Texas Happenings 2007, No. 23
Week of November 19, 2007TEXAS HapPENINGS is a biweekly advisory to AP member editors on upcoming stories or projects of special interest and a source of news about other AP developments.
TIME TO GET THOSE TEXAS APME ENTRIES READY
There are still plenty of news stories to be written this year, but it’s never too early to start pulling together your entries for the Texas APME Headliners Excellence in Journalism Awards.
Besides the awards in the four circulation classifications, we will once again have a second round of competition pitting the winners in the four circulation classifications against one another for the Charles E. Green awards bestowed by the Headliners Foundation.
The Charles E. Green awards include Star Reporter of the Year, Star Photojournalist of the Year, Star Designer of the Year, Star Investigative Report of the Year and Star Breaking News Report of the Year.
There also will be the competition for Newspaper of the Year, which replaces the Sweepstakes Award.
How long do you have to get those entries together? Everything has to be received by the contest coordinators by 5 p.m. Friday, Jan. 18, 2008.
The contest period covers work done from Jan. 1 through Dec. 31, 2007, with exceptions as noted in the rules.
The four divisions are for newspapers that circulate in Texas, college and university papers, AP staff and Spanish language newspapers that circulate in Texas.
We’re moving a complete set of the rules daily on the AP wire. We also will be mailing each newspaper a copy of the rules. Please read the rules carefully and note the changes, including entries on double bylines, freelance work and entrants who work for more than one newspaper.
If you have questions about the rules, please contact the contest coordinators.
Shane Fitzgerald, managing editor of the Corpus Christi Caller-Times, is the coordinator for Class AA and AAAA. Class AA covers papers with a circulation of 10,000 to 29,999. Class AAAA covers papers with a circulation of 125,000 or more.
Sharon Roberts, assistant managing editor of the Austin American-Statesman, is the coordinator for Class A and AAA. Class A covers newspapers with a circulation of up to 9,999. Class AAA covers papers with a circulation of 30,000 to 124,999.
Spanish-language entries should be sent to Dino Chiecchi, director of Hispanic publications for the San Antonio Express-News.
While you’re putting together the entries, mark your calendar as well for the day the winners will be honored. The 2008 Texas APME convention is set for March 28-30 in Galveston.
ALL-STATE NOMINATIONS SOUGHT
The high school playoffs are in full swing. That means it is time to submit your nominations for the AP All-State Football Team.
Please remind your sports editors that nominees from your coverage area are due no later than noon, Monday, Nov. 26. We would much rather receive the entries now than at the last minute.
Nominations should be mailed to the coordinators for your region. They are:
Region I
Matt Johnson, El Paso Times
(mjohnson@elpasotimes.com)
Bob Kowalski, Fort Worth Star-Telegram
(bkowalski@star-telegram.com)
Region II
Cameron Maun, Dallas Morning News
(cmaun@dallasnews.com)
Phil Hicks, Tyler Morning Telegraph
(sports@tylerpaper.com)
Region III
Sam Khan, Houston Chronicle
(sam.khan@chron.com)
Michael Peters, Beaumont Enterprise
(mgpeters@hearstnp.com)
Region IV
Richard Tijerina, Austin American-Statesman
(rtijerina@statesman.com)
Javier Becerra, Corpus Christi Caller-Times
(becerraj@caller.com)
Please see the advisory on the wire for more specifics on the voting and the style to use in submitting them.
If you have questions, please contact Paul J. Weber at pweber@ap.org or Jaime Aron at jaron@ap.org.
MEMBERS OFFER STORIES ON-CYCLE
As Texas A&M University students waited for word on whether an off-campus bonfire could be held, the Bryan-College Station Eagle made sure to send its stories to The Associated Press.
First the bonfire was canceled because of a burn ban imposed by Robertson County commissioners. The newspaper kept tabs on the progress as the commissioners reconsidered the ban at least twice and provided strong color as the bonfire was torched.
The Galveston County Daily News shared its story on-cycle when a prosecutor made the decision that he wouldn’t seek another trial for a man accused of killing a feral cat that he said threatened birds.
The Lubbock Avalanche-Journal shared stories on-cycle about the sentencing of a woman who kidnapped a newborn from a Lubbock hospital and a speech by former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor.
