SULPHUR SPRINGS - After serving as group manager in South Texas and with a start-up working to revitalize five newspapers in New Mexico, Dave Shabaz has returned to Northeast Texas as group manager for the Sulphur Springs News-Telegram, Mount Pleasant Tribune, The Steel County Bee in Daingerfield and The Pittsburg Gazette.
He announced his return in a column published in the News-Telegram.
GRANBURY - Richard Nelson has joined Hyde Media Group, as executive editor for the hood County News in Granbury.
Publisher Sam Houston announced the appointment, noting Nelson’s experience in publishing newspapers and supervising press rooms “will give us an edge.” He also noted Nelson’s knowledge of “handing hard news, features, sports and every aspect of the newspaper business will make us a stronger, better and more readable paper.”
CLIFTON – A local couple has restored their hometown newspaper in Bosque County with the new Clifton Record Tribune.
According to an article published May 8, under a corporate model for the last 17 years, the Bosque County Record Tribune – the product of a merger between The Clifton Record and Meridian Tribune weekly newspapers almost a year ago – unfortunately continued to struggle financially. To avoid closing the doors on a newspaper that’s been publishing since 1895, Moser Community Media made former publisher Brett Voss and his wife Simone an offer they couldn’t refuse.
The Texas Gulf Coast Press Association and the South Texas Press Association held their 2025 joint convention in New Braunfels. The groups met together in April for industry sessions and meals and held separate officer installations and contest award presentations.
Taking top honors in the TGCPA contest were sweepstakes winners The Flatonia Argus in Division 1, Port Aransas South Jetty in Division 2 and the Fayette County Record in Division 3.
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 annual TPA Silent Auction offers convention attendees a unique shopping experience and an opportunity to contribute to Texas Center for Community Journalism programs for new and mid-career community journalists.
The silent auction is part of the 2025 TPA Convention and Trade Show June 19-21 at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Denton Convention Center.
The trade show features dozens of booths where vendors from throughout the newspaper and printing industries display and demonstrate their products and services.
The 2025 TPA Convention and Trade Show June 19-21 will feature Texas Open Government Training as a bonus opening day event.
Convention headquarters is the Embassy Suites by Hilton Denton Convention Center.
The training set for 1-4 p.m. Thursday, June 19, at the hotel is free and is jointly sponsored by TPA and the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas. Speakers include Tom Williams of the FOIFT board and Haynes and Boone, and Tamara Smith of the Texas Attorney General’s office.
STEPHENVILLE – With the May workshop “Broadcast News for the Community Newspaper” filled, the Texas Center for Community Journalism is planning a second session on the same topic in early fall.
The June workshop filled within 24 hours of the opening of registration April 6.
“Demand for this skillset is high because community newspaper can no longer afford to not include video on their websites,” TCJ Director Austin Lewter said.
FAIRFIELD – A new scholarship memorial fundraiser honoring the late Suzanne Bardwell was unveiled at the North and East Texas Press Association 98th annual convention.
The memorial was announced by NETPA Chair Lange Svehlak and Cher Thompson during the group’s annual banquet and scholarship benefit auction. The memorial is symbolized by a coffee mug encased in a glass case. The mug, from Suzanne Bardwell’s collection of journalism-related coffee ware, bears the slogan “First Amendment Warrior.” All in attendance were invited to contribute to the initial memorial.
CENTER – Moser Community Media’s Northeast Texas Publishing Group recently named Mississippi native William Carroll as the new publisher for The Light and Champion.
Carroll, who recently moved to Center after working in the Midwest, has more than a decade of experience working primarily as an editor for community newspapers throughout the country.
Carroll previously served as an editor for newspapers in Indiana, New England, Kentucky and Arkansas.
He also served for a year as the publisher for a small group of four newspapers in northwestern Oklahoma.