Jessica Blatt Press is a writer in PhiladelphiaJessica Blatt Press is an award-winning journalist and editor whose work has appeared in O: The Oprah Magazine; Glamour; Redbook; Parents; The New York Times; The Philadelphia Inquirer; Scholastic; Seventeen; and more. As a LEDE Fellow of the Solutions Journalism Network (SJN), Jess created Citizen Teen, a journalism mentorship program for Philly high school students that made history when 100 percent of its pilot cohort had work published by SJN’s prestigious “Story Tracker” — making them the first known high school students in the world to do so.

Jess is particularly passionate about youth, education, mental health and the intersection of all three, and is inspired by stories of people uplifting communities in meaningful ways. She serves on the board of The Bullhorn News, the independent, student-run newspaper of the School District of Philadelphia, and was in the inaugural cohort of journalists to receive training from The Philadelphia Center for Gun Violence Reporting.

Connect

Stories by Jessica Blatt Press:

Recap

Integrity Icon 2026 Celebration

We heralded city workers in fields ranging from sanitation to violence prevention, leaving hundreds of attendees feeling inspired — and empowered to uplift our beloved Philadelphia

By Jessica Blatt Press
Integrity Icon 2026

Faith Harris, Youth Champion

The Director of Social Service and Operations at the City’s Division of Criminal Justice advocates for young people to get the justice and care they need. Come celebrate her and her fellow Integrity Icon winners on June 3

By Jessica Blatt Press

Meet Your 2026 Integrity Icons!

These five city workers go above and beyond their job descriptions to make Philly better for all. Come celebrate with them on June 3 at our annual (free!) party at Fitler Club

By Jessica Blatt Press

Calling All City Workers — and Those Who Admire Them

It’s that time of year: We’re on the hunt for the most high-integrity workers employed by the City of Philadelphia. Nominate the most inspiring city workers you know, and they could be named a 2026 Integrity Icon

By Jessica Blatt Press

Meet the Citizens of the Year

These local heroes make Philly stronger, wiser, healthier, kinder and more awesome. Help us celebrate them

By Jessica Blatt Press

“What Do You Need?”

In light of federal funding cuts affecting those most in need, the Patricia Kind Family Foundation is calling all donors to join a new collective supporting Philly’s small, hardworking nonprofits

By Jessica Blatt Press
The Citizen Recommends

Party with a Purpose

The annual gala for the American Association for Cancer Research is your opportunity to help end cancer once and for all

By Jessica Blatt Press

Let’s Scale These Ideas

Meet the three groups that will pitch their ideas to funders and supporters at the first-ever Ideas We Should Scale Showcase at the Linc on November 13

By Jessica Blatt Press

Advertising Terms

We do not accept political ads, issue advocacy ads, ads containing expletives, ads featuring photos of children without documented right of use, ads paid for by PACs, and other content deemed to be partisan or misaligned with our mission. The Philadelphia Citizen is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, nonpartisan organization and all affiliate content will be nonpartisan in nature. Advertisements are approved fully at The Citizen's discretion. Advertisements and sponsorships have different tax-deductible eligibility.

Photo and video disclaimer for attending Citizen events

By entering an event or program of The Philadelphia Citizen, you are entering an area where photography, audio and video recording may occur. Your entry and presence on the event premises constitutes your consent to be photographed, filmed, and/or otherwise recorded and to the release, publication, exhibition, or reproduction of any and all recorded media of your appearance, voice, and name for any purpose whatsoever in perpetuity in connection with The Philadelphia Citizen and its initiatives, including, by way of example only, use on websites, in social media, news and advertising. By entering the event premises, you waive and release any claims you may have related to the use of recorded media of you at the event, including, without limitation, any right to inspect or approve the photo, video or audio recording of you, any claims for invasion of privacy, violation of the right of publicity, defamation, and copyright infringement or for any fees for use of such record media. You understand that all photography, filming and/or recording will be done in reliance on this consent. If you do not agree to the foregoing, please do not enter the event premises.