Register now for Convention & Trade Show

Time is running out — register today for the annual Texas Press Association Convention & Trade Show June 19-21 in Denton.

June 2 is deadline for room reservations at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Denton Convention Center, headquarters for the event. Registration forms and more information are available on the TPA website, www.texaspress.com/texas-press-association-convention-trade-show.

The convention kicks off early Thursday, June 19, with the Robert Burns Memorial Golf Tournament at the Oakmont Country Club near Denton, sponsored this year by Ad Messenger. Tee time is 8 a.m. The tournament benefits the Texas Newspaper Foundation. 

The golf tournament registration form is available on the foundation website, www.tnf.net. Contact Mike Hodges at mhodges@texaspress.com for more information.

The convention also features a free open government seminar scheduled from 1p.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday at the hotel.

The trade show opens at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, when attendees may visit with a variety of vendors displaying their products and services. The trade show and reception are sponsored by eType Services. 

The annual silent auction benefiting the Texas Center for Community Journalism will also be on display in the trade show hall.

A hospitality reception closes the Thursday evening activities.

On Friday, June 20, the trade show is open from 7:30 a.m. until 11 a.m. Bidding in the silent auction closes at 11:15 a.m., when winning bidders may collect and pay for their items.

The Texas Newspaper Foundation Hall of Fame 2025 induction ceremonies and Golden 50 Awards luncheon will be held at 11:45 a.m. Uvalde Leader-News Publisher Craig Garnett is keynote speaker for the luncheon, when a new Hall of Fame member will be inducted. Also during the banquet, five TPA members will receive Golden 50 Awards.

A full slate of industry sessions is scheduled Friday afternoon, sponsored by Ad Messenger, BLOX and Texas 2036. Topics include NNA advertising update, AI in the newsroom, and a publishers round table to discuss public notice, revenue ideas and creative solutions. A Poynter Institute presentation on local survey results will also be featured.

An offsite event from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday at University of North Texas Library will feature dinner, a tour and entertainment sponsored by UNT Digital Newspaper Program and the Cathy Nelson Hartman Portal to Texas History Endowment.

The general membership meeting and election of officers opens activities from 8:30 to 11 a.m. Saturday, June 21, with Metro Creative as coffee sponsor. Following the business meeting, Don Richards will speak on legal rights of reporters and newspapers, and Texas Sen. Charles Perry will speak on the future of water in Texas.

The convention concludes with the contest awards luncheon at 11:30 a.m. when officers will be installed, the 2025 Mayborn Award winner will be honored and the Texas Better Newspaper Contest awards will be presented. The luncheon is sponsored by AEP Texas.

Member registration for the convention is $400 per person, which includes the trade show and all other activities, including the industry sessions, hospitality events and both the Friday and Saturday award luncheons. Members may also choose to attend only some of the events, such as the Saturday contest awards brunch, and pay for those individually. The complete price list is on the registration form.

Qualifying ad network participants receive one complimentary stay for one or both nights of the convention. Ad network participants’ rooms will be reserved by TPA.

For others attending, the special group rate at the Denton Convention Center is $159 per night.  Reservations may be made by calling 940-243-3799.

For more information contact TPA’s Sue Brown at sbrown@texaspress.com or Mike Hodges at mhodges@texaspress.com.