Everything you need to know about this year’s TME conference

Posted on March 18, 2024March 26, 2024 by txme

Journalism is an orchestra, and we are the musicians.

Everyone is invited to the concert on April 19-21 in Temple. It’s a moment you don’t want your newsroom to miss.

The talents we are celebrating run deep — from digital experts and sports writers to city hall watchdogs and all the journalists who make sure our pieces hit the write (Forgive the pun. We couldn’t help ourselves.) notes.

Join us Friday evening for a laid-back opening reception to get to know your colleagues from across the state.

We have experts coming in Saturday to share their resources and knowledge on topics like politics, AI and cutting through the distractions when covering education. Yes, there will be lunch.

And the awards? Oh, there will be awards.

Who will win Newsroom of the Year? Whose team coverage of the biggest news events of 2023 rose above the rest? Texas’ best photojournalist, opinion writer, online package of the year — the suspense is killing us.

The annual TME awards dinner is Saturday night, featuring a live and silent auction to raise money for our most important mission — paying for internships that get the next generation of young journalists into smaller-market newsrooms for real-world experience.

After industry, open government and legislative updates on Sunday, the final, most prestigious award winners are named.

Let’s go!

Register for the conference here. Book your hotel room at Hilton Garden Inn Temple Medical Center (Don’t forget to mention Texas Managing Editors when you make your reservation).

We’ll see you there!

Questions? Reach out to us at texasmanagingeditors@gmail.com.

Meanwhile, here’s a peak at what you can expect:

Saturday

Win-wins: Partnerships between newspapers and student newsrooms — Working with college student journalists to get data-driven, narrative and local news stories.
What’s the story: Narrative investigations — How to pull off a narrative investigation, including story selection, source psychology, caring for your reporters and so much more.
Get smart: Improving education coverage — Cutting through the noise of the culture wars to what really matters.
Awards luncheon
Evening reception, auction
Dinner, TME star awards presentation
Buster Haas scholarship and internship announcement

Sunday

Know your rights: 2024 elections edition — Understanding reporters’ legal rights and the free legal resources available to support election coverage is essential.
Ask a lawyer.
Newsroom of the Year and Star of Stars Headliners Awards

2024 Texas Managing Editors contest rules

Posted on December 18, 2023January 22, 2024 by txme

Texas Managing Editors / Headliners Excellence in Journalism Contest

As we prepare to recognize the best Texas journalism and journalists of 2023, we need to make note of some important updates to the Texas Managing Editors (formerly Texas APME) / Headliners Excellence in Journalism Contest. Please read carefully; the contest entry rules, deadlines and payment requirements have changed for the 2024 contest. Categories have not changed. A PDF version of the rules may be reviewed and downloaded here.

CONTEST PERIOD: Entries published between Jan. 1, 2023, and Dec. 31, 2023, are eligible. Continuous series or projects that began in 2023 and conclude by the UPDATED entry deadline of 11:59 p.m. Jan. 29, 2024, are allowed.

DEADLINE: Entries and entry fees will be accepted from Monday, Dec. 18, to Monday, Jan. 29, 2024. Entries must be uploaded electronically by 11:59 p.m., Jan. 29, 2024. If fees are not paid, entries will not be considered.

HOW TO ENTER: We now require electronic filing for all contest entries. Printed newspapers will no longer be accepted. Instead, newspapers should submit PDFs or links to eEditions for the Newsroom of the Year and all other print categories. List staff members’ names as they should appear on awards. Enter the contest at https://tme-awards.spoffordfamily.com. Descriptions of the contest categories and rules are below.

Enter the 2022 Texas AME contest

Posted on January 18, 2022December 7, 2023 by txme

The entry deadline for the 2022 Texas AME contest has been extended to Jan. 30. Enter here.

Register now for 2022 convention in Irving

Posted on January 18, 2022December 8, 2023 by txme

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 December 22, 2021December 8, 2023 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”

Lubbock Avalanche-Journal mistakenly left out of 2024 TME Contest Awards

Posted on May 1, 2024 by txme

Last month, the Texas Managing Editors honored the best journalism in Texas at our annual conference in Temple.

