Newsmakers

New hires, promotions and other employment news reported in Texas newspapers and published in the September 2025 edition of the Texas Press Messenger.

BRIAN SMITH, The Bowie News

BOWIE - Brian Smith is the new sports editor at The Bowie News.

Publisher Michael Winter announced the appointment.

Smith is a veteran journalist with 39 years experience covering news and all levels of sports. He previously was with the Jacksboro Herald-Gazette, where since 2014 he covered sports of three county schools plus covering three school boards and one city council.

He was a staff writer for two years with the Weatherford Democrat, covering sports and business news, and a staff writer for the Henderson Daily News. Smith also worked at the Fort Hood Sentinel, Taylor Daily Press and the Orange County Register in California.

He is a 1988 graduate of Central Michigan University. His work at the university’s student newspaper gave him his start in sports coverage.

ROY KENT, The Banner-Press

BRENHAM — With decades of experience in the newspaper business, including more than 18 years with Houston Community Newspapers in the Houston area, Roy Kent is the new managing editor of The Banner-Press.

Interim Publisher Fred Hartman announced the appointment.

In addition to community newspapers in the Houston area, Kent has worked in New Mexico, where he completed his education at Eastern New Mexico University. He started his career as a sports reporter in El Paso, then in Roswell and Clovis, New Mexico.

STEPHEN FARRIS, Mexia News and Groesbeck Journal

MEXIA - After an absence of seven years, former Mexia News/ Groesbeck Journal sports editor Stephen Farris has returned to the role.

Regional Editor Jennifer Paul announced the appointment.

During his absence, Farris has spent time as a freelance writer for several newspapers around the area, which included his coverage of Groesbeck football and basketball in 2024-25.

He first joined the Mexia News staff in 2012 and semi-retired in 2018.

Farris began his journalism career in 2001, when he accepted a carrier route position for the Corsicana Daily Sun. In 2004, he was promoted to the Sun’s newsroom to serve as a reporter and sports stringer. He later switched to the position of news/sports photographer in 2005.

In July of 2007, Farris left the Daily Sun after accepting the assistant editor position for The Navarro County Times. He also attended  Navarro College. When the paper folded in November 2011, he started his own online news website called Gumbo Buster Banner.

After joining the Mexia News in 2012, he served a year in a dual role as sports editor and interim general manager of the Groesbeck Journal in 2015.