The Tyler Morning Telegraph shared its story in real time about the death of Olympic runner Robert Taylor.
The Houston Chronicle shared its story on a judge’s ruling involving the federal government’s efforts to seize the estate of former Enron founder Kenneth Lay.
The Dallas Morning News shared its story about parking tickets given to Army recruiters.
The Laredo Morning Times shared its story on the sentencing of a woman in connection with the kidnapping of a couple of Americans in Mexico.
The Brownsville Herald shared its story on a push to get more information on Latinos in Texas history books in schools.
These are just a few of the many examples of on-cycle contributions from Texas members in recent weeks.
If you’ve got a story you think we will be interested in, please send them to dalcarbon@ap.org or APTexas@ap.org.
LOOKING AHEAD
Here’s a look at stories that you can expect in the coming days:
THURSDAY
DNA BLUES BALL
DALLAS - Anthony Hicks, freed by DNA evidence after five years in prison for a rape and robbery he did not commit, considers himself lucky. His wife stood by him and his father financed his appeals. But few exonerated inmates have such a support system, which is why the Innocence Project of Texas has scheduled its first major fundraiser Saturday. The DNA Blues Ball, featuring blues musicians playing in an East Dallas concert hall, will bring together about a dozen exonerees and the people who worked to secure their freedom. By Jeff Carlton. Moving Wednesday.
AP Photo.
AP MEMBER EXCHANGE: CAMP COOKING
AUSTIN - Hunting camp chow almost always has been just that: chow - meaty, manly food laced with onions and peppers. Throughout Texas, that's changing. In family kitchens and fancy lodge galleys, chefs professional and amateur have learned there's more to wild game than can be imagined in your Lodge Dutch oven cooking instructions. Tosh Brown's new book, "Grazing Across Texas: Rod, Gun and Ranch Cooking," is a combination history/cooking lesson, packed with photos of hunts, fishing trips and camp scenes and - of course - recipes. Mike Leggett, Austin American-Statesman. Moving Wednesday.
FRIDAY
ESQUIRE IN AGGIELAND
COLLEGE STATION - Let's say you're an editor at a London-based magazine looking for a glamorous spot to anchor the photo layout unveiling the Spring 2008 men's fashions from high-end designers like Versace and Armani. Milan? Paris? Monte Carlo? The winner is: College Station. And that's no Aggie joke. A photo team working for the British edition of Esquire Magazine spent much of this week in the hometown of Texas A&M University, a school founded on farming and engineering and where one is more likely to see boots and jeans than Dolce & Gabanna. By Michael Graczyk. Moving spot Friday.
AP Photos.
ARTICHOKES IN TEXAS
UVALDE - California has long had an arti-chokehold, if you will, on the spiny-leafed vegetable industry in the United States. The unusual-looking niche vegetable, used in dips, salads and eaten alone with melted butter or mayonnaise, is a finicky grower. Now a Texas A&M University researcher and a commercial grower in south Texas are on a quest to use the area's Winter Garden region, with its cool wintertime temperatures, to grow artichokes comparable to the quality of California's finest. By Elizabeth White. Moving spot Friday.
AP Photos TXEG501-TXEG505.
SATURDAY-SUNDAY
TROOPS-HOLIDAYS
DALLAS - Not sure how to send pumpkin pie to soldiers in Iraq? Having trouble mailing that flat-screen television to your Marine husband? There's an easier way to spread holiday cheer to troops. People can buy gift certificates online through the Army & Air Force Exchange Service, which operates stores at more than 50 bases in Iraq and Afghanistan. The stores carry everything from energy drinks and razors to CDs, laptops, DVDs and high-definition flat panel LCD televisions. By Angela K. Brown. Moving Wednesday.
AP Photo TXGM101.
AP MEMBER EXCHANGE: MOORE MUSIC
BEAUMONT - Throw a rock almost anywhere in Texas and you're likely to hit a singer, songwriter or musician with Lone Star bloodlines. The impact of Texas music is mythical and the Moore boys of Vidor - all four generations - reflect that that stew of Tejano and two-step, blues and be-bop, classical and country music. Jane McBride, Beaumont Enterprise. Moving Wednesday.
AP Photo TXBEA101.
