AAN News
The Texas Observer Announces 'Molly Award' Finalistsnew
Editor & Publisher |
06-12-2008 7:29 am |
Industry News
Tags: Editorial, The Texas Observer
Texas Observer Executive Editor Heads to ProPublicanew
ProPublica, "a non-profit newsroom producing journalism in the public interest" founded by former Wall Street Journal managing editor Paul Steiger last October, has hired Jake Bernstein as a reporter, according to a press release. Bernstein has been with the Observer since 2002, and before that, he worked at Miami New Times. In the same release, ProPublica announced another AAN-alum hire: Former San Francisco Bay Guardian and SF Weekly staff writer A.C. Thompson has also been hired as a reporter.
ProPublica Press Release (PDF file) |
06-05-2008 8:20 am |
Industry News
Texas Observer Names New Executive Publisher and Managing Editornew
Carlton Carl is the new CEO and executive publisher of the Observer. He most recently was vice president of media affairs and policy and strategy for the American Association for Justice. The Observer is also bringing back Brad Tyer, who has been named its new managing editor. Tyer, who did a stint as the Observer's interim editor a few years ago and has worked at the Houston Press and Willamette Week, was most recently editor of the Missoula Independent.
The Texas Observer |
02-11-2008 9:26 am |
Industry News
Molly Ivins One Year Memorial Scheduled for Jan. 31 in San Francisco
Texas Observer publisher Charlotte McCann will emcee this special ceremony honoring the late columnist and former Observer co-editor on the one-year anniversary of her death from breast cancer. The event will feature an interfaith ceremony, a number of speakers, and musical entertainment. In addition, the winner of "The Ballad of Molly Ivins" songwriting contest will be announced at the Jan. 31 event. Tickets are $10, and more information can be found at www.raisehellformollyivins.org.
(FULL STORY)
Raise Hell for Molly Ivins Press Release |
01-23-2008 8:46 am |
Press Releases
Tags: The Texas Observer, Molly Ivins
The Texas Observer Recognized by Texas Civil Rights Project
The AAN member bi-weekly has been named the recipient of this year's Molly Ivins "Give 'Em Hell" Award from the Project, which promotes racial, social, and economic justice through education and litigation. "[The Observer] covers stories crucial to the public interest and provokes dialog that promotes democratic participation and open government, in pursuit of a vision of Texas where education, justice, and material progress are available to all," the Project says in a statement.
(FULL STORY)
The Texas Observer Press Release |
11-05-2007 8:18 am |
Honors & Achievements
Tags: The Texas Observer
Texas Observer Pushes for Public Records Withheld by State Police
Two years ago, the AAN member biweekly attempted to obtain security tapes to confirm that multimillionaire James Leininger was secretly lobbying for school vouchers at the state capitol. The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) immediately blocked the release of the tapes, saying it would compromise "homeland security." The Observer appealed to the state attorney general, who agreed that the DPS was obligated to release the videos. But the story doesn't end there. Instead of complying, DPS filed suit in state court, lost, and appealed the court's decision. Now documents obtained by the Observer and posted online show the department has spent more than $160,000 on the suit. "Beyond this being a frivolous lawsuit, what I find a little depressing is the DPS is proceeding like there is this bottomless bag of money from which to draw," Observer editor Jake Bernstein tells the Austin American-Statesman. "It just never occurred to us that they would carry this as far as they have."
(FULL STORY)
The Texas Observer Press Release |
10-18-2007 8:40 am |
Press Releases
Tags: Editorial, The Texas Observer
Texas Observer Moves to Preserve Evidence in Case of Executed Mannew
The Observer joined the Innocence Project and other groups in asking a Texas judge to stop local officials from destroying a hair they say could exonerate a man executed for murder, Reuters reports. Claude Jones was put to death by lethal injection in 2000, when President George W. Bush was governor of Texas. "If the state of Texas did execute an innocent man, the people of Texas deserve to know what was done in their name," executive editor Jake Bernstein says. "This case begs for further examination."
Reuters | The Texas Observer |
09-10-2007 12:00 pm |
Industry News
Tags: The Texas Observer
Texas Observer Reporter Honored by State Legislaturenew
Nate Blakeslee was formally recognized by the Texas House yesterday for his investigation that helped expose sexual abuse at a state youth correctional facility. The Texas Youth Commission has been rocked by the scandal, with the board resigning and a special rehabilitation plan put into place.
