Texas Managing Editors

Texas Managing Editors on Sunday announced its final winners and runners-up in the 2025 edition of the contest. Congratulations to the newsrooms recognized for their outstanding work last year. For first-round winners, click here.

COMMUNITY SERVICE

1A

1st Place: Josh Edwards and Andrew Hodge – Nacogdoches Daily Sentinel

2nd Place: Ruben Ibarra, Josh Havard, Lance Kingrey, Mike Zimmerman, Joel Andrews, Stacy Faison, Brock West – Lufkin Daily News

2A

1st Place: Richard Douglas, Eric Garcia, Jerry Prickett, Elliot Hemstreet, Joel Valley, Larry Causey, Nan Dickson, Earl Nottingham, Shawn Ankrom, Eric Drennan, Jon Brooks, Will Hopkins, Randy Ray, David Stone, Jeff Sebestyen – Temple Daily Telegram

2nd Place: Brandi D. Addison, Alex Driggars, Mateo Rosiles and Adam D. Young – Lubbock Avalanche-Journal

3rd Place: Kevin Limiti – Killeen Daily Herald

3A

1st Place: Asher Lehrer-Small – Houston Landing

2nd Place: Staff – The Dallas Morning News

3rd Place: Sara DiNatale – San Antonio Express-News

Honorable Mention: Texas Tribune

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION

1A

1st Place: Laura Dennis, Kim Smith – Odessa American

2nd Place: Ashley Brooking – Bay City Tribune with Southern, Inc.

3rd Place: Lani Sneed – Abilene Reporter-News

2A

1st Place: Emily Wolf, Toluwani Osibamowo – Fort Worth Report

2nd Place: Mateo Rosiles – Lubbock Avalanche-Journal

3rd Place: Robert Moore – El Paso Matters

Honorable Mention: Elida S. Perez – El Paso Matters

3A

1st Place: Zach Despart, Yuriko Schumacher, Uriel García – The Texas Tribune

2nd Place: Yamil Berard – The Dallas Morning News

3rd Place: Caroline Ghisolfi, Amelia Winger, Matt deGrood – Houston Chronicle

Honorable Mention: Alison Young – Houston Landing

TEAM  EFFORT

1A

1st Place: Stacy Faison, Josh Havard – Lufkin Daily News

2nd Place: Dalondo Moultrie, Felicia Frazar – Seguin Gazette-Enterprise

3rd Place: Staff – Nacogdoches Daily Sentinel

2A

1st Place: Staff – Temple Daily Telegram

2nd Place: Cecilia Lenzen, Emily Wolf – Fort Worth Report

3rd Place: El Paso Matters, La Verdad, Lighthouse Reports –El Paso Matters

Honorable Mention: Staff – The Beaumont Enterprise

3A

1st Place: Zach Despart, Alejandro Serrano, Yuriko Schumacher, Uriel García, Berenice Garcia, Elijah Nicholson-Messmer, Jakob Maurer, The Texas Tribune; Perla Trevizo, ProPublica/Texas Tribune; Juan A. Lozano, Elliot Spagat, The Associated Press – The Texas Tribune

2nd Place: Houston Chronicle

3rd Place: Houston Landing

Honorable Mention: Austin American-Statesman

NEWSROOM OF THE YEAR

1A

1st Place: Nacogdoches Daily Sentinel

2nd Place: Lufkin Daily News

3rd Place: Bryan-College Station Eagle

2A

1st Place: El Paso Matters

2nd Place: Fort Worth Report

3rd Place: Clute, The Facts

3A

1st Place: Houston Chronicle

2nd Place: The Dallas Morning News

3rd Place: San Antonio Express-News

Texas Managing Editors honors the top journalism across the state with its awards contest. Winners are announced throughout the annual conference, which is taking place April 25-27.

FEATURE WRITING

1A

1st Place: Victor R. Martinez – El Paso Inc.

2nd Place: Ronald W. Erdrich – Abilene Reporter-News

3rd Place: Kent Miller – Greenville Herald-Banner

Honorable Mention: Shaylin Smith – The Daily Skiff, TCU

2A

1st Place: Drew Shaw – Fort Worth Report

2nd Place: Kim Brent – The Beaumont Enterprise

3rd Place: Michael Haag – Waco Tribune-Herald

Honorable Mention: Cynthia Zelaya – Clute, The Facts

3A

1st Place: Tony Plohetski – Austin American-Statesman

2nd Place: Brandon Lingle – San Antonio Express-News

3rd Place: Sig Christenson – San Antonio Express-News

Honorable Mention: Dion Nissenbaum – Houston Landing

FEATURE PHOTOGRAPHY

1A

1st Place: Ruben R. Ramirez – El Paso Inc.

2nd Place: Chris Cody – Baytown Sun

3rd Place: Cheryl Donatto – Baytown Sun

Honorable Mention: R. W. Erdrich – Abilene Reporter-News, Joel Andrews – Lufkin Daily News, A. Hodge – Nacogdoches Daily Sentinel

2A

1st Place: Omar Ornelas – El Paso Times

2nd Place: Mike Felix – Clute, The Facts

3rd Place: Mike Felix – Clute, The Facts

Honorable Mention: Kim Brent – The Beaumont Enterprise

3A

1st Place: Ben Lowy for The Texas Tribune

2nd Place: Antranik Tavitian – Houston Landing

3rd Place: Elizabeth Conley – Houston Chronicle

Honorable Mention: Smiley N. Pool – The Dallas Morning News

GENERAL COLUMN WRITING

1A

1st Place: Ronald W. Erdrich – Abilene Reporter-News

2nd Place: Greg Weatherbee – Lufkin Daily News

3rd Place: Steve Showalter – The Baytown Sun

Honorable Mention: Kent Miller – Greenville Herald-Banner

2A

1st Place: Kevin Limiti – Killeen Daily Herald

2nd Place: Kaitlin Bain – The Beaumont Enterprise

3rd Place: Yvonne Mintz – Clute, The Facts

Honorable Mention: Erik Walsh – Killeen Daily Herald

3A

1st Place: Regina Lankenau – Houston Chronicle

2nd Place: Bridget Grumet – Austin American-Statesman

3rd Place: Cary Clack – San Antonio Express-News

Honorable Mention: Dave Lieber – The Dallas Morning News

INFOGRAPHICS

1A

1st Place: Ella Mercer – The Daily Skiff, TCU

2nd Place: Lance Kingrey – Lufkin Daily News

3rd Place: Dave Rogers, Martin Garcia – Baytown Sun

2A

1st Place: Jacob Sanchez, Matthew Sgroi – Fort Worth Report

2nd Place: Francisco E. Jimenez – MyRGV.com

3rd Place: Win Emmons – Waco Tribune-Herald

Honorable Mention: Jacob Sanchez – Fort Worth Report

3A

1st Place: Matt Zdun – Houston Chronicle

2nd Place: Yuriko Schumacher – The Texas Tribune

3rd Place: Liz Teitz, Alexandra Kanik – San Antonio Express-News

Honorable Mention: Kevin Krause, José Luis Adriano, Michael Hogue, Laurie Joseph – The Dallas Morning News

EDITORIAL WRITING

1A

1st Place: Kim Smith – Odessa American

2nd Place: Josh Edwards – Nacogdoches Daily Sentinel

3rd Place: Laura Dennis – Odessa American

Honorable Mention: Kim Smith, Laura Dennis – Odessa American; Josh Edwards – Nacogdoches Daily Sentinel

2A

1st Place: Carlos A. Rodriguez – MyRGV.com

2nd Place: Michael A. Smith – The Galveston County Daily News

3rd Place: Michael Morris – Clute, The Facts

3A

1st Place: Joe Holley – Houston Chronicle

2nd Place: Editorial Board – Austin American-Statesman

3rd Place: Lisa Falkenberg – Houston Chronicle

Honorable Mention: Editorial Board – Dallas Morning News

VIDEO

1A

1st Place: Amelia Crowley, Anna Clare Payne, Sophia Allen – The Daily Skiff, TCU

2nd Place: Rosanna Fraire – San Angelo Standard-Times

2A

1st Place: Emily D’Gyves – MyRGV.com

2nd Place: Paul Cater Deaton – I45NOW.com

3rd Place: Rod Aydelotte, J.B. Smith, Ben Tedrick, Jerry Larson, Alice Crow, Win Emmons – Waco Tribune-Herald

