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Silent Auction benefits Texas Newspaper Foundation, TCCJ

The TPA Silent Auction provides 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 2023 TPA Convention and Trade Show June 1-3 at Kalahari Resorts and Conventions in Round Rock. The trade show features dozens of booths where vendors from throughout the newspaper and printing industries display and demonstrate their products and services.

3 Chord Rodeo set to perform for convention hospitality event

An Austin band with deep roots in vintage country music, 3 Chord Rodeo, is featured entertainment for the TPA Convention and Trade Show hospitality event on Friday evening, June 2.

The annual convention and trade show is scheduled June 1-3 at the Kalahari Resort in Round Rock.

Industry news

Newton County News closes

NEWTON – The Newton County News has ceased publication.

Publishers Jay and Shawn Wilkerson cited personal health reasons and a declining local business economy as factors in the decision they announced in the final edition March 1. They also noted efforts to sell the publication were unsuccessful.

In addition to the closing announcement, the final edition featured a photo of retiring office manager Karyn Lobb.

Newsmakers

Promotions, new hires and other staff changes at Texas newspapers reported in the April 2023 edition of the Texas Press Messenger.

Bay City Tribune staff changes announced

BAY CITY – Several changes have been announced at the Bay City Tribune.

Brittany Price has assumed the role of general manager, responsible for business operations and community engagement.

Ashley Brooking becomes managing editor, expanding on the skills she has been using in the months since former managing editor Jimmy Galvan began working remotely.

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Obituaries published in the April 2023 edition of the Texas Press Messenger.

EDWARD ASHER

HARLINGEN – Award winning writer and Pulitzer Prize finalist Ed Asher, longtime night city editor for the Valley Star in Harlingen, died Feb. 21. He was 65.

Born in Charleston, W.Va., Asher grew up in a military family, moving around the world before settling in Houston. He was a prolific writer from a young age.

Are your news, ad departments on same page?

Editors often raise red flags – or at least hesitate – at requests for business news, and often for good reason.

By Jim Pumarlo, consultant

The fight is on to keep public notices in Texas newspapers

The 88th Texas Legislature has set a record for the number of bills filed in a single session — 9,114 by the March 10 deadline. Of those, 1,086 were filed on the last day. Needless to say, your Texas Press Association legislative team is swamped as we sift through the pile and identify bills that would affect public notices in newspapers.

Analysis by MIKE HODGES and DONNIS BAGGETT, Texas Press Association

Burns Memorial Golf Classic kicks off annual convention

2023 Texas Press Association Convention & Trade Show events kick off with the Robert Burns Memorial Golf Classic at 9 a.m. Thursday, June 1, at the Forest Creek Golf Club in Round Rock.

The convention continues through Saturday, June 3, at Kalahari Resort and Conventions in Round Rock.

Sponsored by Brightspeed, the golf tournament benefits the Texas Newspaper Foundation and supports the Texas Center for Community Journalism at Tarleton State University and the Texas Newspaper Hall of Fame.

When the press is left in the dark, so are the people

AUSTIN — When Ben Barnes became speaker of the Texas House early in his political career, one of his challenges was to make accommodations for accredited members of the Capitol press corps to cover the Legislature. It was not a small task.

Guest opinion by JOHN C. MORITZ, Corpus Christi Caller-Times, USA Today Network - Texas

“I remember there were 77 members of the Capitol press that had to have offices,” Barnes recalled of his early speakership in 1965. “Seventy-seven different people, and I provided that.”

McCullough succeeds Villalpando Daugherty as Kerrville Daily Times publisher

KERRVILLE – Former Kerrville Daily Times Advertising Director Jennifer McCullough has returned to the newspaper as publisher.

She succeeded Carlina Villalpando Daugherty, who left to relocate to Abilene with her husband, Dr. Stephen Daugherty.

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