Texas Managing Editors

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Time to Shine: Texas Journalism Awards Open for Entries

Posted on by txme

It’s time to celebrate the best journalism and journalists of 2024!

Here’s what you need to know:

  • Updated Website: Head to the Texas Managing Editors (TME) (formerly Texas APME) / Headliners Excellence in Journalism Contest website for all the details: tmeawards.org.
  • Review the Rules: Be sure to read the contest entry rules, deadlines (entry fees due January 27th!), and payment requirements carefully. Entries without paid fees will not be considered.
  • Support a Great Cause. Your entry fees go towards two important initiatives:
    • The annual TME conference, which offers journalists across the country insight into the latest industry developments
    • The Buster Haas Minority Internship Program, which places interns at Texas newspapers for 10-week summer experiences. The program aims to increase diversity in newsrooms by providing valuable opportunities for aspiring journalists.
  • Opportunities for Your Newsroom:
    • Newspapers interested in hosting an intern or those seeking more information about the program can contact us!
  • Save the Date!
    • Join us for the annual convention and awards dinner in San Antonio on April 25-27th. Details coming soon at texasmanagingeditors.org.

We look forward to recognizing your outstanding work!

Register now for 2022 convention in Irving

Posted on by txme

nylo3

Registration is now open for our Texas APME convention in Irving April 29-May 1.

We’ve lined up a weekend of fun, food, fellowship, education and awards presentations for journalists across Texas.

The $250 registration fee pays for our costs to put on the convention, with the rest going to the Texas APME’s Buster Haas minority internship and scholarship program.

Make your reservations now at the NYLO in Irving by calling 972-373-8900 and ask for the Texas AME convention rate of $109 per night.

 

2022 Texas Association of Managing Editors contest rules

Posted on by txme

Texas Association of Managing Editors/Headliners Excellence in Journalism Contest

It’s contest time again. Here are the deadlines, rules and categories for the 2022 Texas Association of Managing Editors/Headliners Excellence in Journalism Contest. Please take a close look because categories and descriptions have changed from 2021.

CONTEST PERIOD: Entries published between Jan. 1, 2021, and Dec. 31, 2021, are eligible. Continuous series or projects that began in 2019 and conclude by the 11:59 p.m. Jan. 21, 2022 entry deadline are allowed.

DEADLINE: Entries must be uploaded electronically no later than 11:59 p.m., Jan. 21, 2022.

HOW TO ENTER: We require electronic filing for contest entries except for printed newspapers that are part of the Newsroom of the Year category. Except as specified in the category descriptions, entries may consist of the digital and/or print version of a story; both or either versions may be submitted. List staff members’ names as they should appear on awards.

Continue reading “2022 Texas Association of Managing Editors contest rules”

Alyssa Aguilar, left, and Kumba Jagne, right, are the recipients of the 2026 Buster Haas Memorial Internships.

Meet the 2026 Buster Haas interns heading to Austin and San Antonio

Posted on by txme

Texas Managing Editors is thrilled to announce two talented student journalists selected for our prestigious Buster Haas Memorial Internship program for summer 2026.

For decades, Buster Haas internships have paired promising young journalists with newsrooms across Texas, offering students hands-on experience, mentorship, and a launchpad for their careers. This summer, our interns will be bringing their skills, curiosity, and passion for storytelling to two of the state’s premier metro news organizations: the San Antonio Express-News and the Austin American-Statesman.

Please join us in celebrating this year’s awardees:

Alyssa Aguilar – San Antonio Express-News

School

University of Texas at Arlington, Class of 2029

Bio

A UT-Arlington sophomore, Alyssa is honing her journalism skills as a staff writer for The Arlington Sentinel News, a campus publication launched in 2022 to serve news desert communities in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex and to provide journalism students with experience in community journalism. Alyssa said she enjoys producing multimedia news packages — including digital storytelling and feature stories — that highlight diversity and underrepresentation. A first-generation college student, Alyssa said she is grateful for the support of her family and teachers “who influenced my life and believed in me.” 

