(News Media Association has given reprint permission to the following op-ed. Please note that this action is pending on the Federal level, not state. Please direct any comments you have to your U.S. Representative.)

Proposed changes to an advertising requirement for employers in the U.S. could mean that soon, many eligible American workers will not learn about available job opportunities in the U.S. before they are offered to non-resident, foreign workers instead.

By Paul Boyle, News Media Alliance

LA GRANGE – The Texas Czech Heritage and Cultural Center in La Grange has dedicated a new facility, the Czech Newspaper Museum, at the Czech Village in La Grange.
The new museum is a replica of an 1800s print shop and tells the story of numerous early Czech newspapers printed across Texas. The museum showcases the tools of a trade — a printing press, an engine and other equipment that was used to print newspapers in that era.

The federal Department of Labor is proposing an increase in the base salary level of exempt employees who work primarily by salary and do not receive overtime pay. The increase would be about a 50% jump in a single year from $23,660 to $35,308 annually.
"This increase is a daunting single step for a small business to make in one year," NNA President Andrew Johnson writes in a public statement. "It is more likely to lead to job cuts than a general boost for employees. The National Newspaper Association proposes instead that the increase would be set to rise gradually over six years."

While community news and lifestyle pages have replaced the "Women's News" pages of past decades, many in the newspaper business recall the kind of news discussed in this presentation at a TPA convention 80 years ago.

"How to Develop an Interesting Women's Page," a presentation by Miss Laura Lane, society editor for the Vernon Daily Record, at the 60th annual convention of the Texas Press Association, June 8-10, 1939 in Lubbock.

Legislative sessions are always hectic, but the 2019 session is one of the busiest ever for the Texas Press Association. As of the March 8 filing deadline for regular legislation, lawmakers filed 7,081 bills. That figure does not include 1,524 resolutions covering everything from birthday congratulations to calls for constitutional amendments.

Analysis by Donnis Baggett, Texas Press Association

National Newspaper Association is throwing its weight behind a bill to ease the cost of obtaining federal court records. Rep. Doug Collins, R-GA, introduced the Electronic Court Records Reform Act, which will require the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts to consolidate its electronic filing systems and drop the fees for general public access. The bill is similar to one he introduced in late 2018.

By Tonda F. Rush, NNA Director of Public Policy

Legislative sessions are always hectic, but the 2019 session could be one of the busiest ever for the Texas Press Association.
With the bill-filing deadline for regular legislation still two weeks away as of the Messenger’s deadline, lawmakers already had filed 4,259 pieces of legislation. The total could easily top 7,000 when the filing frenzy comes to an end.

Analysis by by Donnis Baggett, Texas Press Association

Volunteers are needed to help judge the 2019 Tennessee State Press Contests, sponsored by the University of Tennessee and the Tennessee Press Association. Judging periods begin March 25 and April 1.

Tennessee Press has two contests with two judging periods:

Editorial contest: 

• Judging period starts March 25 

• 45 to 50 judges needed

Advertising/Circulation Ideas Contest:

• Judging starts April 1

• 10 to 15 judges needed

The Texas Ethics Commission recently revised rules regulating disclosures in online political advertising. Among other changes, the new rule exempts political advertising shared or re-posted on social media by persons other than a candidate or political committee from general requirements to disclose the message as political advertising and to identify the candidate or person responsible for the ad.

By Paul C. Watler

With what could be another challenging Texas legislative session on the horizon, now is the time to be building and cultivating relationships with lawmakers.

Guest opinion by Leonard Woolsey