COLLEGE STATION — Michael Martin Murphey will showcase his legendary musical skills in an exclusive appearance for Texas Press Association members during the June 20-22 TPA Convention and Trade Show in College Station. Murphey’s performance will highlight a barbecue dinner for TPA members on the evening of Friday, June 21, at the Lucky B Bison Ranch.
AUSTIN — In 2020, a Texas federal court ruled that certain provisions of the Texas drone law violated the First Amendment because they restricted the right to gather news. This freed Texas journalists from concerns that their conduct would be subject to civil and criminal penalties under unclear provisions of the state’s drone law enacted in 2013.
Uvalde Leader-News Publisher Craig Garnett (center) accepted the Tom and Pat Gish Award from the Institute for Rural Journalism, represented by Al Cross, (left) director emeritus, and Benjy Hamm, director, during the recent symposium Celebrating Courage, Tenacity, Integrity and Innovation in Rural Journalism at UT Austin.
From the Texas Center for Community Journalism
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.
Texas Sen. Charles Perry presented the Texas Historical Commission’s Texas Treasure Business Award to Barbara Brannon (left), editor, and Kay Ellington, publisher of The Texas Spur, which has operated continuously in Dickens County since 1909. (Texas Spur photo by Fred Cervantes)
The Texas Spur received the Texas Treasure Business award in style during a presentation at the recently restored Palace Theater in Spur.
Two of Kilgore’s own and three other East Texas media icons were named Region XIV/Texas Eastern Conference Legends during a ceremony at the Region XIV Basketball Tournament at Wagstaff Gymnasium. Among the honored group were Phil Hicks of the Tyler Morning Telegraph and Jack Stallard of the Longview News-Journal, both of whom work for M. Roberts Media, parent company of the News Herald.
BY BRANDON OGDEN, Kilgore News Herald
Also honored were Manny Almanza with Kilgore College, as well as Benny Rogers and Mike Montfort.
The Lufkin Daily News and The Nacogdoches Daily Sentinel have welcomed a new sales team member.
As regional sales & marketing director for the two sister publications, Anne Long will be overseeing the advertising departments and helping to lead the sales teams.
“My ultimate goal here is to help raise awareness in both communities about the many great print and digital marketing opportunities and resources available to local businesses by partnering with us,” she said.
Obituaries published in the April 2024 edition of the Texas Press Messenger.
Beverly Ann Lotta Daughtry
Kenneth Wayne Daughtry
ELGIN - Retired Elgin Courier Publisher Beverly Ann Lotta Daughtry, 81, and her husband Kenneth (Ken) Wayne Daughtry, 83, died March 14.
Bastrop County Sheriff’s Office investigators were looking into the circumstances of their deaths, which came as a shock to the community.
Registration is open for the Texas Press Association Convention & Trade Show set June 20-22 at Hilton College Station Hotel & Conference Center, 801 University Drive East in College Station.
The annual event includes awards banquets, a trade show, silent auction, general session learning opportunities and this year’s signature treat — a chuckwagon cookout and entertainment at the Lucky B Bison Ranch.
Registration forms are available on the TPA website, www.texaspress.com, where forms may be downloaded and online registration is also available.
RUSK — A little over two years ago, Texas’ oldest weekly newspaper was knocking on death’s door. John Hawkins, then the general manager of the Rusk Cherokeean-Herald, vividly remembers the phone call from the out-of-state corporate office on Dec. 10, 2021. “They said they were going to sell it or close it down,” he recalls. “I asked if they had anyone interested. They said no and asked if I’d like to buy it. I told them no, I was going to retire.”
By DONNIS BAGGETT, Texas Press Association