“Through the Buster Haas program, I can learn from experienced journalists,” Alyssa said. “I want to create stories that show communities — especially those like mine — how they can make an impact, stay ethically informed, and discover people or places that influence their day-to-day lives.”

Kumba Jagne – Austin American-Statesman

School

Hofstra University (Hempstead, N.Y.), Class of 2027

Bio

Kumba, a graduate of Glenn High School in Leander, said she’s thrilled to be working at her hometown paper this summer. At The Hofstra Chronicle, a student publication, Kumba is the multimedia editor and a staff writer. She’s also a photographer and serves as the social media manager for the campus Queer and Trans People of Color Coalition. Kumba previously interned at the Long Island Herald, where she said, “I learned the most important job of a community journalist is to convince people that their lives are worth coverage.”

“The Buster Haas internship would allow me to continue my efforts to cover stories while thinking of the underrepresented,” Kumba said. “I wrote in my college essay that I wanted to tell the stories of underrepresented communities. I am grateful for every day I get to do that.”

Continuing a legacy of excellence

TME’s internships aim to increase the number of journalists from marginalized communities or those historically underrepresented in media, including first-generation college students.

“The Austin American-Statesman is proud to be a host newspaper this summer and looks forward to Kumba’s fresh perspectives on the way we cover local news in Central Texas,” Statesman Editor-in-Chief Courtney Sebesta said.

The program honors the memory of the longtime Dallas Morning News editor R.E. “Buster” Haas, who was deeply committed to mentoring the next generation of Texas journalists.

“We are incredibly proud to continue Haas’ legacy by supporting these exceptional students,” said Andy Alford, TME’s president. “The Statesman and the Express-News are fantastic training grounds, and we know these interns will make a meaningful impact in their newsrooms this summer.”

Sebesta, who also serves on the board of TME, said the program “has a long tradition of identifying promising young Texas journalists and providing support and guidance toward a lifelong career in the field.”

JJ Velasquez, the audience managing editor at the San Antonio Express-News, knows firsthand how impactful the experience can be.

“My Buster Haas internship was the kindling my young journalism career needed to truly ignite,” said Velasquez, the TME board’s secretary. “I gained valuable experience working at The Daily Sentinel in Nacogdoches. I was able not only to strengthen my portfolio of clips but also immerse myself in the culture of the newsroom. I am not sure I could have sustained my now-17-year career without this pivotal program — it certainly would have been much harder to get started.”

Keep an eye out for Kumba’s and Alyssa’s bylines over the next few months. For more updates on TME programs, fellowships, and annual awards, follow us here or on Facebook.

Texas Managing Editors announces final award winners for 2026 contest

Posted on by JJ Velasquez

Texas Managing Editors on Sunday announced its final winners and runners-up in the 2026 edition of the contest. Congratulations to the newsrooms recognized for their outstanding work last year. You can view first-round winners here and Star award winners here.

COMMUNITY SERVICE

1A

1st Place: Josh Havard, Stacy Faison, Ruben Ibarra, Joel Andrews – Lufkin Daily News

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

3rd Place: Dominic Villa – The Waco Bridge

2A

1st Place: Priscilla Totiyapungprasert – El Paso Matters

2nd Place: Staff – Killeen Daily Herald

3rd Place: Daniel Gonzalez, Omar Ornelas, Jeff Abbott – El Paso Times

3A

1st Place: Editorial Board – Houston Chronicle

2nd Place: Tony Plohetski, Kiah Collier – Austin American-Statesman

3rd Place: Tribune staff, Source New Mexico staff – The Texas Tribune

Honorable Mention: Austin American-Statesman, The Texas Tribune

DIANA R. FUENTES FREEDOM OF INFORMATION

2A

1st Place: Drew Shaw, Cecilia Lenzen – Fort Worth Report

2nd Place: Robert Moore – El Paso Matters

3rd Place: John Oliva – Corpus Christi Caller-Times

Honorable Mention: Priscilla Totiyapungrpasert – El Paso Matters

3A

1st Place: R.A. Schuetz, Yilun Cheng and Matt Zdun – Houston Chronicle

2nd Place: Lexi Churchill, Ellis Simani – The Texas Tribune

3rd Place: Sue Ambrose, Chase Rogers, Jacob Quinn Sanders – The Dallas Morning News

