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Extra care called for in publishing reaction to social media post

Q: A resident of our county, on her Facebook page, posted information supporting one candidate and casting innuendos on the other in a July runoff. The social media post is a string of allegations in the form of questions that could affect the election. What should we consider before we proceed with our coverage?

In these days of unrest, we must examine our relationships with our communities

None of us are blind to racial injustice in America. Currently, most of us are involved in covering protests against that injustice whether we are the smallest of weeklies or the largest of dailies, because these protests are happening everywhere in our state. 
This brings up, for newspapers, the delicate issues of race and our collective past that we must be prepared to address when our communities and our readers ask us to be accountable for such things. 

Texas journalists, newspapers who won Pulitzer Prizes

Texas newspapers burst onto the Pulitzer Prize scene in a big way in 1955, capturing two awards in local reporting.
Alice Daily Echo writer Caro Brown won for local reporting - edition time (later called deadline reporting) for her series dealing with the successful attack on one-man political rule in neighboring Duval County, work that the Pulitzer judges said showed "professional skill and courage" in the face of "bitterest political and personal opposition."

Opening the State of Texas

Gov. Greg Abbott recently issued an executive order to announce the opening of additional businesses and activities in Texas expanding the businesses and activities included in the first phase of the plan to Open Texas while minimizing the spread of COVID-19. 
All newly opened businesses and services are subject to the recommended minimum standard health protocols outlined by the Texas Department of State Health Services.

Postal Q & A: Value of IMb? Sampling problems

We are recapping recent questions to the NNA postal hotline shared for the benefit of others without identifying the newspaper( s) involved. 

API adds more tools for journalists

American Press Institute has added more tools to the API website's COVID-19 resources.
Included are coronavirus data journalism tools, how to understand research studies and why smaller advertisers and ad buys might be better right now. Click here to see the updated page.
Among the featured reports are:

Pulitzer Prizes in Journalism awarded to writers, photographers and newspapers in Texas

1955 - Local Reporting - Edition time 
Mrs. Caro Brown of Alice Daily Echo
For a series of news stories dealing with the successful attack on one-man political rule in neighboring Duval County, written under unusual pressure both of edition time and difficult, even dangerous, circumstances. Mrs. Brown dug into the facts behind the dramatic daily events, as well, and obtained her stories in spite of the bitterest political opposition, showing professional skill and courage.

First Amendment Center PSA Campaign

Today Americans are facing an unprecedented threat, and the information local newspapers provide is saving lives. That story needs to be told. The Free Speech Center at Middle Tennessee State University has developed a national campaign featuring a diverse group of Americans and this message about journalism: "Reliable Information When We Need it Most. Protect freedom of the press."
The ads are configured for print and online, in multiple sizes and are available for immediate download. Click here.

Journalism Emergency Relief Fund

Local news is a vital resource for keeping people and communities connected in the best of times. Today, it plays an even greater function in reporting on local lockdowns or shelter at home orders, school and park closures, and data about how COVID-19 is affecting daily life. 

The Vindicator shares special section idea

Casey Stinnett, editor of The Vindicator in Liberty, shared a successful special section idea.
When a local nursing home asked for help publicizing its request for donations of large print puzzles and games to help keep residents occupied during the pandemic, the Vindicator staff saw an opportunity to fill that need with a special section in the newspaper.

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