If time flies when you’re having fun, wait until you are leading an organization like the Texas Press Association.
My term of serving the membership is over in less time than it takes a popsicle to melt on a hot Texas sidewalk. And I couldn’t be more thankful for this opportunity.
By Leonard Woolsey, TPA President
At last year’s convention, I humbly and proudly took the oath to serve the interests of newspapers across Texas. I felt like a little kid standing in my uncle’s worn roping boots.
The making of laws isn’t sexy.
As Texas Press Association members, keeping our eyes open for impactful bills during a legislative session is one of our organization’s top priorities.
Mike Hodges and Donnis Baggett invest an enormous amount of time combing through a dizzying number of bills filed each session. When a bill of interest is flagged, rallying the troops is required. Sometimes that means asking certain members to make a phone call or send an email. Other times you get called to Austin to testify.
Recently I visited with a newspaper friend in Florida who has the audacity to turn the industry on its ear.
“I want to build a bigger business,” he says.
He pauses.
“Why not?”
And much like a scene from Star Wars, you find yourself nodding in total agreement to the words of the Jedi Warrior.
By Leonard Woolsey, TPA President 2022-23
Newspaper swagger comes in part by being a driver of thoughtful discussions and conversations in your community.
Doing so, however, can be tricky.
Good newspapers are thought-leaders in their community — an institution where courage and action sit side by side. A place where news events can migrate from the front page to editorial page, with the newspaper making important observations and asking key questions.
It’s broken-record time – but please don’t stop if you’ve heard this one before. I promise it’s worth another spin.
The 2023 legislative session is in full swing. Lawmakers walk the halls, move furniture, file bills, and create or renew relationships. The question is, are you engaged in the process?
Picture a small newspaper office with nearly a dozen people waiting patiently in line. They are young, energetic and engaged in the world around them. On the other side of the counter are members of a team dedicated to serving the community with the most relevant community news and information.
And in the case of The Big Bend Sentinel, they will also make you a great cup of coffee.
By Leonard Woolsey, TPA President
Last week the screen of my cellphone lit up as the electronic brick began vibrating across the nightstand. Fumbling, I stabbed at the phone and flipped it open to see who decided 2 a.m. was a good time to call.
Squinting, my eyes made out the letters K-R-I-S.
By LEONARD WOOLSEY, TPA President
Publishers often neglect the critical element of building a working relationship with their elected officials until, unfortunately, they are opposite sides of a fence.
Developing a working relationship with an elected official is not about agreeing on everything, but rather discovering those opportunities where you both share interests. And the only way to get there is by investing time to build a relationship. For many of us, that means reliving your teenage first-date jitters.
By Leonard Woolsey, TPA President
Expect to fight tooth and nail for public notices in the upcoming Texas legislative session.
There’s an old saying: “Best to be loaded for bear when hunting squirrel.” The meaning is simple: always be prepared for the worst. Things can go from a nice day in the woods to downright deadly in the blink of an eye.
By Leonard Woolsey, TPA President
I’m sick and tired of apologizing for being in the newspaper business, and I suspect you feel the same way.
Our industry suffers mightily from self-inflicted wounds. We’re more likely to publish stories about our problems than our successes. We focus on print copies trending down instead of digital readership going up. And we fail to engage detractors who claim falsely that nobody reads newspapers anymore.
By Leonard Woolsey, TPA President