FRISCO, Texas — Texas Press Association members approved a bylaws amendment regarding rules for participating membership during the Midwinter Conference and Trade Show.
Seventy-seven percent voted to allow newspapers that do not meet the requirements of active membership to be participating members if approved by a majority vote of the board of directors. The vote exceeded the required two-thirds majority of active members present and voting at the convention.
RICHARD KEITH COLLINS
AUSTIN – Richard Keith (Dick) Collins of Austin, a retired sports writer who had a second career in real estate, died Dec. 30.
He was 86.
In 1952, Collins graduated from Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene with a degree in journalism.
Three days later, he joined the sports department of the Wichita Falls Record News.
SCOTT ALLEN
JOSHUA McKINNEY
MATTHEW FULLER
FREDERICKSBURG – Three new employees have joined the staff at the Fredericksburg Standard-Radio Post, publisher Ken Cooke announced.
AUSTIN — Submissions are sought for the 2017 Texas Gavel Awards, which honor outstanding journalism that fosters public understanding of the legal system.
Entries published or broadcast during the 2016 calendar year will be accepted for print, broadcast, and online categories until 5 p.m. April 3. There is no entry fee.
The awards will be presented at the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas’ annual conference Sept. 14, 2017 at the Hilton Austin.
The Texas Governor’s Committee on People with Disabilities announces the Barbara Jordan Media Awards call for nominations for media content created or published in 2016.
The award is presented in several different categories, including TV Feature, Internet, Photojournalism, etc. There is no fee for entries. Winners are selected by a panel of professional journalists, people with disabilities and professionals in the field of disabilities.
Ideas for assessing the impact of a community newspaper were shared by UT instructor Griff Singer at the recent Texas Press Midwinter Conference and Trade Show.
Singer discussed ways editors and publishers can “audit” their newspapers, looking at the number and kinds of stories published, editing of submitted content, how council and board meetings are covered, the number of photos, how they are displayed and whether people shown are identified.
With the North and East Texas Press Association’s 91st annual convention set March 16-18, entry deadline for the regional group’s newspaper contest is fast approaching.
Contest entries are due Feb. 5, according to Todd A. Griffith, NETPA contest chairman. Awards will be presented at the NETPA convention in Sulphur Springs.
In addition, the group is accepting applications for the annual scholarship.
News Media Alliance has created promotional advertisements highlighting the importance of keeping public notices in newspapers and made them available to all Texas newspapers, including those who are not Alliance members.
The ads are available through this address: https://www.newsmediaalliance.org/email-gate/?submit=/research_tools/pu…
The best examples of journalism and community service are celebrated each year through the Texas Press Association Better Newspaper Contest.
This year, the contest entry period opens Feb. 15. TPA members are invited to upload entries through the Texas BNC online contest platform. Deadline for entries is 5 p.m. March 23.
Winners will be announced at the TPA Newspaper Leadership Retreat in June.
Q: I am new to Texas and want to check on laws regarding the advertising of alcohol and tobacco products in print and online that are specific to tobacco barns and liquor stores.
A: First, here is a link to a list of laws affecting advertising in the Texas Alcoholic Beverage code:
http://texaspress.com/legal-notice-laws
(Click “Alcoholic Beverage” to view the short list of laws.)
Second, another good resource is the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission marketing practices link: