By: N.C. Greene
When the Texas Tribune Festival—one of the nation’s premier gatherings for journalists, policy innovators, executives, and civic leaders—opened its doors this November, Houston’s grassroots multilingual storytellers arrived with intention. Their presence reflected a growing truth in Texas media: statewide conversations are stronger, more accurate, and more complete when community-rooted journalists are in the room.
This year, a cohort of publishers, reporters, creators, and student journalists from Houston Community Media (HCoM) participated in TribFest, enjoying a lineup that included national correspondents, political strategists, lawmakers, CEOs, and technology leaders. Their attendance brought into focus the expanding role of community media in shaping statewide conversation and public understanding.
A Cross-Section of Houston’s Storytelling Community
HCoM’s delegation represented a dynamic range of experience, audience reach, and cultural insight. Collectively, they brought more than five decades of publishing leadership alongside the next generation of rising journalists. Some have guided their media organizations through demographic shifts, digital transitions, and evolving community needs. Others are amplifying new voices and reshaping how stories are told in the digital age.
This year’s cohort included:
• Eghosa Edebor, Christian Herald
• Jonathan “Jon” Guevara, Our Voces
• Tariq Khan, Pakistani Times and Desi TV USA
• Daniel “Loke G” Oliverrietas, AKM Publishing
• Jay Malhotra, Indo American News
• Erin Slaughter, KTSU2, Texas Southern University
• Todd Smith, Regal Media Group
• Bell “Totally Randie” White, social media influencer
Their participation brought essential perspectives from the communities that make Houston one of the most globally connected cities in the country.
Veteran Leadership and Next-Generation Voices: Expanding Influence and Innovation
For long-established publishers like Edebor, Khan, Malhotra, and Smith, TribFest provided access to conversations and workshops centered on the future of media—AI integration, newsroom sustainability, emerging technology, and digital strategy.
For the emerging generation, TribFest provided the opportunity to simply be in the room.
Slaughter, a student journalist at Texas Southern University, shared:
“Attending the Tribune Festival was an experience I am still in awe of, because I was not only present with a publication I read every day but also part of a conversation about the future of media where I was truly seen and heard.”
Loke G, whose publication reaches incarcerated Texans, described a pivotal moment of professional expansion:
“From the Barrio to the Capitol — Austin TribFest opened doors I never thought I’d walk through. Interviewing BlackRock and connecting with people way outside my usual reach reminded me that I belong in every room built for media and industry professionals.”
Guevara, a Houston-based rapper and cultural storyteller, found renewed focus:
“Every workshop placed something new inside me. I felt inspired, grounded, and reminded that I am exactly where I am meant to be.”
Totally Randie, digital creator and social media influencer, highlighted the value of robust civic dialogue:
“Texas Tribune Festival served as a crucial, centralized forum for objective discussion, showcasing the complex, data-driven challenges facing the state regardless of party affiliation. A highlight for me was The Librarians Documentary, which in 90 minutes showed us just how quickly the tide can change. Ultimately, TribFest provided a necessary public service by modeling civil discourse and focusing on the underlying policy mechanisms. I WILL be in the building for #Tribfest26.”
As Houston’s community voices step into broader forums, one thing is clear: they’re ready to help shape what comes next and open the aperture for all Texans.
About Texas Tribune Festival 2025:
TribFest 2025, the 15th annual Texas Tribune Festival, took place in downtown Austin from November 13–15, 2025. It featured a series of discussions and panels with political leaders and influencers, covering a wide range of topics including public policy and current events.
