The 110th annual meeting of the Panhandle Press Association was held July 24 at the Hoffbrau Steakhouse in Amarillo.
The association’s annual convention, originally scheduled March 20-21 in Perryton, was distilled into one banquet due to COVID-19 pandemic concerns.
Faith Douglas of Canyon and Kade Miller of Panhandle were recognized as scholarship recipients for the coming year.

South Texas Press Association opted for a virtual convention this year.
Members gathered for an online meeting Aug. 7. It included a two-part program by Editor & Publisher magazine publisher Mike Blinder, a business meeting and awards presentation.
Blinder’s program included a news session on the topic of “We profit when we focus on what we do best” and an advertising session on the topic of “Taking it to the street: Actionable takeaways you can use immediately to make sizable gains to your top line.”

The National Newspaper Association announced 2020 Better Newspaper Contest and Better Advertising Contest winners who will be honored at an awards ceremony at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 3, during NNA’s 134th Virtual Convention & Trade Show.
There were 1,276 entries in the Better Newspaper Editorial Contest and 193 entries in the Better Newspaper Advertising Contest for a total of 1,469 entries. A total of 523 awards were won by 92 member newspapers in 34 states.

Obituaries published in the September 2020 edition of the Texas Press Messenger.

Colleagues and friends throughout the state are remembering Granite Publications founder Jim Chionsini, a leader in the Texas Newspaper industry for more than four decades. 
Chionsini died July 21 at the age of 74.
No public services were held; however, memorial celebrations are planned.
Through tributes published in newspapers, some online and in other formats, journalists across Texas have shared Chionsini’s impact on their careers. 

Obituaries published in the August 2020 edition of the Texas Press Messenger.

James Armand Chionsini

The Aug, 14 Summer Revenue Conference conducted by the Texas Center for Community Journalism has been redesigned in a virtual format, due to concerns about the spread of the coronavirus in Texas.
The Robert Burns Memorial Golf Classic is still on for Aug. 13 at the Lady Bird Johnson Golf Course in Fredericksburg. 

It’s time to start organizing entries for the 2019-20 Texas Better Newspaper Contest.
The online contest platform will open for entries on Monday, Sept. 7, at betternewspapercontest.com. Deadline for entries is 5 p.m. Monday, Oct. 5.
Material submitted in the contest must have been published during the contest period, Sept. 1, 2019 through Aug. 31, 2020. To download the contest rules, click here.

The Texas Better Newspaper Contest has expanded to 18 categories for the 2019-20 event, giving member newspapers more ways show off their best work in statewide competition.
The contest period for the 2019-20 contest ends Aug. 31. Entries will be accepted Sept. 7 through Oct. 5.
The expansion comes a year after the Texas BNC contest period changed from a calendar year to Sept. 1 through Aug. 31 to allow for annual award presentations to be held during the January convention and trade show.

TPA Member Services Director Ed Sterling is retiring July 22 after 28 years of service to the Texas newspaper industry.
“His value to the industry cannot be measured and his absence will be glaringly obvious,” Executive Director Mike Hodges said. “We wish him the very best and hope that he fully realizes how much he is loved by all members of our association.”
Sterling was hired May 20, 1992, by Lyndell Williams, who was executive director at the time.