To our dismay, those awards did not account for entries from the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, one of our valued 2A members.

Adam Young, editor of the Avalanche-Journal, alerted us of the omission after the “publication wasn’t recognized by the TME for the first time in recent memory, perhaps ever.”

He told us the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal’s contest fee was paid through PayPal and Texas Managing Editors contest coordinators acknowledged the publication’s submission in January.

We deeply regret this error and sincerely apologize to the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal staff. During the contest entry period, our contest site’s domain abruptly shut down and we had to temporarily stage the site with a new host. We thought we captured all of the entries, but now we know we didn’t. We wholeheartedly apologize.

We are committed to ensuring such an egregious mistake doesn’t get repeated. Going forward, our all-volunteer board vows to triple-check that paid fees and submissions match before sending entries out of state for judging. The integrity of this contest is of utmost importance to all of us.

TME announces final award winners

Posted on April 21, 2024May 7, 2024 by txme

Texas Managing Editors released the final award winners for this year’s contest on the last day of the conference. Congratulations to everyone who did amazing work last year. Find the complete list of winners and runners-up here.

Community Service

First place: Nicole Bradford and Josh Edwards, Nacogdoches Daily Sentinel

Second place: Stacy Faison, Valerie Reddell, Jeff Pownall, Lance Kingrey, Joel Andrews, James Bennett and Mike Zimmerman, Lufkin Daily News

Honorable mention: Matt Hollis, Chuck Chandler, Carol Skewes and Dave Rogers, The Baytown Sun

First place: Lauren Villagran, Omar Ornelas, Aline Simerman, Rafael Carranza and Daniel Gonzalez, El Paso Times

Second place: Angela Saavedra, El Paso Matters

Third place: Mike Copeland, Carl Hoover, Christopher De Los Santos, Kourtney David, Matt Kyle, Matthew Stottlemyre and J.B. Smith, Waco Tribune-Herald

Honorable mention: Dave Miller, Paul Bryant, David A. Bryant, Jacob Brooks, Emily Hilley-Sierzchula and Jana Lynn Kilcrease, Killeen Daily Herald

First place: Andrea Ball, Caroline Ghisolfi, Carol Motsinger and Elizabeth Conley, Houston Chronicle

Second place: Anna Bauman, Sam González Kelly, Anastasia Goodwin and Megan Menchaca, Houston Chronicle

Third place: Mizanur Rahman, Maria D. De Jesús, Tim Carlin, Annie Stuckey, Yin Yin Chan, Matt Schwartz and Antranik Tavitian, Houston Landing

Freedom of Information

First place: Dalondo Moultrie, Seguin Gazette-Enterprise

Second place: Kim Smith, Odessa American

Third place: Andrew Hodge, Nacogdoches Daily Sentinel

Honorable mention: Valerie Reddell, Lufkin Daily News

First place: Chase Rogers, Corpus Christi Caller-Times

Second place: Paul Bryant, Jacob Brooks and Emily Hilley-Sierzchula, Killeen Daily Herald

Third place: Victoria Rossi, El Paso Matters

First place: Andrea Ball, Caroline Ghisolfi, Carol Motsinger and Elizabeth Conley, Houston Chronicle; Lomi Kriel, Lexi Churchill, Jinitzail Hernandez, Zach Despart, Perla Trevizo, Jessica Priest and Uriel J. Garcia, Texas Tribune

Second place: Kate McGee and James Barragán, Texas Tribune

Third place: Céilí Doyle, Monroe Trombly, Angelica Perez, Danya Pérez and Marie D. De Jesús, Houston Landing

Honorable mention: Alex Stuckey and Marie D. De Jesús, Houston Landing

Team Effort

First place: Josh Edwards, Nicole Bradford and Andrew Hodge, Nacogdoches Daily Sentinel

