Texas journalism has always been a high-stakes endeavor, but the challenges we face in 2026 — from navigating the AI frontier to reporting on the latest immigration news — require a new kind of leadership.
From April 24 to 26, the Texas Managing Editors are heading to El Paso for a weekend of rigorous professional development and the celebration of the best journalism and journalists in the state. We’re finalizing our schedule, and it’s a lineup you won’t want to miss.
The Highlights
- Frontline Reporting: We’re getting out of the conference room and onto the streets with a Chartered Bus Tour, visiting sites that define America’s border policy.
- Crisis Management: We’ll go behind the scenes of the Kerrville Flooding coverage to discuss leading newsrooms through environmental and community disasters.
- The AI Blueprint: Featured speaker Ryan Serpico, deputy director of newsroom AI and automation for Hearst Newspapers, joins us for a deep dive into practical planning every editor needs to navigate the AI shift.
- Legislative & Open Government Status Check: Get the latest updates on open government challenges and press freedoms in our “Ask a Lawyer” session.
The Convention Schedule
Friday, April 24: Arrive & Connect
- 6:30-8:30 PM: Opening Reception: Kick off the weekend with drinks and hors d’oeuvres.
- 8:30 PM-Midnight: Hospitality Room: The networking continues late into the night.
Saturday, April 25: Visit the Frontlines
- 8:00 AM: Breakfast
- 8:50 AM: Welcome Remarks
- 9:00 AM: Trauma-informed Leadership: What a case study on Kerrville flooding coverage can show us about leading during crises.
- 11:15 AM: Awards Luncheon: Celebrating the first round of our state’s top honors.
- 1:00 PM: Immigration Reporting: A panel on where policy meets lived reality.
- 2:15 PM: Immigration Bus Tour: A guided tour of El Paso’s most significant frontline sites.
- 6:00 PM: Evening Reception & Silent Auction
- 7:00 PM: Awards Dinner & Live Auction: Join us as we toast the year’s most impactful journalism.
Sunday, April 26: The Future & The Final Honors
- 8:00 AM: Breakfast
- 9:00 AM: Big Tech, Big Stakes. Navigating the AI frontier for newsrooms.
- 10:15 AM: Guarding Press Freedoms. A legal legislative update and Q&A.
- 11:30 AM: Final Awards. The big reveal: Newsroom of the Year and Star of Stars Headliners winners.
- 1:00 PM: Closing Remarks & Adjourn
Register Now
Whether you’re here for the networking in the hospitality room or taking in the gritty reality of the border tour, this convention is about strengthening the connective tissue of Texas media.
Register here for the 2026 TME Convention in El Paso.
See you in the Sun City!