Honorable Mention: Fort Worth Report, Killeen Daily Herald, El Paso Matters, Corpus Christi Caller-Times

3A

1st Place: Sharon Steinmann – Houston Chronicle

2nd Place: Mikala Compton – Austin American-Statesman

3rd Place: Sharon Steinmann – Houston Chronicle

Honorable Mention: Houston Chronicle, The Dallas Morning News, Fort Worth Star-Telegram

COMMENT AND CRITICISM

1A

1st Place: Josh Edwards – Nacogdoches Daily Sentinel

2nd Place: Victor R. Martinez – Nacogdoches Daily Sentinel

3rd Place: Josh Edwards – Nacogdoches Daily Sentinel

2A

1st Place: Emily D’Gyves – MyRGV.com

2nd Place: Alana Edgin, Mateo Rosiles and Annie Rice – Lubbock Avalanche-Journal

3rd Place: Andy Coughlan – The Beaumont Enterprise

Honorable Mention: Robert Moore – El Paso Matters

3A

1st Place: Alison Cook – Houston Chronicle

2nd Place: Mike Sutter – San Antonio Express-News

3rd Place: Deborah Sengupta Stith – Austin American-Statesman

SPORTS COLUMN WRITING

1A

1st Place: Jonathan Hull – Wichita Falls Times Record News

2nd Place: Edwin Quarles – Lufkin Daily News

3rd Place: David Claybourn – Greenville Herald-Banner

2A

1st Place: Zach Davis – Laredo Morning Times

2nd Place: Brice Cherry – Waco Tribune-Herald

3rd Place: Bob Maindelle – Killeen Daily Herald

Honorable Mention: Don Williams – Lubbock Avalanche-Journal

3A

1st Place: Tim Cowlishaw – The Dallas Morning News

2nd Place: Mac Engel – Fort Worth Star-Telegram

3rd Place: Mike Finger – San Antonio Express-News

Honorable Mention: Houston Chronicle – Houston Chronicle

SPORTS PHOTOGRAPHY

1A

1st Place: Chris Cody – Baytown Sun

2nd Place: Mike Zimmerman – Lufkin Daily News

3rd Place: Ruben R. Ramirez – El Paso Inc.

Honorable Mention: Ronald W. Erdrich – Abilene Reporter-News, Meredith Seaver – Bryan-College Station Eagle, Josh Edwards – Nacogdoches Daily Sentinel

2A

1st Place: Angela Piazza – Corpus Christi Caller-Times

2nd Place: Jake Dowling – Clute, The Facts

3rd Place: Angela Piazza – Corpus Christi Caller-Times

Honorable Mention: Omar Ornelas – El Paso Times

3A

1st Place: Aaron E. Martinez – Austin American-Statesman

2nd Place: Smiley N. Pool – The Dallas Morning News

3rd Place: Sam Owens – San Antonio Express-News

Honorable Mention: Karen Warren – Houston Chronicle

SPORTS FEATURE

1A

1st Place: Nolan Alexander – Seguin Gazette-Enterprise

2nd Place: Paul Witwer – San Angelo Standard-Times

3rd Place: Jonathan Hull – Wichita Falls Times Record News

Honorable Mention: Steve Escajeda – El Paso Inc.

2A

1st Place: Ken Rodriguez – San Antonio Report

2nd Place: Brice Cherry – Waco Tribune-Herald

3rd Place: Quinton Martinez – Corpus Christi Caller-Times

Honorable Mention: Ken Rodriguez, San Antonio Report; Brice Cherry, Waco Tribune-Herald

3A

1st Place: David Moore – The Dallas Morning News

2nd Place: Evan Grant – The Dallas Morning News

3rd Place: Myah Taylor – The Dallas Morning News

Honorable Mention: Houston Chronicle, San Antonio Express-News, Austin American-Statesman

