With the signing of a 10-year lease agreement for the top floor of One O’Connor Plaza, the Victoria Advocate is returning home.

The 173-year-old newspaper first began business in a small, one-story frame building on the northeast corner of One O’Connor Plaza. The Advocate plans to move to its new home by the end of the year.

Read more from the Victoria Advocate.

The editorial staff of the Daily Press in Newport News, Va., and the editor of the Palestine (Texas) Herald-Press were awarded top honors in the competition this year for the Carmage Walls Commentary Prize, presented Thursday, Oct. 11, at the SNPA News Industry Summit.

In the over 50,000 circulation bracket, top honors went to the Daily Press Editorial Staff (Marisa Porto, publisher and editor-in-chief; C.W. Johnson, opinion editor; Robert Brauchle; Mike Holtzclaw; and David Ress).

In the under 50,000 circulation group, first place went to Jeffery Gerritt, editor, Palestine Herald-Press, Palestine, Texas.

Read about additional awards.

Two promotions. One switchover to outsourced printing. One major hurricane with historic flooding.

Robert Royer's NEX GEN year was busier than most.

Royer, 28, joined the mentoring program as multi-media sales and marketing team leader for the Victoria Advocate in Texas. About six months later, he was named retail advertising supervisor, and near the end of his NEX GEN year he was promoted to local display manager, with broader duties.

Along the way, Royer said, he learned about publishing from mentor Zach Ahrens of The Topeka Capital-Journal in Kansas.

Read about his NEX GEN experience.

The Victoria Advocate has covered the story of Hurricane Harvey and the storms that have followed while dealing with loss of power, no water and a displaced staff.

The SNPA Foundation has selected nine newspaper executives to participate in the 2017-2018 NEX GEN program. Each of the nine participants will be paired with one of the brightest talents in the newspaper industry.

The year-long NEX GEN program offers newspaper professionals with executive potential the opportunity to develop their industry knowledge, analytical skills and aptitude for innovation.

Meet the Class of 2017-18!

Read bios of 2017-18 NEX GEN participants.

M. Roberts Media, the family owned company that owns and operates the leading community daily newspapers and associated digital properties in South and East Texas, has announced new and expanded roles for the publishers of the Victoria Advocate and Longview News-Journal and creation of a new position to oversee its growing publishing business.

Advocate Digital Media will market it, place it, produce it, and maybe even put it in the newspaper. This article also includes a television commercial promoting Advocate Digital Media.