(AUSTIN)—Senator Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo, won a personal-best 41 awards in this year’s Press Women of Texas' (PWT) Professional Communication Contest. Of the more than 1,100 awards she has won for her legislative, professional and civic leadership, more than 400 are in communication, including this year’s 41.

She “swept” five categories, earning first, second and third place prizes for her speeches, web copy, press releases, single advertisements and advertising campaigns.

The senator attributes this success to updating her communication strategies to reach constituents. “My staff and I couldn't rely on traditional communication methods, especially last year,” Senator Zaffirini said. “Accordingly, I broadened my outreach efforts to make critical information more accessible to a remote audience.”

Those constituent outreach efforts, which emphasized via social and traditional media her 24/7 availability, earned Senator Zaffirini first place in the Public Service Program or Campaign category. What's more, her informative campaigns regarding COVID-19 and a boil water notice in Laredo last year won first and second places, respectively, for Crisis Communications. She also earned first and second-place prizes in the Specialty Article, Video for Web, Radio or Television Interview and Television Advertisement categories.

The senator’s 24 first-place entries will advance to the National Federation of Press Women's contest, in which they will compete against the work of talented communicators from across the country.

“I'm honored to receive these awards from the Press Women of Texas, especially because communication is such an integral aspect of my role as a legislator,” Senator Zaffirini said. “They reflect my commitment to employing my educational and professional abilities to benefit my constituents. Effective, consistent and responsive communication is necessary to meet the needs of families in the 18 counties that comprise Senate District 21.”

Senator Zaffirini holds Bachelor of Science, Master of Arts and PhD degrees in communication from The University of Texas at Austin, where she worked at The Daily Texan as a reporter, feature writer, copy editor, headline writer, assistant editor and special issue editor. The university and its Moody College of Communication named her a Distinguished Alumna in 2003 and 2016, respectively, and she received the UT Presidential Citation in 2013.

SENATOR JUDITH ZAFFIRINI, D-Laredo, represents Senate District 21 in the Texas Senate. A strong communicator on behalf of her constituents, she has won more than 400 awards for communication projects, including 41 in this year’s Press Women of Texas Professional Communication Contest.

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