Virginia Press Women (VPW) is an organization of professional communicators in
Virginia
Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States, between the Atlantic Coast and the Appalachian Mountains. The geography and climate of the Commonwealth ar ...
that is open to women and men. Members work for newspapers, magazines, radio, television stations, schools, colleges, government, corporations, non-profit agencies, communications businesses, and a variety of organizations and associations.
Founding
VPW was founded in
Richmond
Richmond most often refers to:
* Richmond, Virginia, the capital of Virginia, United States
* Richmond, London, a part of London
* Richmond, North Yorkshire, a town in England
* Richmond, British Columbia, a city in Canada
* Richmond, California, ...
in 1958 as an organization for
newspaper
A newspaper is a periodical publication containing written information about current events and is often typed in black ink with a white or gray background.
Newspapers can cover a wide variety of fields such as politics, business, sports a ...
editors and writers. The constitution was amended one year later to extend membership to "any writer actively engaged in
journalistic services for remuneration". Charter members include
Norma Lugar Agnes Cooke and Lib Wiley.
In 1973, VPW was incorporated and membership was opened to men who support the mission of VPW.
Mission
The purpose of this organization shall be to promote the highest ideals in journalism, to provide exchange of journalistic ideas and experiences, to offer continuing educational opportunities to members and to serve the public's right to know.
Affiliations
National Federation of Press Women The National Federation of Press Women (NFPW) is a United States-based organization of professional women and men pursuing careers in the field of communications, including electronic, broadcast and print journalism, public relations, marketing, adv ...
(NFPW)
Activities
* Communicator of Achievement, annual award, the group's highest honour for members.
* Newsmaker of the Year, awarded annually to a woman with ties to Virginia who has "made to news" over the past year or has had outstanding newsworthy accomplishments for many years.
* Communications Contest, open to members in a number of categories, entries must have been published during the calendar year immediately preceding each annual contest. First-place entries are entered in the communications contest of the NFPW.
* Annual meeting, fall of each year, which typically includes workshops and/or presentations on communication topics.
* Awards meeting, spring of each year, which typically also includes professional development workshops.
Virginia Press Women Foundation
Incorporated separately as a
501(c)3
A 501(c)(3) organization is a United States corporation, trust, unincorporated association or other type of organization exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of Title 26 of the United States Code. It is one of the 29 types of 50 ...
corporation with the purpose of administering and raising funds for
college scholarships.
References
{{Reflist
External links
* http://www.virginiapresswomen.org
* http://www.vpa.net/news/virginia-press-women-announces-communications-contest-winners.html
National Federation of Press Women
American journalism organizations
Women's organizations based in the United States
Women in Virginia