The Press Club of Southeast Texas recently contributed an additional $15,000 to the Lamar University Foundation endowment that provides for the Press Club Memorial Scholarship at Lamar University.

The endowment, established in 2002, has grown to become the largest endowment for communication majors at LU. Scholarships are awarded each year to outstanding Lamar University communication students in the College of Fine Arts and Communication. 

The Press Club, incorporated in 1969, first established the scholarship in 1980 in memory of Jennie Love, a broadcast newswoman and active member who was serving as Press Club secretary at the time of her death. In the years since, the scholarship was renamed the Press Club Memorial Scholarship and the list of those honored by the award expanded to include other deceased members — all veteran area journalists and active Press Club members.

Today, the Press Club Memorial Scholarship honors deceased members including James Shannon, Bill Leger, Gordon Baxter, Harold Beeson, Joe Broughton, Lela Davis, Richard Dixon, Sharon Englade, Amelia Feathers, Jennie Love, Bill Maddox, Bill Maultsby, Earl Newlin, Ralph Ramos, Martha Reed, Jim Turner, Bob Wolcott, and Jim Wright.

Among its many activities to foster excellence, the Press Club hosts an annual Excellence in the Media contest, the Newsmaker of the Year Award, and monthly programs on newsworthy topics. The Press Club’s monthly luncheon program meetings are generally held on the third Thursday of each month.

 “We are glad to be able to help support the studies of future communication professionals as they earn their degrees at Lamar University,” said Kevin Steele, president of the Press Club and a news anchor at KBMT Channel 12 in Beaumont. “The communication department selects outstanding students for the award each year.”

The Press Club of Southeast Texas draws its membership from Jefferson, Orange, Hardin, Liberty, Chambers, Jasper, Tyler, Polk and Newton counties. Press Club members are professionals in media, public relations, academia, public affairs, corporate communication and public information. LU communication students are eligible for membership in the Press Club and can participate in the annual Excellence in the Media competition.  

“We are happy to include student participation in the competition,” Steele said. “The success of many LU students in the annual competition shows not only their individual talents, but also the caliber of education they’re receiving at Lamar.”  

The Press Club of Southeast Texas seeks to advance the art and science of media in the public interest; to encourage research, discussion, and study of the problems and techniques of the communications professional; to strengthen and maintain the highest standards of service and ethical conduct by all members of the profession; to exchange ideas and experiences and collect and disseminate information that may enhance or improve the professional knowledge, standards, ethics, and standing of the membership; to foster educational excellence among communication students; to provide a public forum for issues and ideas; to support the Public Information Act (Open Records/ Meetings Act) and encourage compliance; and to promote fellowship within the profession.

To learn more about the Press Club, visit pressclubofsoutheasttexas.org, or Press Club of Southeast Texas on Facebook.

The Press Club of Southeast Texas announced the winners in the 2016 Excellence in the Media contest on Friday night, June 10.
Here's a complete list of winners.
Printable List (PDF)

Join Press Club of Southeast Texas on Thursday, February 18, for our regular monthly meeting.

Enjoy a great lunch and networking with other Press Club of Southeast Texas members.

Our topic of discussion will be Religion/State, and how our area has become a sort of ground zero for this debate.

Our guests are Pastor David Birdsong, pastor of Southside Baptist Church in Port Neches, and Josh Hammers, a member of the Orange County Atheists.

Birdsong has been one of the supporters of the white cross movement, yet he’s been known to reach out to those who disagree and engage in respectful dialogue.

The same can be said of Hammers who has also been open to dialogue and has worked to change negative perceptions of atheists.

He’s been in the thick of things in Orange County, including the issue with the nativity displays in front of city hall and the county courthouse. His organization has also had an adopt-a-highway sign that’s been vandalized numerous times.

Both men will have 10 minutes to make a presentation, then they will answer questions.

