Previously set for closure, the Tri-County Reporter is not only staying open thanks to new owners, but has returned to its roots.

The announcement came in the Feb. 27 edition of the Reporter, which had been slated to be its last. Bryson and Ashley Burtnett of Springtown purchased the Tri-County Reporter and announced plans to transition the publication back to the original publications that served the communities of Springtown and Azle, the Azle News and Springtown Epigraph. The Tri-County Reporter was formed in June 2023 with the merger of the two newspapers.

Promotions, new hires and other employment news reported by Texas newspapers and reported in the April 2025 edition of the Texas Press Messenger.

Brady Standard-Herald staff changes, new hire announced

BRADY – The Brady Standard-Herald announced several organizational changes, including the promotion of Amanda Howell to editor of the family-owned newspaper, the appointment of Holly Stewart as publisher, and the hiring of Charles Hodges as the newspaper’s reporter.

Howell has worked at the newspaper since February 1999.

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 the Embassy Suites by Hilton Denton Convention Center.

The training set for 1-4 p.m. Thursday, June 19, 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.

WASHINGTON – Postmaster General Louis DeJoy announced his intention to step down in February, notifying the the Postal Service Board of Governors that it is time for them to begin the process of identifying his successor.

No time frame for naming a successor was given.

DeJoy took the helm of the postal service in the summer of 2020 during President Donald Trump’s first term. He was a Republican donor who owned a logistics business before taking office and was the first postmaster general in nearly two decades who was not a career postal employee.

The 2025 International Symposium on Online Journalism at UT Austin March 27-28 will feature leading journalists from top news outlets and organizations, like National Public Radio, The Atlantic, The Washington Post, ProPublica, and The New York Times.

“Every year, ISOJ convenes leading journalists from across the globe to share cutting-edge practices, tools, and trends, and this year’s program is no exception,” said Summer Harlow, associate director of the Knight Center for Journalism in the Americas, which organizes ISOJ. 

In a transaction expected to close at the end of the first quarter of 2025, Hearst is purchasing the Austin American-Statesman from Gannett Co.

Founded in 1871, the Statesman has been named Texas Newspaper of the Year three times by the Texas Associated Press Managing Editors and more recently was recognized as a 2023 Public Service Pulitzer Prizes finalist and a 2024 Edward R. Murrow Award winner.

News about Texas newspapers as reported in the March 2025 edition of the Texas Press Messenger.

Iowa Park Journal marks first year

IOWA PARK– The Iowa Park Journal celebrated its first anniversary Feb. 1, completing 52 weeks of publication.

Promotions, new hires and other employment news reported by Texas newspapers and published in the March 2025 edition of the Texas Press Messenger.

Taylor Press welcomes new editor, reporter

TAYLOR – Granite Media Partners welcomed two new staff members at the Taylor Press.

Jason Chlapek is the new area managing editor for the Taylor Press and the Elgin Courier. Emily Treadway is a general assignment reporter specializing in education.

The winner of the hotly contested Texas House of Representatives speaker’s race is a past winner of the Texas Press Association Friend of the First Amendment award. That’s good news for Texas newspapers.

Analysis by By DONNIS BAGGETT, Texas Press Association

Texas Press Association is seeking nominations for awards to be presented at the 2025 TPA Convention & Trade Show June 19-21 at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Denton Convention Center.

The honors include:

• Texas Newspaper Hall of Fame