News from the Texas Press Association.
“Show Me the Future of Newspapers”
National Newspaper Association’s 129th Annual Convention & Trade Show, Oct. 1-3, 2015, will be at the Embassy Suites Hotel in St. Charles, MO, just eight miles from the St. Louis Airport (STL).
The room rate is $139 plus tax per night, and the hotel is located adjacent to the St. Charles Convention Center, where all the meetings will take place.
Visit www.nnaweb.org/convention for details.
NEWSPAPER OF THE YEAR
Class AAAA: First, Austin American-Statesman; Second, Fort Worth Star-Telegram; Third, Dallas Morning News; Honorable mention, San Antonio Express-News; Honorable mention, Houston Chronicle.
Class AAA: First, Lubbock Avalanche-Journal; Second, Corpus Christi Caller-Times; Third, Abilene Reporter-News; Honorable mention, McAllen Monitor.
Westin at the Domain 11301 Domain Drive, Austin, TX 78758 (Reserve a room by 5 p.m. June 3 for group rate)
Journalism’s past, present, future converge at conference in Missouri
By Gary and Helen Sosniecki, Coordinators 2015 ISWNE Conference
The world’s first school of journalism at the first public university west of the Mississippi River will be the setting for the 2015 conference of the International Society of Weekly Newspaper Editors (ISWNE).
Non-members are welcome.
Students can win a $1,000 scholarship by posting an image to social media with the hashtag #PictureFreedom Feb. 22 to 28 in a contest to celebrate the First Amendment and free speech in America.
Picture Freedom to support the First Amendment
By Ken Paulson
You can’t take freedom of speech for granted these days.
On Jan. 22-24, hundreds of newspaper professionals traveled to Galveston for the 2015 Texas Press Midwinter Conference & Trade Show.
The annual conference kicked off with meetings and a trade show preview, followed by the past presidents and officers dinner, where 14 past presidents were in attendance.
Jackson Walker L.L.P. won a significant victory for its media clients, reporter LeaAnne Klentzman and newspaper publisher Carter Publications, Inc. d/b/a The West Fort Bend Star, on Thursday, December 18, 2014, when the Court of Appeals for the First District of Texas reversed the trial court’s judgment awarding damages on a jury verdict to the plaintiff, Wade Brady
Lea and Mac McKinnon, owners and publishers of the Dublin Citizen since Aug. 1, 2002, announced this past week that the Citizen has been sold effective Jan. 1, 2015.
The McKinnons will be retiring but will remain active in the community and will continue to live in Dublin.
The staff at the Citizen that everyone has been working with for years will remain the same.
The McKinnons both expressed their appreciation for all the support from Dublin and surrounding communities.
The Houston County Courier staff joined together on Friday, Jan. 30, 2015 to celebrate the newspaper’s 125th anniversary. Houston County Judge Erin Ford presented Alvin Holley, owner and publisher, with a proclamation declaring Friday, Jan. 30, 2015 as Houston County Courier 125th Anniversary Celebration Day. Linda Parker, district director for State Rep.
Two Texas newspapermen have recently published books dealing with their experiences in the newspaper industry.
Mike Probst has been the editor and publisher of The Rockport Pilot newspaper since 1984. He has been involved in community newspaper publishing during his 33-year career, all associated with the Hartman family of newspapers. With his book, “30 Years Through the News/Lens,” he captures the highlights of 30 years at the helm.