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WTPA members gather for annual convention

Kristen Tribe, publisher of the Wise County Messenger, was installed as president of the West Texas Press Association when members gathered for the annual WTPA convention July 18-20 in Decatur.
Other officers installed were Bill Crist, Snyder Daily News, chairman of the board; Pat Canty, Odessa American, first vice president; Maria Weaver, Hamilton Herald-News, second vice president; and Mary Dudley, Perryton Herald, secretary-treasurer.
Newly elected board members are Carlina Villalpando, Kerrville Daily Times; Kim Ware, Azle News; and J.L. Mankin, Big Lake Wildcat. Returning board members are Russel Skiles, Lamesa Press-Reporter; Melissa Perner, Ozona Stockman; Thad Swiderski, eType Services; and Christy Hawkins, Seminole Sentinel.
Some of the programs during the event included “Driving Facebook to the Bank” by Becky Weise and Regina Barton from the Fayette County Record; “Creating a Podcast” by the Decatur Public Library staff; “Localizing the News: Finding Local Angles to Big Stories” with Tommy Thomason from the Texas Center for Community Journalism; and “It’s Not the Critic Who Counts: Prioritizing Self Care in a Highly Criticized Field” with Megan Adams from the Wise Health System Center for Emotional Wellness.
Guest speaker on Friday was Tim Madigan, author of “I’m Proud of You: My Friendship with Fred Rogers.” Madigan, a former Fort Worth Star-Telegram reporter, talked about his long-time relationship with Mr. Rogers and the TV star’s genuine caring and compassion throughout his life.
Sweepstakes winners in the WTPA Better Newspaper Contest were Kerrville Daily Times in Division A (dailies), Wise County Messenger in Division B (semi-weeklies), The Azle News in Division C (large weeklies) and the Springtown Epigraph in Division D (weeklies). Full contest results are posted on the Texas Press Association website, click here.