Newsmakers

Promotions, new hires and other employment news reported by Texas newspapers and published in the September 2024 edition of the Texas Press Messenger.

MICHELLE ADAMS, MICHAELA RUSH, CHRISTINE GRANADOS

Fredericksburg Standard-Radio Post

FREDERICKSBURG – The Fredericksburg Standard-Radio Post has hired Michelle Adams in the advertising department and Michaela Rush in the newsroom, Publisher Ken Esten Cooke announced.

In addition, Christine Granados, who has worked at the paper as needed, is now serving as the managing editor.

“This is a great trio of professional hires who will help keep the quality of our reporting and products at a level expected of one of the top weekly papers in the state,” Cooke said.

Michelle Adams joined the advertising department just before the retirement of Ann Duecker, who had served advertising clients for nearly four decades. Adams, a native Texan born in San Angelo, brings a variety of knowledge and experience to the advertising role. She began her career as an art director in Seattle, Washington, where she discovered her love for publication design and sales. 

She worked on creative collaborations and building client relationships while working at American City Business Journals, The Walt Disney Company, Victory Media and, most recently, San Angelo Performing Arts as director of Development and Marketing.

Adams is a published illustrator and accomplished painter who served as the artist in residence for the estate of famed golfer Byron Nelson from 2008 to 2011.

“Being a part of the story of the Fredericksburg Standard held great appeal for me. The Standard has a forward-thinking quality that is ripe with opportunity for collaboration,” she said. 

“The paper thrives as a stand-alone publication, but with Rock & Vine and GoFredericksburg, the ways to help businesses grow through advertising, event marketing and sponsorships are undeniable and exciting.”

Adams and her colleague, Cindy Burdorf, will share newspaper and magazine sales duties, as well as expand the company’s digital suite of marketing options. She reports to Advertising Director Cindy Clark.

Michaela Rush has joined the Standard-Radio Post newsroom. She is a May 2023 graduate of Texas A&M University and served as the editor in chief of The Battalion student newspaper at the main campus in College Station.

Rush graduated Magna Cum Laude with a bachelor’s degree in English. She took several awards while at The Battalion for news writing and editorial writing from collegiate press organizations. In the past year, she served with the Report for America Corps at the Dallas Free Press, where she covered a variety of general assignment news stories.

Rush covers Fredericksburg Independent School District and education beats, as well as other assignments in her new role.

Christine Granados began her journalism career at the El Paso Times while she was a high school student in that city. She went on to cover news for the Times, the Austin American-Statesman and several other newspapers, as well contribute stories to Texas Monthly and other literary publications. 

She also served as editor in chief of Moderna magazine, an offshoot of the former Hispanic Magazine.

Granados also has published two books of short fiction based on her upbringing on the border, and taught writing and journalism courses at several Texas universities, including Texas A&M, Texas State and TexasTech University. She is a 1989 journalism graduate from UT El Paso and has a master’s degree in creative writing from Texas State University.

She has won multiple awards for news and feature writing throughout her career. She also serves on the board of directors of the South Texas Press Association.

KELLY TRAN, ANDREW SALMI

Taylor Press

TAYLOR – The Taylor Press has added two reporters covering news and sports.

Kelly Tran is a general assignment reporter and will cover schools, events and other local news.

Tran began her journalism career as a junior at Connally High School in Pflugerville. She went on to pursue her journalism degree at the University of North Texas. After three years at the student newspaper and a few internships with Dallas-Forth Worth area publications, Tran earned her bachelor’s degree in spring 2023.

“My experience lies in reporting on news and arts/life, copy editing/proofreading and page design,” she said.

Tran said the Press is a great place to start her career, and she is looking forward to being a part of the newsroom and the community.

Andrew Salmi is back as the area sports editor for both the Taylor Press and its sister publication, the Elgin Courier.

“Being back … is a blessing. I’m very glad to be covering sports again across east Williamson County and Bastrop County,” Salmi said. “There are so many great athletes and coaches out in this area, and I’m excited to get to work with them again.”

Salmi is a native of La Crescenta, California, near Los Angeles. He brings experience from several Texas-based newspapers, including the Llano News, Mason County News and the San Saba News & Star, in addition to his previous run with the Press and Courier, both owned by Granite Media Partners.

Salmi attended Arizona State University for his first two years of college before transferring back home to Cal State Fullerton University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism. He considers himself a “sports nut” and is eager to get back to work with the public schools, private schools and other athletic endeavors in Taylor, Elgin, Hutto, Bastrop, Cedar Creek, Smithville, Granger, Thrall and other communities.