Change and fall are both in the air: Time to capitalize on the opportunities

By BILL PATTERSON, TPA President 2024-25

Thanks to everyone who attended the Texas Press Association convention for your interest in finding the model that's right for your market as the world around us keeps changing.

As I mentioned at the closing luncheon, I'm a big believer in change. As I sit here today and as we approach Back To School time, I can’t help but think about how it has changed.

I remember my Back To School times as a kid, when August meant you went out and bought your school clothes. You stocked up on jeans and shirts, as rarely did you ever see anyone wearing shorts or summer clothes to school.

School always started after Labor Day, but you were still assured of sweating it out in your jeans for the first several weeks of classes. During P.E., playing kickball, football, or on the swingsets you worked up a lather.

Today, Back To School is different from what it used to be. The spending for BTS clothing does not occur at the rate it did when I was a kid, and wearing shorts and t-shirts to school is a common thing. I like that change!

Everything we do these days has changed and continues to change. We use our phones for everything, figuring out what to do, or where to eat dinner, or where we’ll meet up with friends. We keep up with high school ball games and look at photos from the game in real time. We’re able to watch the drill team, cheerleaders and band as it’s all captured and readily available on our phones.

BTS shopping has been replaced with efforts to grow tax-free shopping. Yes, some back to school shopping is done during tax-free weekend, but so much else is also available for purchase and savings.

The local businesses in your market need your help and support. They need your creative ideas and creative methods to get the messaging out.

I encourage all of you to keep seeking innovative ideas on how you make your publication more valuable for your community.

One thing hasn’t changed about Back To School: it still marks a time when everyone is back in town and a busy time of year with school events, ball games and the start of the change in seasons.

Here’s to wishing each of you a great start to the fall. Take a minute to enjoy the season and use it as a start to the next round of change!