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Texas newspapers rise to challenge of even more unprecedented times

Pandemic-weary Texas newspapers confronted a new disaster Feb. 12-18 as deadly winter storms hammered the state with life-threatening cold, power and water system failures and thousands of miles of treacherous roads.
The storms threatened an already fragile state economy and hampered healthcare systems already sorely taxed by COVID-19.
The Poynter Institute took note of Texas newspapers’ work in the face of the disaster, noting that “Texas journalists were wasting no time in demanding answers”  about the failure of the state’s power grid operated by the Electricity Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT). 
Journalists — particularly those in rural areas — were severely impacted by power outages in their homes and newspaper facilities.
Reporters filed stories and updates online, charging cell phones in their cars or anywhere they could find power. Many printing plants sat idle in the dark as production personnel and publishers scrambled to search for alternatives. Icy roads halted truck deliveries, and mail delivery was stalled.
With print production stymied, newspapers continued to publish online and many lifted paywalls on that week’s eEditions. When roads cleared, many newspapers added their missed print editions along with the new ones. Newspapers also took measures to ensure that public notices got to readers when printed newspapers could not be delivered. 
“As a journalist ... one thing that did not escape my notice was the dogged determination of Texas journalists. We may not be able to print or deliver papers but by gosh, we will report the news,” Marshall News Messenger Editor Wyndi Veigel wrote in her column Feb. 20.
“My friends and colleagues in the industry are beyond tired this week as they have relocated, battled, provided 24/7 news coverage and shivered along with everyone else. It’s what we do and our passion, but we are all tired of snowflakes.”
“Journalists aren’t comfortable being the story,” Texas Tribune editorial director Stacy-Marie Ishmael said in an interview with the Washington Post, “but the pandemic turned all of us into the story because, by definition, every single person has been affected in some way — although some more than others.”
“With local journalism in general, people are seeing the value of having people who are experiencing the thing writing about the thing,” said the Tribune’s chief product officer, Millie Tran, who developed a text-message service within 24 hours.
As the state thawed and print editions resumed, journalists joined their communities in dealing with the lingering impact of the power outages and damaged water systems, as well as broken pipes in homes and businesses. Newspapers turned to reporting on efforts to repair damaged systems and restore water service, while publicizing local distributions of bottled water and food supplies in areas where store inventories were depleted due to stalled deliveries.
Newspapers also celebrated the resilience of their residents, many taking time to point out the selfless efforts of individuals, churches and organizations in their communities that stepped up to help their neighbors. And on the lighter side, there were invitations to post pictures of kids and snowmen that quickly populated social media pages.
As the weather improved, Texas journalists didn’t let officials off the hook for the failure of the state’s power grid and continued to ask hard questions about preparations for the future.