We'll kick off the meeting with the Greater Beaumont Chamber of Commerce, who will let us know about their media lunch, which will be held the following day.

Nancy Correa, program director for the Southeast Texas Nonprofit Development Center, will discuss the center, plus talk about the Community Profile of Jefferson County, which will be released on February 23rd.

Arrive early to place your order and enjoy free chips & salsa!

Mark your calendars and save the date to attend the 25th Annual Excellence in the Media & Newsmaker of the Year Awards banquet Friday night, June 3, 2016, at the MCM Elegante' hotel in Beaumont.

Tickets for the dinner are $36.10 each and will be available for sale online at the Press Club website.

Table sponsorships are also available!

Come out for a fun evening and support the Press Club and the club-sponsored communication scholarships at Lamar University.

The 24th Annual Excellence in the Media & Newsmaker of the Year Awards Banquet is June 5, 2015, at the MCM Elegante Hotel.

The Excellence in Media Awards Ceremony is the time when those who write, report, photograph and broadcast the news are awarded for their talents over the past year. Likewise, members of the public relations field are lauded for their efforts.

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The Press Club of Southeast Texas receives hundreds of entries from individuals and media outlets from across the region, including print, electronic media, magazines/trade press and public relations categories. Those entries are sent to judges throughout the nation, who choose the winners.

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The annual event hosts local dignitaries and also recognizes the top area newsmakers from Southeast Texas. This year’s list of Newsmaker of the Year candidates were whittled down by a vote of the Press Club membership to include:

– The Beaumont ISD board of managers, appointed by the state education commissioner to clean up the troubled school district.

– Jennifer Daniels and Shawn Hare, organizers of Beaumont’s first PRIDE parade in support of LGBT rights.

– Earl Thomas III, former West Orange-Stark football player, current member of the Seattle Seahawks, sponsor of many local charity efforts.

– Raquel West, the first woman elected to a district court judgeship in Jefferson County, surviving a spirited primary, runoff and general election.

– Bob Wortham, who gave up a judge’s post to be elected Jefferson County district attorney, dominating a crowded ballot.

While all of these worthy candidates will be recognized for their work over the past year, only one will be selected as the 2014 Newsmaker of the Year by the Press Club of Southeast Texas.

Proceeds from the banquet fund The Press Club Memorial Scholarship at Lamar University dedicated to deceased journalists and awarded annually to students in communication, journalism, mass communications, advertising, public relations or related field.

Thank you in advance for your participation in the Excellence in Media event and support of the Press Club of Southeast Texas. We look forward to seeing you and your guests on June 5th.

The Press Club of Southeast Texas has revealed its finalists for the coveted honor of “Newsmaker of the Year.” The award goes to the person or persons in Southeast Texas who made the biggest positive impact in the preceding year. The finalists are, in alphabetical order:

– The Beaumont ISD board of managers, appointed by the state education commissioner to clean up the troubled school district.

– Jennifer Daniels and Shawn Hare, organizers of Beaumont’s first PRIDE parade in support of LGBT rights.

– Earl Thomas III, former West Orange-Stark football player, current member of the Seattle Seahawks, sponsor of many local charity efforts.

– Raquel West, the first woman elected to a district court judgeship in Jefferson County, surviving a spirited primary, runoff and general election.

– Bob Wortham, who gave up a judge’s post to be elected Jefferson County district attorney, dominating a crowded ballot.

The winner will be announced at the Press Club’s annual 24th Annual Excellence in Media & Newsmaker Awards banquet on Friday, June 5 at the MCM Elegante Hotel in Beaumont. The winner has been determined by votes from all Press Club members.

At the banquet, local winners will also be announced for competition in various journalism and public relations categories among Press Club members. Proceeds from the banquet are used to fund an endowed scholarship for students at Lamar University.

Information on tickets or sponsorship for the banquet can be obtained by clicking here or by calling Debbie Bridgeman at 409.835.5951 x117.