| November 2008 | |
News BriefsBeaumont closes pressroomBEAUMONT — The Beaumont Enterprise closed its pressroom and mailroom and moved its daily printing to the Houston Chronicle. Both newspapers are owned by Hearst Corp. The Enterprise reported that 17 pressroom and mailroom employees were laid off due to the shift in production. The employees were offered severance packages. Three employees were reassigned to other jobs at the Enterprise. Publisher Robert Newhouse said the change was made in part due to costs associated with repairing the Enterprise’s 34-year-old press, which has been inoperable since suffering water damage from Hurricane Ike in September. • Ike book documents disaster In other news at the Enterprise, the newspaper published a new book chronicling Hurricane Ike’s destructive path across Texas in September. The book “In Ike’s Wake: Southeast Texas Endures Hurricane’s Devastation” documents the deadly storm that left an estimated 3 million without electricity. The book includes hundreds of photos shot by Enterprise photographers before, during and after the hurricane. The book is $34.95 from Pediment Press and is expected to ship Nov. 28. Details at www.ike.hurricanebook.com. A portion of the proceeds will go to Ike relief efforts. Express-News ends Web site partnership with TV stationSAN ANTONIO — The San Antonio Express-News and KENS-TV will end their nine-year Web site partnership on Jan. 5. Both the newspaper and station shared the Web site mySA.com with content from both sources. The Express-News will retain the right to the brand and KENS-TV will launch its own Web site on Jan. 5, the newspaper reported. The partnership started Dec. 1, 1999, and was made in a time when media convergence — the sharing of some content and resources by different media outlets — was popular. Publisher Tom Stephenson said in the Express-News that the dissolution was amicable but as the news business has changed “it makes more sense for both partners to operate independent sites.” • Stolen racks found in hotel The Express-News also reported that 15 stolen newspaper vending racks were discovered in a local motel room reserved by a man who used his real name for the hotel registration. All the newspaper copies and all the change had been removed from the vending machines. A hotel manager found the racks with cut locks and contacted police to get them removed from the hotel property. Kermit owner takes overKERMIT — The Winkler County News is operating under new ownership and staffing. Publisher Bill Beckham returned as owner. He was publisher prior to the paper’s sale in the early 1990s, Bert Brewer is returning as managing editor after a short period of retirement triggered by the prior owners. His association with The News has spanned more than 30 years. Phyllis Thomas remains as advertising manager assisted by Diane Long. A new addition to the staff, Amanda Ramos, serves as classified advertising manager and receptionist. Belo to freeze salariesDALLAS — A.H. Belo announced effective Nov. 1 salaries at all its newspapers, including The Dallas Morning News, will be frozen at current levels in most instances until the company returns to profitability. Appropriate steps will be taken to review pay protocols in specific locations, the release said. A.H. Belo made the announcement along with several other changes in conjunction with a release about an amendment to its credit agreement. In Texas A.H. Belo also owns the Denton Record-Chronicle. 3 add e-editions; 3 combineThree more newspapers added paid online e-editions recently — the Goldthwaite Eagle, Groesbeck Journal and Dalhart Texan. Dalhart also launched its first Web site with the e-edition. The Lamesa Press-Reporter launched its Web site in September and plans to add an e-edition early next year. Beeville Publishing revamped its Web presence and combined its online sites for the Beeville Bee-Picayune, Refugio County Press and Three Rivers Progress into one Web portal. The new site is http://mySouTex.com. Thank you Wisconsin Better Newspaper Contest judges!Texas Press Association wants to thank the 35 volunteers who helped judge the Wisconsin Newspaper Association Better Newspaper & Advertising contests Oct. 16-17 in Austin. Wisconsin had about 3,300 entries this year and the entry judging would not have been a success without these willing volunteers who gave up their time: • Griff Singer |
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