NEWS PHOTOGRAPHY

1A

1st Place: Ronald W. Erdrich – Abilene Reporter-News

2nd Place: David Claybourn – Greenville Herald-Banner

3rd Place: Josh Edwards – Nacogdoches Daily Sentinel

Honorable Mention: Baytown Sun, Nacogdoches Daily Sentinel

2A

1st Place: Omar Ornelas – El Paso Times

2nd Place: Angela Piazza – Corpus Christi Caller-Times

3rd Place: Rod Aydelotte – Waco Tribune-Herald

Honorable Mention: Omar Ornelas – El Paso Times

3A

1st Place: Raquel Natalicchio – Houston Chronicle

2nd Place: Yi-Chin Lee – Houston Chronicle

3rd Place: Chitose Suzuki – The Dallas Morning News

Honorable Mention: Brett Coomer, Houston Chronicle; Austin American-Statesman

DEADLINE WRITING

1A

1st Place: Alex Miller – Bryan-College Station Eagle

2nd Place: Reyes Mata – El Paso Inc.

3rd Place: Andrew Hodge – Nacogdoches Daily Sentinel

Honorable Mention: Laura Dennis – Odessa American, Kent Miller – Greenville Herald-Banner

2A

1st Place: Kim Brent, The Beaumont Enterprise

2nd Place: Marissa Greene, Fort Worth Report

3rd Place: Lindsey Kinane, Clute, The Facts

Honorable Mention: Robert Moore, El Paso Matters

3A

1st Place: Marc Duvoisin, Cayla Harris, Greg Jefferson, Guillermo Contreras – San Antonio Express-News

2nd Place: Benjamin Wermund, Neena Satija, Jhair Romero, Raquel Natalicchio, Evan MacDonald, Cayla Harris, Taylor Goldenstein – Houston Chronicle

3rd Place: Harrison Mantas, Cody Copeland, Jaime Moore-Carrillo, Tom Johanningmeier, Amy McDaniel – Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Honorable Mention: Houston Landing, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, San Antonio Express-News

HEADLINE WRITING

1A

1st Place: Dalondo Moultrie – Seguin Gazette-Enterprise

2nd Place: Warren Morrison – Greenville Herald-Banner

3rd Place: Stacy Faison – Lufkin Daily News

2A

1st Place: Randy Ray – Temple Daily Telegram

2nd Place: Matthew Sgroi – Fort Worth Report

3rd Place: Artie Phillips – Killeen Daily Herald

Honorable Mention: Brice Cherry – Waco Tribune-Herald

3A

1st Place: Sandy Guerra-Cline – The Dallas Morning News

2nd Place: Allison Stewart – The Dallas Morning News

3rd Place: Max Romero – The Dallas Morning News

PHOTOJOURNALISM

1A

1st Place: Ronald W. Erdrich, Abilene Reporter-News

2nd Place: Laurie White King, Greenville Herald-Banner

3rd Place: Ronald W. Erdrich, Abilene Reporter-News

Honorable Mention: Ruben R. Ramirez, El Paso Inc.

2A

1st Place: Bria Woods, San Antonio Report

2nd Place: Omar Ornelas, El Paso Times

3rd Place: Brenda Bazán, San Antonio Report

Honorable Mention: Angela Piazza, Corpus Christi Caller-Times

3A

1st Place: Smiley N. Pool – The Dallas Morning News

2nd Place: Antranik Tavitian – Houston Landing

3rd Place: Jon Shapley – Houston Chronicle

Honorable Mention: Austin American-Statesman

BUSINESS REPORTING

1A

1st Place: Josh Edwards – Nacogdoches Daily Sentinel

2nd Place: Stacy Faison – Lufkin Daily News

3rd Place: Ruben Ibarra – Lufkin Daily News

Honorable Mention: Andrew Hodge – Nacogdoches Daily Sentinel

2A

1st Place: Emily Wolf – Fort Worth Report

2nd Place: Diego Mendoza-Moyers – El Paso Matters

3rd Place: Laura Elder – The Galveston County Daily News

Honorable Mention: Kim Brent – The Beaumont Enterprise

3A

1st Place: Emily Brindley – Fort Worth Star-Telegram

2nd Place: Sara DiNatale – San Antonio Express-News

3rd Place: Christopher Torres – Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Honorable Mention: Alexandra Skores – The Dallas Morning News

SPECIALTY REPORTING

1A

1st Place: Reyes Mata – El Paso Inc.