Honorable Mention: Dug Begley, Octavia Johnson – Houston Chronicle

TEAM EFFORT

1A

1st Place: Louis Amestoy, Jennifer Dean – Kerr County Lead

2nd Place: Ruben Ibarra Jr., Greg Weatherbee, Stacy Faison – Lufkin Daily News

3rd Place: Staff – The Daily Skiff, TCU

Honorable Mention: Staff – Baytown Sun

2A

1st Place: Staff – El Paso Matters

2nd Place: Michael Rodriguez, Francisco E. Jimenez, Joel Martinez – MyRGV.com

3rd Place: Bob Francis, Nicole Lopez, Dave Montgomery, Scott Nishimura, Drew Shaw, Eric E. Garcia – Fort Worth Report

Honorable Mention: Laredo Morning Times, Corpus Christi Caller-Times

3A

1st Place: Emily Foxhall, Alejandra Martinez, Zach Despart, Edison Wu, Carla Astudillo, Lexi Churchill, Chris Essig, Sneha Dey, Carlos Nogueras Ramos, Terri Langford and Paul Cobler – The Texas Tribune

2nd Place: Ella McCarthy, Alex Driggars, Tony Plohetski, Chaya Tong, Abby Church, Kiah Collier – Austin American-Statesman

3rd Place: Jason Buch, Benjamin Wermund, Matt Zdun – San Antonio Express-News, Houston Chronicle

Honorable Mention: Houston Chronicle

NEWSROOM OF THE YEAR

1A

1st Place: Odessa American

2nd Place: Lufkin Daily News

3rd Place (tie): El Paso Inc., Kerr County Lead

2A

1st Place: Fort Worth Report

2nd Place: El Paso Matters

3rd Place: El Paso Times

3A

1st Place: Houston Chronicle

2nd Place: San Antonio Express-News

3rd Place: Austin American-Statesman

Texas Managing Editors announces Star award winners at 2026 convention

Posted on by JJ Velasquez

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.

DESIGNER OF THE YEAR

1A

1st Place: Sean Gardner – Wichita Falls Times Record News

2nd Place: Josh Edwards – Nacogdoches Daily Sentinel

3rd Place: Kent Miller – Greenville Herald-Banner

2A

1st Place: Louis San Miguel – Laredo Morning Times

2nd Place: Jashlyn Sablan – Killeen Daily Herald

3rd Place: Seames O’Grady – The Galveston County Daily News

Honorable Mention: Savannah Williams – Corpus Christi Caller-Times

3A

1st Place: Jeff Meddaugh – The Dallas Morning News

2nd Place: Tom Fox – Houston Chronicle

3rd Place: Adrian Alvarez – San Antonio Express-News

STAR BREAKING NEWS REPORT OF THE YEAR

2A

1st Place: Robert Moore – El Paso Matters

2nd Place: Staff – El Paso Times

3rd Place: Robert Moore, Priscilla Totiyapungprasert – El Paso Matters

3A

1st Place: Staff – San Antonio Express-News, Austin American-Statesman, Houston Chronicle

2nd Place: Staff – Fort Worth Star-Telegram

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

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

STAR INVESTIGATIVE REPORT OF THE YEAR

1A

1st Place: Ruben Ibarra Jr. – Lufkin Daily News

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

3rd Place: Reyes Mata III – El Paso Inc.

