Fly high at the TPA Convention & Trade Show

Registration is open for the Texas Press Association Convention & Trade Show June 18-20 at the Hyatt Regency DFW Airport Hotel.

Registration forms and information are available online at www.texaspress.com.

The three-day event includes the annual trade show, the Hall of Fame and Golden 50 Award luncheon and a full slate of industry sessions, as well as an excursion to the American Airlines CR Smith Flight Museum.

In addition, the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas and the Texas Attorney General’s Office will hold an Open Government seminar during the opening afternoon of the convention.

Registration, including all meals and events, is $400; $350 for each additional person attending from the same newspaper. Members who cannot attend the full convention may register for individual events such as the Hall of Fame Awards Luncheon on Friday, June 19, and the Better Newspaper Contest awards luncheon on Saturday, June 20.

Members who participate in the Texas Press Service ad networks may qualify for one or two free nights at the convention hotel.

Registration forms are available on the TPA website convention page.

For more registration information, contact Sue Brown at TPA, 512-477-6755 or sbrown@texaspress.com.

Registration deadline is June 1.

Golf Tournament

The annual Robert Burns Memorial Golf Tournament benefitting the Texas Newspaper Foundation will kick off activities at 8 a.m. Thursday, June 18, at the Bear Creek Golf Club, 3500 Bear Creek Court, Dallas, TX 75261. Tournament registration form is available on the Texas Newspaper Foundation website. Click here to download.

For more information, contact Mike Hodges at TPA, 512-477-6755 or mhodges@texaspress.com.

Open Government seminar

As a bonus session, the Open Government seminar is scheduled from 1 - 4 p.m. Thursday in the hotel. Speakers will discuss provisions of Texas open government laws, including the Texas Open Meetings Act and Open Records Act. The FOI seminar is free to everyone.

Trade Show

The annual Trade Show featuring vendors demonstrating services and products for the newspaper industry, along with representatives of college journalism programs, opens with a reception at 5:30 p.m. Thursday. The Trade Show continues Friday, June 19, from 7:30 to 11 a.m.

The annual Silent Auction, benefitting the Texas Newspaper Foundation and its sponsorship of the Texas Center for Community Journalism’s mid-career training programs, will be part of the trade show with items on display throughout the trade show hours. Bidders will have a wide array of donated items to view and bid on. The auction closes at 11:15 a.m. Friday. To donate an item or for more information, contact Sue Brown at TPA, 512-477-6755 or sbrown@texaspress.com.

Hall of Fame Luncheon, General Sessions

The annual Hall of Fame Awards luncheon, also featuring TPA Golden 50 Awards, begins at 11:45 a.m.

General sessions following the luncheon Friday afternoon will feature programs on artificial intelligence, licensing editorial content, newsletters and advertising ideas. Sessions are scheduled from 1:30 to 5:15. Speakers include Guy Tasaka, managing partner at Tasaka Digital and Editor & Publisher’s technology columnist; Nicki Purcell, AI consultant; and Linda White, senior vice president of GlobeRunner digital marketing consulting firm.

Offsite event

Members will visit the American Airlines C.R. Smith Flight Museum in Dallas Friday evening. The Museum features exhibits explaining the inner workings of airline operations and showcases the people who run American Airlines every day. Brand new interactive exhibits entice participation by all age groups. The museum features hundreds of historical artifacts, photographs, full-scale aircraft engines and a rare 1940 Douglas DC-3 airliner that is accessible to visitors. In addition, the museum’s 4K digital theater features Why I Fly, a short film that shares the inspirational stories of some of American Airlines team members.

General membership meeting

New officers will be elected at the general membership meeting scheduled at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, June, 19. Members will also hear the financial report and the annual In Memoriam report honoring members lost in the past year.

General industry sessions continue until 11 a.m. Member participation topics include a discussion about covering the Guadalupe River Flood last summer and the tragic aftermath in the Texas Hill Country and a legal Q&A. In addition, Guy Tasaka will discuss the Sovereign Community Nexus.

Officer Installation, Awards luncheon

New officers will be installed during the Saturday luncheon at 11:30 a.m. In addition, TPA awards and Texas Better Newspaper Contest awards will be presented.