Second place: Kim Smith and Laura Dennis, Odessa American

Third place: Felicia Frazar and Dalondo Moultrie, Seguin Gazette-Enterprise

Honorable mention: Stacy Faison, Gary Stallard and Greg Weatherbee, Lufkin Daily News

First place: Lauren Villagran, Omar Ornelas, Aline Simerman, Rafael Carranza and Daniel Gonzalez, El Paso Times

Second place: Haley Samsel, Rachel Behrndt, Juan Salinas II, Fort Worth Report; Tracy Idell Hamilton and Andrea Drusch, San Antonio Report

Third place: Staff, El Paso Matters

Honorable mention: Christopher De Los Santos, Matt Kyle, Kourtney David and Carl Hoover, Waco Tribune-Herald

First place: Sig Christenson and Brandon Lingle, San Antonio Express-News

Second place: Ryan Autullo, Tony Plohetski, Nate Chute, Bridget Grumet, John Moritz and Hogan Gore, Austin American-Statesman

Third place: Anna Bauman, Sam Gonzalez Kelly, Anastasia Goodwin, Megan Menchaca, Sarah Smith and Hannah Dellinger, Houston Chronicle

Honorable mention: Staff, Dallas Morning News; Emerson Clarridge, Harrison Mantas, Amanda McCoy, Gabe Trevino, Abby Church and Bud Kennedy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram; Staff, San Antonio Express-News

Newsroom of the Year

First place: Nacogdoches Daily Sentinel

Second place: Lufkin Daily News

Third place: Abilene Reporter-News

First place: El Paso Times

Second place: Valley Morning Star

Third place: El Paso Matters, Corpus Christi Caller-Times

First place: Dallas Morning News

Second place: Houston Chronicle

Third place: San Antonio Express-News

Are you a star? TME announces more award winners.

Posted on April 20, 2024May 7, 2024 by txme

The second set of awards announced Saturday includes our Star awards, as well as the Celeste Williams and Michael Brick award winners. Find the complete list of winners and runners-up here.

Designer of the Year

First place: Stacy Faison, Lufkin Daily News

Second place: Warren Morrison, Greenville Herald-Banner

Third place: Cheryl Donatto, The Baytown Sun

First place: Louis San Miguel, Laredo Morning Times

Second place: Santana Gallacher, Tyler Morning Telegraph

Third place: Randy Ferguson, Longview News-Journal

First place: Jeff Criesi, Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Second place: Alma Lozoya, The Dallas Morning News

Third place: Tom Fox, Houston Chronicle

Star Breaking News Report of the Year

First place: Kim Smith, Odessa American

Second place: Matt Hollis and Dave Rogers, The Baytown Sun

Third place: Felicia Frazar and Dalondo Moultrie, Seguin Gazette-Enterprise

Honorable mention: Stacy Faison, Lufkin Daily News

First place: Lauren Villagran and Daniel Borunda, El Paso Times

Second place: Fernando Del Valle, Harlingen Valley Morning Star

Third place: Emily Hilley-Sierzchula, Killeen Daily Herald

Honorable mention: John Oliva and Chase Rogers, Corpus Christi Caller-Times

First place: Staff, Austin American Statesman

Second place: Staff, The Dallas Morning News

Third place: Sam González Kelly, Sarah Smith, Hannah Dellinger, Jen Rice, Yilun Cheng, Jhair Romero, Houston Chronicle

Honorable mention: Patrick Svitek, Zach Despart, James Barragán, Carla Asudillo, Chris Essig, Texas Tribune

Star Investigative Report of the Year

First place: Stacy Faison, Lufkin Daily News

Honorable mention: Kim Smith and Laura Dennis, Odessa American

First place: Matt Kyle, Waco Tribune-Herald

Second place: Claudia Lorena Silva, El Paso Matters

Third place: Lauren Villagran, El Paso Times

Honorable mention: Robert Moore, El Paso Matters

First place: Kiah Collier, Jeremy Schwartz and Lexi Churchill, Texas Tribune

Second place: Kate McGee and James Barragán, Texas Tribune

Third place: Lauren Caruba, Smiley Pool and Ari Sen, The Dallas Morning News/San Antonio Express-News