2A

1st Place: Diego Mendoza-Moyers – El Paso Matters

2nd Place: Cecilia Lenzen, Marissa Greene – Fort Worth Report

3rd Place: Ian Camacho – Temple Daily Telegram

Honorable Mention: San Antonio Report, Fort Worth Report, Lubbock Avalanche-Journal

3A

1st Place: Staff – The Dallas Morning News

2nd Place: Staff – Houston Chronicle

3rd Place: Mike Morris, Amelia Winger – Houston Chronicle

STAR ONLINE PACKAGE OF THE YEAR

2A

1st Place: Andrea Drusch, Xochilt Garcia – San Antonio Report

2nd Place: Marissa Greene, Forrest Milburn, Maria Crane – Fort Worth Report

3rd Place: Staff – El Paso Times

Honorable Mention: Staff – El Paso Matters

3A

1st Place: Jason Buch, Benjamin Wermund, Matt Zdun – San Antonio Express-News, Houston Chronicle

2nd Place: Staff – Houston Chronicle

3rd Place: Jaden Edison, Yuriko Schumacher, Suraj Thapa – The Texas Tribune

STAR OPINION WRITER OF THE YEAR

1A

1st Place: Kent Miller – Greenville Herald-Banner

2nd Place: Josh Edwards – Nacogdoches Daily Sentinel

3rd Place: Josh Havard – Lufkin Daily News

2A

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

2nd Place: Michael Morris – Clute, The Facts

3rd Place: Carlos A. Rodriguez – MyRGV.com

Honorable Mention: Dave Miller – Killeen Daily Herald

3A

1st Place: Robert Wilonsky – The Dallas Morning News

2nd Place: Regina Lankenau – Houston Chronicle

3rd Place: Ryan Rusak – Fort Worth Star-Telegram

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

STAR PHOTOJOURNALIST OF THE YEAR

1A

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

2nd Place: Ruben R. Ramirez – El Paso Inc.

3rd Place: Josh Edwards – Nacogdoches Daily Sentinel

2A

1st Place: Delcia Lopez – MyRGV.com

2nd Place: Maria Crane – Fort Worth Report

3rd Place: Omar Ornelas – El Paso Times

3A

1st Place: Chitose Suzuki – The Dallas Morning News

2nd Place (tie): Jason Fochtman – Houston Chronicle, Jay Janner – Austin American-Statesman

Honorable Mention: Jessica Phelps – San Antonio Express-News

STAR REPORTER OF THE YEAR

1A

1st Place: Sam Shaw – The Waco Bridge

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

3rd Place: Kim Smith – Odessa American

2A

1st Place: Olivia Garrett – Corpus Christi Caller-Times

2nd Place: Jeff Abbott – El Paso Times

3rd Place: Andrea Drusch – San Antonio Report

Honorable Mention: Fernando Del Valle – MyRGV.com

3A

1st Place: Eric Dexheimer – Houston Chronicle

2nd Place: Tony Plohetski – Austin American-Statesman

3rd Place: Kate McGee – The Texas Tribune

Honorable Mention: Claire Ballor – The Dallas Morning News

CELESTE WILLIAMS STAR SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

1A

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

2nd Place: Jonathan Hull – Wichita Falls Times Record News

3rd Place: Edwin Quarles – Lufkin Daily News

Honorable Mention: Paul Witwer – San Angelo Standard-Times

2A

1st Place: Billy Woods – Laredo Morning Times

2nd Place: Dennis Silva – Clute, The Facts

3rd Place: Nathan Giese – Lubbock Avalanche-Journal

3A

1st Place: Brad Townsend – The Dallas Morning News

2nd Place: Danielle Lerner – Houston Chronicle

3rd Place: David Eckert – Austin American-Statesman

MICHAEL BRICK STORYTELLING AWARD

1st Place: Jeff Abbott – El Paso Times

2nd Place: Claire Ballor – The Dallas Morning News

3rd Place: Uriel Garcia – The Texas Tribune

Honorable Mention: Corey Greineisen – The Galveston County Daily News

Submit convention and contest payments here.