By Gwen Woolf

Cathy Jett receives top honor from state journalism group

Cathy Jett, a veteran reporter and editor with The Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star, received the Virginia Professional Communicators’ 2019 Communicator of Achievement Award at the VPC spring conference at the University of Richmond April 27.

The COA Award is the highest honor bestowed by the state group to those members who have distinguished themselves within and beyond their profession. It is given for exceptional achievement in the communications field and service to the affiliate; the National Federation of Press Woman (NFPW); and the community.

A University of Richmond graduate, Jett began her career with The Free Lance-Star in 1976 and has written thousands of news and feature stories on diverse topics, including education, city government and business. Formerly editor of the Style section, she currently is business editor, while also covering the Fredericksburg City Council and School Board.

Jett’s articles helped expose a nationwide Ponzi scheme in 2007, and a story she wrote about a freak accident involving a snake at a chain restaurant in 2017 went viral on the internet. She has received numerous state and national journalism awards for her work.and has given talks and served on panels on journalism topics

A longtime active member and former president of Virginia Press Women (now VPC), Jett is currently treasurer of the VPW Foundation, which raises money for annual scholarships to communications majors.  In addition, she is a former member of  the Junior Board of Historic Fredericksburg Foundation Inc., and volunteers for her church and homeowners association.

Jett now advances to national competition for the COA Award, which will be presented June 28 at the NFPW conference in Baton Rouge, La.

Virginia Professional Communicators is a statewide organization of professional women and men pursuing careers across the communications spectrum.

See the write-up about Jett in The Free Lance-Star: https://www.fredericksburg.com/business/fls-editor-reporter-jett-receives-virginia-professional-communicators-top-award/article_23c0ca00-c37f-53c4-abba-7166595617a1.html?fbclid=IwAR3s4H-QhVTMktu3RfPNkb0DIO3PHogwvaX0sgrrhwPPUqtIvaS8M42t-6Y