Our Geeks compared dozens of magazines and newspapers to find the most entertaining publications in the Lone Star State. Whether you’re an avid reader or you just need something to pique your interest during your daily coffee break, these 12 publications are sure to deliver:
Texas Monthly
Known for its fierce editorial independence, Texas Monthly has built a solid reputation as a magazine that offers both pertinent political analysis and a comprehensive guide to leisure time in the state. No wonder its read by 1 in every 10 Texans. Best sections: BBQ, and the inimitable “Being Texan.”
Texas Highways Magazine
This Official Travel Magazine of Texas is produced each month by the DOT and prides itself on attracting travelers into the state by telling the Lone Star story. Expect features on duck schnitzel in Fredericksburg and why Wednesdays are boogie woogie nights in downtown Marshall.
The Dallas Morning News
With more than 250,000 dedicated subscribers – and as many as 75,000 more on a Sunday – this daily paper (founded all the way back in 1885) breaks news big and small, with in-depth analysis on the looming trade war with China right alongside an exclusive look inside the Sweet Tooth Hotel.
Fort Worth Star Telegram
Specializing in community news, the Telegram is often the first to break stories that directly affect residents in the Fort Worth and Metroplex areas. Weddings, obituaries, even lane closures – this is your first port of call for all breaking local news.
San Antonio Express-News
First published in 1865, this daily broadsheet now serves over 137,000 readers from its offices in Austin, the Rio Grande Valley, and Washington, D.C. Stay up to date on important topics such as the latest events in the race for governor, and stay entertained with compelling feature stories.
Austin American Statesman
The capital’s major daily newspaper serves a wide audience, which is reflected in sections such as Ahora Si, which offers breaking local and international news in Spanish, and Austin360, where you’ll find everything from Emmylou Harris concert reviews to the popular seasonal Boozery Guide.
El Paso Times
Part of the USA Today Network, the Times offers a lot more than news, helping city residents find a new home, car, or even a new career in its bulging Classifieds section. The paper’s site is no less entertaining, with features on local train shows, advice on how often to take your pet to the vet, and a daily updated guide to El Paso’s most-wanted fugitives.
Corpus Christi Caller Times
Since 1883, the Times has offered major news that matters, but its strongest selling point might be the diversity of its Opinion pages. Read expert comments on how Texans’ right to information is being infringed, alongside captivating letters to the editor. Fun fact: This paper was the first to report on then-U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney’s hunting accident in 2006.
Houston Chronicle
News, sports, entertainment, and a whole lot more make the Chronicle the third-largest newspaper in the U.S., as per 2016 Sunday circulation figures. It’s not hard to see why; there’s something for everyone: log on to the paper’s website and you’ll find exclusive interviews with a drug lord’s mother, right next to advice on how and where to find free McDonald’s fries.
The Monitor
The Monitor brings the stories of everyday Starr and Hidalgo residents to life, alongside the thriving Marketplace – an enormous directory of local businesses – and JobMatch Texas, which allows you to find your new career within a few clicks.
Waco Tribune-Herald
Best known for breaking a series of stories around the 1993 Waco raid incident, this daily newspaper also produces a monthly lifestyle magazine called Waco Today, with themes around weddings, remodeling your home, and the best restaurants in the Waco area.
Lubbock Avalanche Journal
Founded in 1900 with the aim of surprising its readers, the Avalanche has had its own moments in the news, publishing daily despite being caught in a tornado in 1970, helping uncover the evidence that led to the posthumous exoneration of Tim Cole, and becoming the first media house in the South Plains, in 2011, to launch an iPad app.