PILOT POINT – North and East Texas Press Association members gathered on the shore of Lake Ray Roberts for their 99th annual convention.
The meeting featured informative industry sessions and programs, including a chance for members to show off their artistic talents, as well as award presentations and annual fund raisers such as the golf tournament, bingo and the “It’s for the Children” scholarship benefit auction.
PORT LAVACA - Members of the Texas Gulf Coast and South Texas press associations announced contest awards, installed new officers and honored outstanding contributions when members gathered in Port Lavaca for a joint convention.
TGCPA honored long-time treasurer Nonnie Barton with induction into the organization’s Hall of Honor. A TPA Golden 50 honoree, Barton has worked with her family’s newspaper The Fayette County Record, for more than 50 years, most of those years as corporate bookkeeper.
Journalists throughout Texas and across the U.S. lost a mentor and cheerleader with the death March 23 of Griff Singer, retired UT professor who trained and encouraged generations of Daily Texan staff members and students.
He was 93.
Some of the many remembrances are from The Friends of the Daily Texan and UT Moody College of Communication.
The city of Gatesville was drastically changed after a massive fire broke out in the downtown area, taking out nearly an entire city block and multiple historic businesses. The fire was originally reported to Gatesville authorities about 6:50 p.m. Monday, March 16, on the southwest corner of the courthouse square, located at the 100 block of South Sixth Street near the Coryell County Sheriff’s Office. The fire burned late into the morning of Tuesday, March 17, with reports of the building still smoldering as late as March 24.
The Gatesville Messenger has long been regarded as the premier chronicler of local history. The Messenger has often been described as having “deep roots” in the community and has been considered a cornerstone and a record of the history of Coryell County for well over a century. Those “chronicles” were lost Monday, March 16, when a fire destroyed the block of buildings that included The Messenger. All its newspaper archives were lost.
By DAVID SCOTT, editor@gatesvillemessenger.com
Investigative Reporters & Editors (IRE) Executive Director Diana R. “DeeDee” Fuentes died unexpectedly March 20 from an accidental fall after attending an open records conference in Washington, D.C. during Sunshine Week.
She was 67.
Colleagues called her a mighty force for high-impact journalism, with a sharp understanding of the law and South Texas politics. She worked as a newspaper editor in San Antonio and Laredo and was a national figure in print journalism and fierce advocate for newsroom diversity. She had an insatiable drive for truth-telling.
In addition to vendors showcasing the latest in technology and services, this year’s TPA Convention and Trade Show offers general sessions covering important topics in the newspaper industry.
Events are scheduled June 18 - 20 at the Hyatt Regency DFW Airport Hotel.
For more than a quarter century, the silent auction benefiting the Texas Newspaper Foundation has brought a unique shopping experience to the TPA Convention and Trade Show. This year’s auction during the June 18-20 convention at the Hyatt Regency DFW Hotel will be no exception, and members are encouraged to bring items for sale and participate in the bidding.
Spur, Texas–based Paragraph Ranch Media has announced several recent personnel moves within the organization, which publishes five weekly newspapers in print and online editions, serving 10 contiguous rural counties and 15 school districts east of Lubbock.
HUNTSVILLE – The Huntsville Item has promoted general manager Traci Gallin to the top role as publisher of the paper, effective immediately.
A native of Huntsville, Gallin started her newspaper career at The Item 27 years ago in the mailroom and advanced steadily over the years in the production, advertising and business operations. She has served as general manager since December of 2022.