Remembering John Thornton, founder of The Texas Tribune
Thornton conceived of a nonprofit news enterprise to engage Texans with their government, and then launched an industry of similar outlets across the country. He died March 29. Full Story
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Matthew Watkins began serving as editor in chief of the Tribune in September 2024. Matthew is a Texas native, born in Houston and raised in Austin. He attended public schools and graduated from Texas A&M University. He’s spent nearly two decades in Texas journalism, and previously worked at The Eagle in Bryan-College Station and The Dallas Morning News. Matthew joined the Tribune in 2015 has held various roles, including higher education reporter, breaking news editor and politics editor. As a managing editor, Matthew has guided the Tribune’s award-winning journalism and other reporting of statewide significance, including coverage of elections and legislative sessions to major breaking news and ambitious storytelling about the overturning of Roe v. Wade, the Texas-Mexico border, the tragic school shooting in Uvalde, the impeachment of Texas attorney general and battles over public education. He lives in Austin with his wife, Susan, and their two children.
Latest Contributions
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TribCast: Measles, COVID and the state of our public health system
On the fifth anniversary of the start of the COVID pandemic, we discuss the measles outbreak and the state’s ability to respond to health crises. Full Story
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TribCast: The looming fight over regulating AI in Texas
In this week’s episode, Matthew speaks with University of Texas at Austin professor Sherri Greenberg about proposed state laws related to artificial intelligence. Full Story
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![On this week's TribCast, talk turns to the regulation of artificial intelligence in Texas.]()
Credit: Jennifer Whitney for The Texas Tribune -
TribCast: The ins and outs of the debate over school choice and vouchers
In this week’s episode, we discuss the details of the plan to let parents use state funds to pay for their children’s private schooling. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott speaks at ‘Parent Empowerment Night’ at San Antonio Christian School, in San Antonio, Texas, on Feb. 17, 2025.]()
Credit: Scott Stephen Ball for The Texas Tribune -
TribCast: Is a water crisis looming in Texas?
In this week’s episode, we talk about state House politics, proposals for the budget and the condition of water infrastructure in the state. Full Story
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![Thomas Skinner collects sediment in a strainer to identify the type of rock their rig is drilling through while drilling a water well on Thursday, March 14, 2024, outside of Alpine.]()
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TribCast: Previewing the 2025 legislative session
The Texas Tribune’s politics podcast returns with a look at the race for House speaker, the future of school vouchers and other major legislative issues this year. Full Story
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![State Reps. Carrie Isaac, R-Dripping Springs, (in red) and Joanne Shofner, R-Nacogdoches, (in black) arrive at the House Republican caucus for House speaker at the state Capitol on Dec. 7, 2024.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for the Texas Tribune -
Look back at some of the best Texas Tribune reads of 2024
Our journalists brought life to the experiences of everyday Texans, held powerful institutions accountable and surfaced stories that went beyond the daily news cycles. Full Story
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![The dome of the Texas State Capitol on Thursday, April 24, 2014.]()
Credit: Anneke Els Paterson for The Texas Tribune -
On our 15th birthday, we’re still looking to innovate
In our first 15 years, we proved there was a successful model for public service journalism. Now we want to reach new readers, bridge divides and thrive as technology shifts. Full Story
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Credit: Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribune -
Meet our newest journalists: Sandra Santos, Julie Chang and Rob Reid
Santos is our evening news editor, Chang our health and human services editor and Reid our education data developer. Full Story
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![From left: Sandra Santos, Julie Chang and Rob Reid.]()
Credit: The Texas Tribune -
Texas Tribune, ProPublica and FRONTLINE share Online Journalism Award and national Edward R. Murrow Award
The three newsrooms shared awards for our coverage of the 2022 mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde. Full Story
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