MONDAY
TEEN AUTHOR
HOUSTON - On her first day of fourth grade, Yuliana Gallegos stood in front of her class, looking out on a roomful of students who stared at her as if she was from another planet. She had just arrived from Mexico, and could not speak or understand English. Now, less than seven years later, Yuliana, now 16, wrote a book at age 12 - in English and Spanish - about her experience as a newly arrived immigrant. By Monica Rhor. Moving Wednesday.
AP Photos.
JOB FAIR SET FOR APRIL
The Texas Associated Press Managing Editors and the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association will hold their annual job fair on April 4 in College Station.
The job fair gives editors a chance to talk to college students about job openings and internships.
Mark you calendars now and watch for more details as the event draws closer.
AP EXCHANGE OFFERS NEW FEATURES, TRAINING ON HOW TO USE THEM BETTER
Many editors have started working with AP Exchange in the past few weeks. As with any new system, a learning curve is necessary and we'd like to help with this as much as possible. Searching for news is one thing, but putting AP Exchange to work for members is what we really hope to be able to do. AP offers online AP Exchange training for your newsroom to teach some of these enhanced features.
Additionally, AP Channels are a powerful new source of subject-specific news from the AP. Available only in AP Exchange, AP Channels scour the entire AP report for news on specific topics. It's content beyond what members have ever had access to. The most popular AP Channel is Education.
Editors who have access to this Channel receive all education stories from all AP state wires and English international wires. For education reporters, this Education Channel provides a rich source of news for print and online. Other popular Channels include Kids and Family, Environment, Health, Energy and Crime.
Lastly, there is now a powerful new feature enabled in AP Exchange to help editors find more relevant news faster. Editors can now craft searches using concepts and not just keywords. Searching by concept is a very easy way to zero-in on locally relevant content faster. For example, within seconds you can round up all stories on topics such as award shows to natural disasters to nutrition, green technologies or wireless technology.
To get the full details on AP Exchange training or AP Channels, please contact Texas AP Bureau Chief Dale Leach or Assistant Bureau Chief Barry Bedlan at 1-800-442-7189 or 972-991-2100.
SPECIAL EDITIONS
The final special edition package of the year is scheduled to move Dec. 4 and will be about weddings.
Editors can access Special Features content in AP Exchange by typing “SPE” into the search field.
ON THE MOVE
KRISTIN GAZLAY has been named one of three managing editors for The Associated Press. Gazlay, whose AP career has included stints as news editor and assistant chief of bureau in Texas, will be responsible for planning global training of the AP news staff and will continue oversight of financial news. Gazlay, who has most recently been deputy managing editor, will report to Mike Silverman, who has been named to the new position of senior managing editor.
MARK HORVIT, projects editor for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, has been named executive editor of Investigative Reporters & Editors. Horvit is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin and has worked at papers in Texas, Florida, Missouri and the Carolinas. Horvit will oversee IRE’s professional programs, contest, conferences, Web site and publications. He also will manage the National Institute for Computer-Assisted Reporting, a joint program of IRE and the Missouri School of Journalism.
INDUSTRY NEWS
The AP Industry News summary is now available on the new AP Exchange system, a free system offering you Web-based access to the AP report. On AP Exchange, media industry news items will be available immediately, rather than transmitted once a week. For more on AP Exchange you can visit www.ap.org/apexchange.
If you do not have AP Exchange access yet, please contact AP Texas Chief of Bureau Dale Leach.
An AP Exchange account will permit you to access and search industry news, along with all your AP text, photo and graphics services. Until an AP Exchange account is created for you, we can add you to an e-mail list for distribution of media industry news items as soon as they arrive. If you would like to be added to the distribution list, please send your request by e-mail to talkback@ap.org.
If you’ve got news to share for TEXAS HapPENINGS, please send the material to Linda Franklin at lfranklin@ap.org.
PREVIOUS ISSUES:
• April 16, 2007
• April 30, 2007
• May 14, 2007
• May 28, 2007
• June 11, 2007
• June 25, 2007
• July 13, 2007
• July 27, 2007
• August 6, 2007
• August 20, 2007
• September 3, 2007
• September 24, 2007
• October 8, 2007
• October 22, 2007
• November 5, 2007