Honorable mention: Emily Brindley, Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Star Online Package of the Year

No entries

First place: Chase Rogers, Olivia Garrett and Angela Piazza, Corpus Christi Caller-Times

Second place: Lauren Villagran, Omar Ornelas and Aline Simerman, El Paso Times

Third place: Claudia Lorena Silva, El Paso Matters

Honorable mention: Katecey Harrell, Les Hassell and Santana Gallacher, Tyler Morning Telegraph

First place: Mikala Compton and Nicole Villalpando, Austin American-Statesman

Second place: Staff, San Antonio Express-News

Third place: Staff, The Dallas Morning News

Honorable mention: Amanda Drane, Elizabeth Conley, Alexandra Kanik, Jordan Ray-Hart, Jonathan Diamond and Jill Karnicki, Houston Chronicle

Star Opinion Writer of the Year

First place: Stacy Faison, Lufkin Daily News

Second place: Steve Showalter, The Baytown Sun

Honorable mention: Josh Edwards, Nacogdoches Daily Sentinel; Kent Miller, Greenville Herald-Banner

First place: Dave Miller, Killeen Daily Herald

Second place: Michael Morris, The Facts

Third place: Bill Whitaker, Waco Tribune-Herald

First place: Nancy M. Preyor Johnson, San Antonio Express-News

Second place: Bridget Grumet, Austin American-Statesman

Third place: Joe Holley, Houston Chronicle

Star Photojournalist of the Year

First place: Ronald W. Erdrich, Abilene Reporter-News

Second place: Josh Edwards, Nacogdoches Daily Sentinel

Honorable mention: Chris Cody, The Baytown Sun

First place: Omar Ornelas, El Paso Times

Second place: Corrie Boudreaux, El Paso Matters

Third place: Stuart Villanueva, The Galveston County Daily News

First place: Smiley N. Pool, Dallas Morning News; Ricardo B. Brazziell, Austin American Statesman

Third place: Jessica Phelps, San Antonio Express-News

Honorable mention: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle; Chris Torres, Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Star Reporter of the Year

First place: Kim Smith, Odessa American

Second place: Josh Edwards, Nacogdoches Daily Sentinel

Third place: Kent Miller, Greenville Herald-Banner

Honorable mention: Dalondo Moultrie, Seguin Gazette Enterprise

First place: Lauren Villagran, El Paso Times

Second place: Jacob Sanchez, Fort Worth Report

Third place: Andrea Drusch, San Antonio Report

First place: Eleanor Klibanoff, Texas Tribune

Second place: Jamie Landers, Dallas Morning News

Third place: Julian Gill, Houston Chronicle

Honorable mention: Alex Stuckey, Houston Landing

Celeste Williams Star Sports Reporter of the Year

First place: Nathan Hague, Nacogdoches Daily Sentinel

Second place: David Claybourn, Greenville Herald-Banner

Third place: Robert Avery, The Baytown Sun

Honorable mention: Josh Havard, Lufkin Daily News

First place: Travis L. Brown, Bryan-College Station Eagle

Second place: Jake Dowling, The Facts

Third place: Garrett Kroeger, Laredo Morning Times

Honorable mention: Jack Stallard, Longview News-Journal

3A:

First place: Evan Grant, The Dallas Morning News

Second place: Danielle Lerner, Houston Chronicle

Third place: Mac Engel, Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Honorable mention: Kirk Bohls, Austin American-Statesman

Michael Brick Storytelling Award

First place: Sarah Smith, Houston Chronicle

Second place: Alex Stuckey, Houston Landing

Third place: Vincent T. Davis, San Antonio Express-News

Honorable mention: Priscilla Totiyapungrpasert, El Paso Matters