Contests & Awards
- Texas Better Newspaper Contest — annual contest for member newspapers honoring the best content published in the previous year; winners are announced at the summer TPA Leadership Retreat and printed in the Winner's Circle
- Lone Star Journalism Writing Contest — contest sponsored by Interscholastic League Press Conference, pairing high school journalism students and local newspapers
- Monson Spirit of FOI Award — named after FOIFT’s former executive director, the award recognizes journalists and/or newspapers for outstanding efforts that uphold First Amendment principles, increase public access to government and improve awareness of state open government statutes
- Golden 50 Award — an honor TPA bestows to men and women who have logged at least 50 years of service in the newspaper industry in Texas; awarded at each summer TPA Leadership Retreat along with a special pamphlet describing recipients’ accomplishments and listing past recipients
- Fred Hartman Excellence in Sports Writing Award — co-sponsored by Hartman Newspapers L.P., this award provides a $1,000 prize and is given to a talented sportswriter each year
- Frank Mayborn Award for Community Leadership — annual award for a newspaper executive who contributed most significantly to society during the past year