There is no fee for entries. Winners are selected by a panel of professional journalists, people with disabilities and professionals in the field of disabilities.