The 23rd International Symposium on Online Journalism (ISOJ) is scheduled April 1 and 2 at the University of Texas at Austin and online.
The Knight Center for Journalism in the Americas, which hosts the annual event, is offering a discounted registration rate of $100 (regular fee is $250) for in-person attendance to any staff member of a TPA member publication.
This year’s conference includes panels on new models for local news, the growth of nonprofit journalism, diversity in newsrooms, revenue diversification, audio journalism and more.

I sure hope the March primaries were better for you than they were for me. No, I’m not talking about the poor field of candidates and the lack of real statesmen out there. I’m still looking for that man or woman who cares more about me and other Texans in this state than in their own self-serving needs. I mean when you have a very high-ranking elected state official saying we need to sacrifice our elderly during COVID so we can all go to Walmart to boost the economy, there’s something seriously wrong with the state leaders of the 21st Century.

As 2021 draws to a close, it’s time to start considering entries for the next Texas Better Newspaper Contest, which opens for entries Feb. 1.
As part of the transition to an annual summer convention, the 2020-21 contest covers the period from Sept. 1, 2020, through Dec. 31, 2021.
To be eligible for the contest, the newspapers must be members in good standing at the time of entry in 2022 as well as during the contest period, 2020 and 2021.

By JIM PUMARLO, Consultant

BURNET – The Citizens Gazette is celebrating 30 years of providing local news and information each week in the Highland Lakes and Burnet area.
Started in 1991, the Citizens Gazette continues to offer a voice to local residents who want to connect with the people and events unique to the towns they live in.
After just three years of publication the Citizens Gazette claimed the top award for best all-round newspaper in its class in the state for its coverage in 1993 by the Texas Press Association. The newspaper was recognized again in 2004.
 

LaGRANGE – The Fayette County Record celebrated the beginning of its 100th year of publication on Nov. 2, publishing a special commemorative edition and hosting an open house.
The commemorative edition featured top stories from each decade of its history.
According to the history, The Fayette County Record was published infrequently by various ownership groups as far back in the 1800s; however, the Record as it is known today was founded in 1922 by L.J. Sulak and Fran S. Bambuch. It was published in a frame building a little east of the courthouse square.

MARTIN COUNTY - The Martin County Messenger is under new ownership following its recent sale to 4B Publications member David Butler of Stanton.
The Messenger has been a staple in Martin County for three decades. It was started and purchased by the late Bob Dillard, owner of Far West Texas Newspapers, in the early 1990s.

McGREGOR – Tommy and Patricia (Pattie) Wells have acquired the McGregor Mirror and Crawford Sun from former publishers Bonnie Mullens and Mynette Taylor, who published the newspaper for decades with their brother, the late Charles E. Mooney.
The Wells published their first edition Nov. 18. The Mirror had ceased publication Oct. 7.
A 30-year veteran of the newspaper industry, Tommy Wells will serve as publisher and editor of the publication and Pattie Wells will handle the accounting and circulation.

Webinars, online and in-person workshops and other training opportunities for staffs of Texas Newspapers:

Obituaries published in the December 2021 edition of the Texas Press Messenger.

RALPH LANGER