2nd Place: Ronald W. Erdrich – Abilene Reporter-News

3rd Place: Alex Miller – Bryan-College Station Eagle

Honorable Mention: Andrew Hodge – Nacogdoches Daily Sentinel

2A

1st Place: Emily Wolf – Fort Worth Report

2nd Place: Cecilia Lenzen – Fort Worth Report

3rd Place: Carl Hoover – Waco Tribune-Herald

Honorable Mention: Kirsten Crow – Corpus Christi Caller-Times

3A

1st Place: Talia Richman – The Dallas Morning News

2nd Place: Monique Welch – Houston Landing

3rd Place: Liz Teitz – San Antonio Express-News

Honorable Mention: Anna-Catherina Brigida, Houston Landing; Pooja Salhotra, The Texas Tribune

UNIVERSITY AND COLLEGE NEWSPAPERS

1st Place: The Collegian – Tarrant County College

2nd Place: The Daily Toreador – Texas Tech University

3rd Place: University Press – Lamar University

DESIGNER OF THE YEAR

1A

1st Place: Stacy Faison – Lufkin Daily News

2nd Place: Kent Miller – Greenville Herald-Banner

2A

1st Place: Louis San Miguel – Laredo Morning Times

2nd Place: Max Matthew – The Beaumont Enterprise

3rd Place: Artie Phillips – Killeen Daily Herald

Honorable Mention: Richard Douglas – Temple Daily Telegram

3A

1st Place: Yuriko Schumacher – The Texas Tribune

2nd Place: John Lose – The Dallas Morning News

3rd Place: Tom Fox – Houston Chronicle

STAR BREAKING NEWS REPORT OF THE YEAR

1A

1st Place: Kim Smith, Laura Dennis – Odessa American

2nd Place: Sofie Ruiz – The Daily Skiff, TCU

2A

1st Place: Elliot Hemstreet, Larry Causey, Joel Valley, Jerry Prickett, Larry Causey, David Stone – Temple Daily Telegram

2nd Place: Cecilia Lenzen, Marcheta Fornoff and Alberto Silva Fernandez – Fort Worth Report

3rd Place: Kim Brent – The Beaumont Enterprise

Honorable Mention: Staff – El Paso Times

3A

1st Place: Staff – The Dallas Morning News

2nd Place: Kayla Guo, Eleanor Klibanoff – The Texas Tribune

3rd Place: Staff – San Antonio Express-News

Honorable Mention: Fort Worth Star-Telegram, The Texas Tribune

STAR INVESTIGATIVE REPORT OF THE YEAR

2A

1st Place: Dina Arevalo – MyRGV.com

2nd Place: El Paso Matters, La Verdad, Lighthouse Reports – El Paso Matters

3rd Place: Emily Wolf, Toluwani Osibamowo – Fort Worth Report

Honorable Mention: Raquel Torres – San Antonio Report

3A

1st Place: Sara DiNatale – San Antonio Express-News

2nd Place: Asher Lehrer-Small – Houston Landing

3rd Place: Robert Downen – The Texas Tribune

STAR ONLINE PACKAGE OF THE YEAR

2A

1st Place: El Paso Matters, La Verdad, Lighthouse Reports – El Paso Matters

2nd Place: Staff – El Paso Times

3rd Place: Jacob Sanchez – Fort Worth Report

3A

1st Place: Zach Despart, Yuriko Schumacher, Uriel García, Ben Lowy, Eli Hartman – The Texas Tribune

2nd Place: Staff – Houston Chronicle

3rd Place: Michel Fortier, Monte Bach, Marc Duvoisin, Peggy O’Hare, Angela Alcala-Bach – San Antonio Express-News

