The journalism world was briefly turned upside down last month when Gannett and McClatchy both announced they were dropping the Associated Press (AP) at all their newspapers.

AUSTIN LEWTER, Director, Texas Center for Community Journalism

Gannett is the largest newspaper company in the United States. It publishes USA Today and more than 200 other newspapers from coast to coast. This includes a dozen newspapers in Texas.

They are no longer using articles, photos and videos from the AP in any of their publications.

And I think that is okay.

The Texas Center for Community Journalism is planning more traveling workshops, starting with a stop in Navasota this spring.

The center will present its Traveling News Writing Workshop on Thursday, May 9, in downtown Navasota. “We are thrilled to partner with fellow journalism schools across the state to bring more free TCCJ training to your neck of the woods,” TCCJ director Austin Lewter said.

The workshop will start at 8:30 a.m. and conclude at 4 p.m. Breakfast and lunch will be provided.

By AUSTIN LEWTER, TCCJ Director

As we bid farewell to another incredible year, we find ourselves reflecting on the cherished partnerships that have made 2023 truly extraordinary.

It is with immense gratitude and joy that we extend our heartfelt thanks to you — the hard-working news folk throughout the Lone Star State. The Texas Center for Community Journalism exists to serve you and we sincerely hope we have fulfilled that mission in 2023.

We covered a lot of ground over the past year.

Texas Press Association is seeking nominations for awards to be presented at the 2024 TPA Convention & Trade Show June 20-22 in College Station.

The honors include:

• Golden 50 Award

TPA’s Golden 50 Award honors men and women who have displayed exemplary service and selfless contributions to journalism for 50 or more years.

To nominate an industry veteran, download a nomination form from the TPA website and return the completed form to TPA Executive Director Mike Hodges, mhodges@texaspress.com, by March 1.

The European Union’s (EU) General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is a comprehensive data privacy and security law that imposes an array of obligations onto organizations that target the European market and collect personal data related to people residing in the EU. Article 17 of the GDPR, also known as the “right to be forgotten,” is one of its key provisions, allowing EU individuals to request that organizations delete their personal data if they no longer want it to be held and processed.

By MALLIKA DARGAN and GAVIN GEORGE, Haynes and Boone, LLP

By KEN ESTEN COOKE, TPA president 2023-24

Hiring, firing and personnel issues are my least favorite parts of being a publisher. Most of us have had to deal with a bad hire – a surly receptionist, perhaps, or a reporter who shoots his mouth off on social media.

We’ve got to work constantly on good hires to build strong teams.

By Russell Viers, Digiversity.tv

I still remember the first time I showed Photoshop’s Clone Stamp Tool to a newspaper audience. It was 1997 and it was called the Rubber Stamp Tool back then. The room was silent in amazement as I eliminated various marks, spots, and objects from the image. I think I removed a hot air balloon from the sky in a photo as well.

By MARY ELIZABETH DAVIS

Lamesa Press-Reporter

During more than four decades as a Lamesa Press-Reporter journalist, Russel Skiles has told the stories of a Holocaust survivor and the community-wide effort that brought a state prison to town.

But those are just a couple of the many stories which Skiles recalled as he retired July 19 as the newspaper’s publisher.

Two bad public notice bills mark beginning of session

ANALYSIS By MIKE HODGES and DONNIS BAGGETT
Texas Press Association

This essay was originally published on the The Rural Blog, Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues, based at the University of Kentucky. 
Gannett Co.’s recent recommendation or directive to local editors that they offer less opinion, and keep it local, has prompted reflections by rural editor-publishers.