Dallas Morning News |
05-15-2007 12:16 pm |
Industry News
Texas Observer Uncovers Governor's Massive Citizen Databasenew
The Texas Data Exchange (TDEx) was created by Gov. Rick Perry's Homeland Security office as a way to coordinate data from all of the state's law enforcement agencies, News 8 Austin reports. The database, brought to light by an Observer investigation, may already include information on at least a million Texans. "What is most striking, and disturbing, about the database is that it is not being run by the state's highest law enforcement agency," the Observer's Jake Bernstein writes. "Instead, control of TDEx, and the power to decide who can use it, resides in the governor's office." According to News 8, the governor's office originally claimed that the database was under supervision by state law enforcement.
News 8 Austin |
04-17-2007 10:43 am |
Industry News
Inmates Released from Youth Prisons on Heels of Texas Observer Storynew
Last week, the new board of the Texas Youth Commission (TYC) began freeing young inmates as part of the reform ushered in by the Observer's February investigation of sexual abuse at TYC prisons. TYC spokesman Jim Hurley tells the Dallas Morning News the agency plans on releasing 473 juveniles to family members or guardians. In what could be a sign of things to come, the attorney for one of the released prisoners plans on suing the state agency, the News reports.
Dallas Morning News |
04-10-2007 9:12 am |
Industry News
Political Fallout from Texas Observer Investigation Continuesnew
Today, the six board members of the Texas Youth Commission (TYC) became the latest to resign in the wake of the Observer's February story on sexual abuse at a state youth correctional facility and its cover-up, the Dallas Morning News reports. The board resigned two days after the State Senate voted for their ouster, but not before they approved a rehabilitation plan for the TYC. Meanwhile, the Observer has uncovered yet another disciplinary report relating to the scandal that was altered with the apparent approval of the TYC's leadership.
Dallas Morning News |
03-16-2007 2:20 pm |
Industry News
More Legislative Action in Wake of Texas Observer Investigationnew
Texas Gov. Rick Perry and lawmakers continued to take action Monday on sexual abuse and cover-up at a state youth correctional facility, the Daily Texan reports. While the governor did not put the Texas Youth Commission under conservatorship, as recommended last week by the legislature, he approved a rehabilitation plan that included naming a "special master" of the commission. In addition, the governor yesterday declared two bills related to the scandal "emergency items," allowing them to be quickly passed through the state legislature.
The Daily Texan |
03-06-2007 10:49 am |
Industry News
Tags: The Texas Observer
Texas Observer Story Leads to Resignations, Legislative Actionnew
A Feb. 23 Observer investigation detailing a 2005 sex abuse scandal and subsequent coverup at a youth correctional facility in West Texas led to the recent resignations of a charter school principal and the executive leadership of the Texas Youth Commission, the oversight authority for youth correctional facilities, according to the Odessa American. Meanwhile, the Observer reports on its blog that the state legislature is also getting involved, with the Senate voting Wednesday to begin the process of appointing a conservator to oversee the agency while its board and staff executives are replaced.
Odessa American | Texas Observer |
03-02-2007 11:20 am |
Industry News
Tags: Editorial, The Texas Observer
Texas Alt-Weekly Contributor Honored by Fellow Book Criticsnew
Steven G. Kellman, a contributor to the Texas Observer and San Antonio Current and professor at the University of Texas at San Antonio, was named the winner yesterday of the National Book Critics Circle's (NBCC) 2006 Nona Balakian Citation for Excellence in Reviewing, which is awarded to "the most accomplished reviewer," from within the NBCC membership. "Texas is lucky to have Steve Kellman," writes Celia McGee on the NBCC's blog. "His range is open to the most extreme elements, in the writers he considers, but also in himself. That takes guts, and keeps reviewing fresh."
University of Texas at San Antonio Press Release |
02-21-2007 1:18 pm |
Honors & Achievements
Molly Ivins Dies of Breast Cancer at 62new
The syndicated political columnist passed away Wednesday evening at her home in Austin. Ivins, whose column was syndicated in over 400 newspapers, including several alt-weeklies, served as co-editor of AAN member Texas Observer from 1970 to 1976. Even after leaving the Observer for a larger stage, she remained an ardent supporter of the perpetually insolvent bi-weekly, donating speaking fees and book royalties and continuously helping to raise money for the not-for-profit magazine. For the time being, the Observer has dedicated its entire Web site to remembering Molly.
The Texas Observer |
01-31-2007 11:57 pm |
Industry News
Tags: Editorial, The Texas Observer
