Greetings, NETPA!
For 99 years, North & East Texas Press Association has been encouraging and promoting higher standards of journalism. We have a wide circle of NETPA members and friends, and we hope to celebrate with you all at our 2026 conference.
Now’s the time to renew your membership or to join for the first time. Being part of this association, networking and learning from each other is critical as we strive to make our corners of the world a little better, to inform and educate our readers, to improve our publications and to keep our industry and our operations thriving. If you’re ready to join or need to renew your membership and pay your dues, contact NETPA secretary Wyndi Veigel-Gaudette at wyndi.veigel@gmail.com soonest.
The 2026 NETPA Better Newspaper Contest is live, and everything is centered once again on our online submission and judging platform at newspapercontest.com/NETPA. New in 2026, we will now award a News Photographer of the Year and also a Sports Photographer of the Year.
This year’s contest deadline is Monday, February 9, 2026.
You should have received a copy of the NETPA Scholarship 2026 Press Release. It’s attached again, just in case. Make plans now to publicize it in your print and online editions then reach out to your local school newspaper and yearbook advisers to help spread the word. NETPA has had some outstanding scholarship recipients in the past, and we look forward to encouraging the education of more dynamic young journalists.
Along those same lines, this year we’re implementing an on-site contest during our annual convention, pairing our journalism veterans with young journalists for a live event in the midst of our activities April 9-11 at the Lone Star Lodge & Marina. Our 2026 Convention Chair, Abigail Bardwell, is pulling together all the details for a great experience on the shores of Lake Ray Roberts in Pilot Point. Look for updates in the weeks and months to come.
Please take some time now to help us connect with more of our colleagues across the region. Reach out to journalists and publications. Encourage them to attend this year’s conference. We look forward to welcoming a healthy crowd to Pilot Point in April.
Standby for more information via netpa.us and facebook.com/NorthEastTexasPressAssociation. For questions about the 2026 NETPA Better Newspaper Contest, contact me by phone or email.