The Marshall News Messenger

The Marshall News Messenger, an M. Roberts Media member located in Marshall, Texas, has a mission to produce valuable journalistic content that engages audiences and improves the communities of Harrison County.

Dallas Free Press

Dallas Free Press, a nonprofit news site, launched in January 2020 with the mission of amplifying voices and exploring solutions to the city’s systemic inequities. It focuses community journalism efforts on three zip codes in South Dallas and West Dallas, which are predominantly Black and Latino neighborhoods, respectively.

The Associated Press – Texas

The Associated Press is an independent global news organization dedicated to factual reporting. Founded in 1846, AP today remains the most trusted source of fast, accurate and unbiased news in all formats and the essential provider of the technology and services vital to the news business. More than half the world’s population sees AP journalism every day.

The Texas Tribune

The Texas Tribune is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, digital-first news organization that informs and engages with Texans on public policy, politics, government and statewide issues. This news organization's site provides vital information and news to millions of Texans for free, and its journalism is distributed through more than 60 statewide media partners to local outlets. Partnerships with platforms including ProPublica, Apple News, and SmartNews put its content before a nationwide audience.

Raquel Villatoro

Raquel Villatoro covers health challenges in northeast Texas for Tyler Morning Telegraph. Villatoro previously interned at The Acadiana Advocate in Lafayette, Louisiana covering various beats from arts and culture to health, while focusing on the Latinx community. Villatoro wrote for the news and arts and life sections at the student newspaper while attending the University of North Texas. They have a bachelor's degree in journalism and history.

Victoria Advocate

The Victoria Advocate is 175 years old, and the second oldest daily paper in Texas. This family-owned community paper and news site is committed to reporting daily news, features, and hard-hitting investigations, holding officials accountable.

Patrick Sloan-Turner

Patrick Sloan-Turner covers education in Victoria, Texas, and its surrounding communities for the Victoria Advocate, the second oldest paper in the Lone Star State. Prior to joining the Advocate, Sloan-Turner covered university governance at DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois for the school’s student-run independent newspaper, The DePaulia. There, he also covered topics like Chicago politics, crime, healthcare and others, while serving as the outlet’s Online Managing Editor. Prior to his pursuit of a bachelor’s in journalism at DePaul, Sloan-Turner worked as a stringer at his hometown newspaper, the Lansing State Journal in Lansing, Michigan. It was there that he was first inspired to become a journalist after witnessing the Journal’s impressive coverage of the Larry Nassar scandal at Michigan State University.

Joy Ashford

Joy Ashford covers faith and religion in North Texas for The Dallas Morning News. Prior to joining The Dallas Morning News, Joy worked as a co-op for The Boston Globe and interned with Washington Monthly, The Delaware News Journal, and Philadelphia Magazine. Joy majored in Social Studies at Harvard University and wrote a senior thesis on religious liberty and evolving interpretations of the First Amendment. They also served as an executive editor, Arts Chair, and magazine staff writer for their student newspaper, The Harvard Crimson. In 2023, Joy was named a finalist for the Society of Professional Journalists’ cultural criticism award for their arts criticism at The Boston Globe. Outside of work, Joy loves dancing, camping, and getting lost in a good TV show.

Longview News-Journal

The Longview News-Journal is part of third-generation, family-owned community newspaper and multimedia news organization. We are committed to digital-first community journalism—not just reporting the news, but also holding officials accountable for their actions. We work to keep the public informed of the news through our print and digital platforms. We strive to be fair, accurate and respectful while reporting the news, from hard-hitting investigations to the daily news and features. Our goal is to use all available journalism tools in the service of reporting on, and bettering, our community.

Avery Martinez

Avery Martinez is the mental health reporter for KVIA-TV in the Borderland around El Paso, Texas. While currently working in TV, Martinez also has experience in print and radio. Previous roles have included interim editor and producer/anchor in different media. He cut his teeth in smaller family newspapers, before working for major syndicates and networks. He brings a community approach to reporting. Martinez has been a legal staff writer, immigration specialist, campaign correspondent and columnist—in addition to covering city, state and federal courts and legislatures. He was the first graduate of Fort Lewis College's Journalism and Mass Media Studies program. Martinez has won awards and recognition for his coverage of election committees, immigrant legal representation and the future of law school exams.