Honorable Mention: Houston Landing, The Dallas Morning News

STAR OPINION WRITER OF THE YEAR

1A

1st Place: Josh Edwards – Nacogdoches Daily Sentinel

2nd Place: Steve Showalter – The Baytown Sun

3rd Place: Kent Miller – Greenville Herald-Banner

2A

1st Place: Michael A. Smith – The Galveston County Daily News

2nd Place: Dave Miller – Killeen Daily Herald

3rd Place: Yvonne Mintz – Clute, The Facts

Honorable Mention: El Paso Matters

3A

1st Place: Ryan Rusak – Fort Worth Star-Telegram

2nd Place: Regina Lankenau – Houston Chronicle

3rd Place: Cary Clack – San Antonio Express-News

STAR PHOTOJOURNALIST OF THE YEAR

1A

1st Place: Ronald W. Erdrich – Abilene Reporter-News

2nd Place: Joel Andrews – Lufkin Daily News

3rd Place: Josh Edwards – Nacogdoches Daily Sentinel

Honorable Mention: Laurie White King – Greenville Herald-Banner

2A

1st Place: Stuart Villanueva – The Galveston County Daily News

2nd Place: Omar Ornelas – El Paso Times

3rd Place: Angela Piazza – Corpus Christi Caller-Times

3A

1st Place: Smiley N. Pool – The Dallas Morning News

2nd Place: Jon Shapley – Houston Chronicle

3rd Place: Jay Janner – Austin American-Statesman

Honorable Mention: Jessica Phelps – San Antonio Express-News

STAR REPORTER OF THE YEAR

1A

1st Place: Kim Smith – Odessa American

2nd Place: Reyes Mata III – El Paso Inc.

3rd Place: Will Lanigan – Lufkin Daily News

Honorable Mention: Andrew Hodge – Nacogdoches Daily Sentinel

2A

1st Place: Dina Arevalo – MyRGV.com

2nd Place: JRobert Moore – El Paso Matters

3rd Place: Kevin Limiti – Killeen Daily Herald

3A

1st Place: Eric Dexheimer – Houston Chronicle

2nd Place: Anna-Catherine Brigida – Houston Landing

3rd Place: Sara DiNatale – San Antonio Express-News

CELESTE WILLIAMS STAR SPORTS REPORTER OF THE YEAR

1A

1st Place: David Claybourn – Greenville Herald-Banner

2nd Place: Edwin Quarles – Lufkin Daily News

3rd Place: Robert Avery – The Baytown Sun

2A

1st Place: Jake Dowling – Clute, The Facts

2nd Place: Quinton Martinez – Corpus Christi Caller-Times

3rd Place: Brice Cherry – Waco Tribune-Herald

Honorable Mention: Ellie Bednarz – Laredo Morning Times

3A

1st Place: Danielle Lerner – Houston Chronicle

2nd Place: David Eckert – Austin American-Statesman

3rd Place: David Moore – The Dallas Morning News

Honorable Mention: Fort Worth Star-Telegram, San Antonio Express-News

MICHAEL BRICK STORYTELLING AWARD

1st Place: Dion Nissenbaum – Houston Landing

2nd Place: Zach Despart – The Texas Tribune

3rd Place: Raquel Torres – San Antonio Report

Honorable mention: Vincent T. Davis – San Antonio Express-News


Calling all Texas journalists! Get ready to rock the Texas Managing Editors conference, April 25-27 in San Antonio!

This isn’t just another conference — it’s a celebration of the power of journalism and the incredible talent we have in our state. Whether you’re an audience engagement guru, a sports fanatic, a city hall watchdog, or the maestro who makes sure every story sings, this event is for YOU.

Here’s a taste of the symphony of events:

Friday night

Kick back and connect with fellow journalists at our opening reception.

Saturday

Sharpen your skills with expert sessions, including

  • Countering News Avoidance
  • Name, Image, Likeness: How NIL is transforming college sports
  • Immigration: The first 100 days of the second Trump presidency

Saturday night

Get ready to celebrate! Our annual awards dinner features:

  • Networking reception
  • Recognition for outstanding team coverage, Texas’ best photojournalist, opinion writer, and online package of the year
  • A live and silent auction to support future journalists (Help us fund internships for the next generation!)

Sunday

Stay informed and inspired with

  • Essential updates on industry trends, open government and the 2025 Texas Legislature
  • A Q&A with a media law attorney
  • The grand finale: Newsroom of the Year and Star of Stars Headliners Awards

Ready to make some noise?

  • Register now: Use this form to register.
  • Book your discounted room on the Riverwalk at the Hilton Palacio del Rio for $199/night here by March 26.

Connect with us:

Let’s make this a conference to remember!

Register for the 2025 TME annual convention here.