TPA board approves membership dues increase

The Texas Press Association board of directors has voted to increase membership dues.

Each year dues are calculated based on the average annual paid circulation as reported on the Statement of Ownership. The fee will increase from nine cents per subscriber to 10 cents per subscriber. In addition, the board set the minimum dues amount at $200. 

Kelli Barnes, a member of the dues committee, said that the $200 minimum dues should be an easy decision even for small newspapers. She noted that TPA offers an abundance of free training worth many times the cost of the dues. In addition, Barnes said, “It is impossible to measure the impact of public notice revenue that TPA has been able to protect for newspapers through its lobbying efforts.” 

Another committee member, Tara Huff, noted that there were times that her small paper struggled to make ends meet, but the dues she paid to TPA were always in her budget. She said that because of the help she received from TPA, she would never consider dropping her membership. 

Barnes added, “There are numerous things people invest in. TPA’s minimum dues are less than $17 per month, but some people spend more than that on their Sirius XM radio subscriptions. Texas Press provides its members a Libel Hotline, FOIFT support and member benefits such as conventions and newspaper contests.

TPA provides financial support for our regional press associations through scholarship matching and the contest judging platform.” 

Executive Director Mike Hodges said, “When considering the huge cost of lobbying for First Amendment issues, not to mention keeping public notice in newspapers, the small amount TPA collects in dues falls way short of covering its expense. TPA’s dues are based on paid-newspaper circulation, which is declining each year. That business model forces the board to adjust dues periodically.”

Hodges informed the board that declining paid circulation had caused dues revenue to drop by more than $75,000 in the last six years. The board-approved adjustment would help restore a portion of the loss. The 2025 dues invoices will be mailed to all members in early December. Any publisher not able to pay in full in 60 days is encouraged to contact Hodges to set up a payment plan.