CLEBURNE – Lisa Chappell, a veteran Texas newspaper executive, has been appointed publisher of the Cleburne Times-Review.
She replaces Kay Helms, who recently retired. 
Chappell is the publisher of the Weatherford Democrat, the Mineral Wells Index, the Gainesville Daily Register and the Greenville Herald-Banner, in addition to their affiliated weekly publications in Royse City, Commerce and Rockwall County. She will continue in those roles as well. 

ANDREWS – James Blake Roberts is the seventh member and fourth generation of his family to oversee operations of the Andrews County News, founded in 1934 when his great grandfather Charles Roberts Sr. moved his family to Andrews from Seagraves.
His promotion to publisher was announced in January by Randall Roberts, president of Roberts Publishing Co., Inc.

MEXIA – Richard Nelson is the new publisher of The Mexia News and Groesbeck Journal, replacing Harry Darby, who announced in November he would leave at year end to pursue other interests.
Nelson moved to Limestone County from Freestone County, where he had served as publisher of The Teague Chronicle and The Fairfield Recorder since July 2017.

TEAGUE – Tim O’Malley, former managing editor of The Mexia News, has been promoted to editor and publisher of the Teague Chronicle and the Fairfield Recorder. 
He succeeds Richard Nelson, who took a similar role with the Mexia News and Groesbeck Journal.
The native of Florida, reared in Arizona with military service in the Air Force, said his first job in the newspaper business was delivering newspapers and writing sports part time for the Jackson County Herald Tribune in 2012. 

DUMAS – Moore County News-Press publisher Wanda Brooks has been named publisher emeritus of the publication, with former managing editor Michael Wright assuming the role of publisher.
Wright has 21 years of industry experience, including 13 years with the News-Press. 
Brooks began her 23-year career with the News-Press as office manager in 1994. She served in that capacity until being promoted to publisher of the News-Press in February of 2008. 

Staff changes, promotions at TPA member newspapers.

Speech by Al Cross, director of the Institute for Rural Journalism, University of Kentucky, at the 2018 TPA Midwinter Conference

A Houston court of appeals recently sided with media defendants regarding the relationship between Texas’ retraction statute (known as the Defamation Mitigation Act “DMA”) and the Anti-SLAPP statute (known as the Texas Citizens Participation Act “TCPA”). 

By Wesley D. Lewis, Associate, Haynes and Boone, LLP 

Three Texas newspapers change hands.

GALVESTON — Unique local coverage, important to both readers and advertisers, is key to the future of community newspapers, Texas Press Association members were told at the annual Midwinter Conference and Trade Show in January.
Overcoming adversity — both from market factors and during natural disasters in the communities newspapers serve — was the theme of the “Come Hell or High Water” conference held in Galveston. The importance of hometown newspapers’ local coverage was also a central theme of the sales programs presented during the conference.