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Sunlight is the best disinfectant, but it may have to wait 14 days
Since Gov. Greg Abbott declared a state of disaster for COVID-19 in early March, more than 90 municipalities, school districts and other governmental bodies have posted “Catastrophe Notices” under the Texas Public Information Act (PIA). Posting a Catastrophe Notice allows a governmental body that is being impacted by a “catastrophe” to suspend requirements of the PIA for up to two weeks.
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Texas Comptroller's Office Releases Updated Transparency Tool
(AUSTIN) — Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar announced the release of an updated state revenue and expenditure tool on the agency’s website.
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API adds more tools for journalists
American Press Institute has added more tools to the API website's COVID-19 resources.
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Texas writer earns Pulitzer Prize
Another Pulitzer Prize winning journalist has been added to the history of Texas newspapers.
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Retired TDNA Executive VP Philip Austin Berkebile
Philip Austin Berkebile, Sr, who served as executive vice president of the Texas Daily Newspaper Association for 22 years, died May 1 in Lincoln, Nebraska. He was 83.
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Pandemic nixes spring conventions
Spring conventions for Texas’ five regional press associations didn’t happen this year, thanks to COVID-19.
Government prohibitions of mass gatherings in response the coronavirus pandemic began in early March. Shelter-in-place orders to ensure social distancing soon followed.
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NETPA releases contest results
Although the annual North and East Texas Press Association spring convention was canceled, results of the regional group’s contest were announced April 4, the day the awards presentation was originally scheduled.
The NETPA contest included two daily divisions, one semiweekly division and three weekly divisions.
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Hood County News Publisher Jerry Tidwell retires
GRANBURY – Jerry Tidwell retired April 2 after 47 years in the newspaper business, the last 41 years as publisher of the Hood County News.
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Gerritt wins National Headliner Award for editorial writing
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. – Jeffrey Gerritt, editor of the Palestine Herald-Press, has won this year’s National Headliner Award for editorial writing.
Gerritt was honored for a collection of editorials, including commentary from his newspaper’s “Death Without Conviction” series that examined the death of county jail prisoners by medical neglect before they got their day in court.
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Free online course from the Knight Center at the University of Texas
A free online course, "Journalism in a pandemic: Covering COVID-19 now and in the future" is offered by jouranlismcourses.org, the online training platform of the Knight Center for Journalism at the University of Texas at Austin. The course is scheduled May 4 through 31.
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Is the media the mirror or the antidote?
In a review of recent research, Columbia Journalism Review provides resources focused on scholarly research from communities in public health, in particular how the media and messaging interacts with, shapes, and influences public health. Click here to read more.
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Journalism Emergency Relief Fund
Local news is a vital resource for keeping people and communities connected in the best of times. Today, it plays an even greater function in reporting on local lockdowns or shelter at home orders, school and park closures, and data about how COVID-19 is affecting daily life.
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COVID-19 Resources
Visit the Resources Page.
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Car accident claims life of Cornerstone Publications owner Natalie Spencer
Cornerstone Publications owner Natalie Elizabeth Spencer, 53, of Rio Medina, died following an automobile accident in the early evening of April 2.
She was born April 11, 1966 in Houston, the daughter of William E. “Bill” Youngs and Martha Eloise Hanby Youngs.
She graduated from Medina Valley High School in 1985. She loved to play golf and was the first female golfer at MVHS.
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Texas newspapers innovate on the fly to inform, engage readers during crisis
Texas newspapers and their journalists are on the front lines during the COVID-19 pandemic, covering government actions in dealing with the coronavirus and keeping readers informed with vital and credible information while coping with the same personal and economic challenges.
