Bill Text: VA SJR261 | 2010 | Regular Session | Enrolled

Virginia Senate Joint Resolution 261 (Prior Session Legislation)

Bill Title: Commending Edward W. Jones.

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Passed) 2010-03-14 - Senate: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SJ261ER) [SJR261 Detail]

Download: Virginia-2010-SJR261-Enrolled.html

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 261 Commending Edward W. Jones. Agreed to by the Senate, March 10, 2010 Agreed to by the House of Delegates, March 11, 2010

WHEREAS, Edward W. Jones, the editor of Fredericksburg's Free Lance-Star, will be inducted into the Virginia Communications Hall of Fame on April 1, 2010; and

WHEREAS, Edward "Ed" Jones began his long and successful career in journalism as a high school student interning for the Free Lance-Star; and

WHEREAS, after receiving a bachelor's degree from Harvard University and attending law school at the University of Virginia, Ed Jones returned to his first love, journalism, as a reporter for the Free Lance-Star in 1973; and

WHEREAS, after promotions to editorial page editor and managing editor, Ed Jones became editor of the Free Lance-Star, where he oversees a 75-member newsroom; and

WHEREAS, Ed Jones' leadership and commitment to providing the best local news coverage has earned the Free Lance-Star numerous journalism awards from the Virginia Press Association (VPA) and several national groups; and

WHEREAS, an active member of the VPA, Ed Jones has served as president; launched the Virginia Newspaper Academy, the association's professional development arm; and established two task forces, one on the Virginia Press Services' ad-placement service and the other on VPA's role in the Virginia Public Access Project; and

WHEREAS, in the 1980s, Ed Jones joined a state panel that was working on the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and also worked on the VPA's Freedom of Information Committee, which was instrumental in shaping VPA's legislative policy toward FOIA; he also presented the VPA's position on the major revisions of FOIA in the 1990s; and

WHEREAS, Ed Jones also served as a founding member and secretary of the Virginia Coalition for Open Government, where he continues to be a trusted advisor; and

WHEREAS, Ed Jones has served as former president of the Associated Press Managing Editors Association and National Conference of Editorial Writers, as former national convention program chair for the American Society of Newspaper Editors, and as juror for the Pulitzer Prize four times; and

WHEREAS, Ed Jones is the recipient of the VPA's George Mason Award and a national First Amendment Award; and

WHEREAS, Ed Jones will now take his place among an elite group of professionals who have made significant and lasting contributions in the communications field in the Commonwealth; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly commend Edward W. Jones on his induction into the Virginia Communications Hall of Fame; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Edward W. Jones as an expression of the General Assembly's congratulations and admiration for his many noteworthy accomplishments and contributions to his profession and the Commonwealth.