Sam Keach, whose family has been a fixture in Texas journalism for 80 years, died April 24 in Corpus Christi. Keach was well-known across the state and was former editor of The Robstown Record (later The Nueces County Record Star), beginning his newspaper work as a “printer’s devil” and photographer at 12 years old. He earned his Bachelor of Journalism degree in 1966 from The University of Texas. While at UT, he was managing editor of The Daily Texan and worked on the sports and news staff, covering some of Darrell K. Royal’s greatest moments with the Longhorns on the […]
Read more →The Houston Chronicle Houston Chronicle immigration reporter Lomi Kriel has won a prominent national award for her work on the Trump Administration’s immigration policy, including family separation at the southern border and the Remain in Mexico program. The 71st annual George Polk Awards in Journalism, honoring 15 winners in 14 categories for their reporting in 2019, were recently announced. Kriel, a former staffer at The Daily Texan at the University of Texas at Austin, was recognized in 2015 as a Rising Star, as part of The Texan Hall of Fame annual dinner, sponsored by Friends of the Daily Texan, Inc. […]
Read more →Proceeds from Friends of The Daily Texan membership campaign – now underway – will focus on additional scholarship funds for students, needed equipment for Texan journalists to do their jobs, travel funds for coverage and conferences for continuing significant projects, such as providing funds in support of the digitization of the Texan’s archives back to its founding 120 years ago, and other needs that might arise. Please demonstrate your support for The Texan by making a donation or joining at this address: https://friendsofthedailytexan.com/become-a-member/ Deductions are tax deductible, and all funds minus minimal Friends group operating expenses, go directly to The […]
Read more →Professor Judy Walgren has accepted the appointment of Associate Director for the Michigan State University School of Journalism. Walgren’s role will parallel other units in the College of Communication Arts and Sciences. Walgren’s full range of duties is still being developed, but her main initial duty will be to work on course scheduling and staffing for summer and fall 2020. Walgren is the J-School’s Professor of Practice for Photojournalism and New Media. She is a Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist, photo editor, executive producer, curator, writer and teacher who brings experience to our students from her tenures at The Dallas Morning News, […]
Read more →The Houston Chronicle A project is underway to convert most of Sylvan Rodriguez Park in Clear Lake to coastal prairie and forest ecosystems, which Houston District E authorities say will have multiple benefits for the area such as preventing erosion, filtering water and fostering wildlife. Areas restored through the four-phase project will include a boardwalk and trails. Interpretive signs will allow visitors to learn about natural habitats that once existed in the region and how native prairies and wetlands are important to wildlife and people, according to information from District E City Council member Dave Martin’s office. Houston Parks and […]
Read more →As the year closes, please take a moment and ask: what does The Daily Texan mean to you? Perhaps: It’s where you wrote that terrific story that you still think about on occasion. It’s where you learned to work together as a team. It was your personal launching pad into journalism. It gave you the communication skills and other knowledge to purse another type career. It taught you to ask questions with expertise and authority, and never shirk from those in power. It’s where you met your spouse, or a new college roommate. It’s where you learned about the sanctity […]
Read more →You decide: what was the most memorable moment during the recent Friends of The Daily Texan annual dinner? Consider these words from the 2019 Hall of Fame inductees: New York Times climate change and science reporter John Schwartz telling the crowd how he coveted and treasured the label he hears often: “nerd”. When Leon McNealy, one of the first African Americans to work at The Texan, described what it was like to be at the forefront of the civil rights movement in Austin and beyond, and the message he delivered – in song – abut the continuing struggle for equality. […]
Read more →Daily Texan alumna Laura Beil, who created the popular Dr. Death podcast and the upcoming podcast “Bad Batch,” will be on the UT campus at Moody College of Communication on Oct. 24 for “A Conversation With Laura Beil.” She joins Haley Butler, also a Daily Texan alum and now senior producer for The Drag, a Moody College audio production house, for the discussion to be held in BMC 2.106. Dr. Death is a 2018 podcast produced by Wondery that tells the story of Christopher Duntsch, a Texas surgeon who was convicted of gross malpractice after thirty-one of his patients were left seriously injured after […]
Read more →What’s new at the 7th annual Friends of the Daily Texan Hall of Fame dinner Oct. 4 in Austin? The new: The latest from Dean Jay Bernhardt on the innovative work of Moody College of Communication this past year. Six deserving Texan staffers will receive scholarship grants at the dinner; that’s three new ones since last year. Two new scholarships will be unveiled – the Becky and Jerry Conn Scholarship and the John McConnico and Jean-Mark Bouju scholarships. They join the Friends of The Daily Texan Achievement Awards as scholarships now available to Texan staffers. An update from Gerald A. […]
Read more →For 38 years, a former Texan staffer-turned-author and a co-author colleague have labored to produce what they informally called “The Book,” a collection of interviews and reporting about well-known native Texans. Next year their book – titled “Growing Up in the Lone Star State, Notable Texans Remember Their Childhoods” – will be published by the Dolph Briscoe Center for American History. The book takes a unique look at how their childhood influenced these notable Texas natives. “The emphasis is exclusively on how they grew up . . . premise being that good, bad, or indifferent your childhood experiences mold you into the […]
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