News

Jim Simmon

Jim Simmon

HOUSTON – Jim Simmon, 63, an editor whose career included stints with four Texas daily newspapers, was among the people lost during Houston area flooding in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey.
Simmon, who had retired and was coming to terms with early-onset dementia, disappeared from his Montrose home on Aug. 30. He was the subject of an area-wide search for two weeks. His body was found in Fort Bend County. An autopsy was ordered, but law enforcement officials believed the cause of death was drowning.

Patsy Cross Patterson

DENTON – Patsy Cross Patterson, a past co-owner of the Denton Record-Chronicle and an active community leader in Denton, died Aug. 29. She was 88.
Mrs. Patterson was born Oct. 24, 1929, in Paris, Texas. In 1945, her parents, Riley and Vivian Cross, bought the Record-Chronicle and the family moved to Denton. She grew up at the Record-Chronicle, holding many positions and eventually serving as secretary of the Board of Directors. She and her husband, Fred Patterson, were the owners when the newspaper was sold to the A. H. Belo Corp. in June 1999.

Celebrate National Newspaper Week

This year marks the 77th anniversary of National Newspaper Week. The annual observance set Oct. 1-7 celebrates and emphasizes the impact of newspapers to communities large and small.
Materials for NNW are available for download at www.nationalnewspaperweek.com, according to Tom Newton, chairman of the 2017 observance. 
The NNW content kit contains two editorials, the 2017 logo, a promotional ad and more, all available for download at no charge to daily and non-daily newspapers across North America.

Texas Newspaper Directory Cover Photo contest opens

Photographers at all TPA member newspapers are encouraged to submit their best work in the 2018 Texas Newspaper Directory Cover Photo Contest. Entries are being accepted Sept. 18 through Oct. 13.  
Photos should reflect the Texas spirit through landscapes, architecture, festival activities, wildlife and/or nature photography.

George Washington University workshop open to Texas journalists

The George Washington University’s Institute for Middle East Studies is now accepting applications for a 3-day fellows workshop for journalists working in regional media outlets.
According to outreach coordinator Dr. Scott Weiner, priority will be given to applicants from the Midwest, the South and the Mountain West.

Newspaper notices survive special session

The Texas Legislature’s high-profile stalemate over property tax reform means newspapers will remain the primary source of public notices for tax hearings and rates — for now, at least.

Analysis by Donnis Baggett, Texas Press Association

Northeast Texas Publishing acquires two newspapers, printing plant operation

Northeast Texas Publishing LP acquired the Mount Pleasant Tribune and The Light and Champion in Center in early August.
The group is part of Moser Community Media, LLC.
As part of the transaction, Mark Henry is now editor and publisher of the Tribune and a partner in the group. 
Henry is a Texas community newspaper veteran who began his career at his hometown newspaper, The Huntsville Item, in 1980. He has served and published small dailies, semi-weeklies and weekly papers around Texas his entire career. 

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