BY CATHY JETT
Three Free Lance-Star editors received 12 awards yesterday in the Virginia Press Women's 2010 communications contest.
Ten other Fredericksburg-area residents, including six who write for the paper's Town & County section and the contest sweepstakes winner, were among 55 professional communicators honored at VPW's spring conference at the Taubman Museum of Art in Roanoke.
A total of 201 awards were given in a variety of categories. Entries that received first place will advance to the National Federation of Press Women contest.
Free Lance-Star assistant business editor Cathy Jett received six awards, including first and second place for investigative reporting; and first for special articles on business, and special articles on agriculture, agribusiness or aquaculture. She also won second for reviews; and honorable mention for general columns.
Town & County magazine editor Gwen Woolf won first and second for section editing and first for commentary writing for the Web for her president's column in VPW's newsletter, Galley Pruf.
Assistant editorial page editor Linda J. White won second and third for daily editorials and second for special columns.
The six freelancers who have written for the paper are:
Barbara Crookshanks of Fredericksburg, who won honorable mention for special articles, home. She was also recognized for her 50-year membership in VPW and NFPW.
Sarah A. Ferrell of Spotsylvania County, who writes the "Devoted to Dogs" column, first for informational columns and third for specialized columns.
Pat LaLand of Orange, third for feature story, daily; and feature story, publication/magazine/supplement.
Judy Stobbe of Stafford County, second for special articles, history.
Diane Carroll Vogel of Spotsylvania, who writes the Trail Mix column, first for special articles, Planet Earth, and non-fiction book, religion/inspirational; and third for special articles, religion, and photographer/writer.
Pat Wilson of Louisa, first for special article, travel; and second for special articles, business; special articles, agriculture, agribusiness, aquaculture; special articles, hobby or crafts.
Freelance writer Marty Van Duyne of Falmouth won the sweepstakes award. She took first place in seven writing and photography categories. She also won five seconds, five thirds and four honorable mentions.
Freelance writer Sarah Collins Honenberger of Orange won second place for fiction novel.
Virginia C. Johnson, Web content librarian for the Central Rappahannock Regional Library, took first in feature writing for the Web, and second in educational writing for the Web.
Paula Raudenbush, The George Washington Foundation's director of marketing and communication, won first for color newsletter.
Virginia Press Women is a statewide organization of professional communicators in a variety of fields.
Cathy Jett: 540/374-5407
Email: cjett@freelancestar.com