Illinois JEA

2018 IJEA Newspaper & Digital News Contest


We are proud to announce the following winners in the 2018 IJEA Newspaper & Digital News Contest:

Division 1 | Results
Division 2 | Results
Division 3 | Results
Division 4 | Results
Division 5 | Results


How the Contest Was Organized


Member publications could submit work published between March 2017 and March 2018.

Schools that entered the contest were assigned to a division based on enrollment. The 2018 competition featured five divisions, from smallest schools (Division 1, enrollment 550 or fewer) to largest (Division 5, enrollment 2,650 or more).

The contest offered 30 categories in which students could compete. These categories allowed us to recognize the great variety of student journalism being produced by print, digital and hybrid publications.

The 30 categories were divided into three types:

Core categories | Twenty categories open to all media, both print and digital
Print categories | Five categories open to print-only publications and print versions of hybrid publications
Digital categories | Five categories open to digital-only publications and online versions of hybrid publications


Scoring System


Publications earned points based on how they placed in each category:

1st = 5 points
2nd = 4 points
3rd = 3 points
Honorable mention = 1 point

The top three point-scoring publications in each division received certificates indicating first, second or third place for Best Overall Publication within their respective divisions.

In addition, certificates were awarded to each division’s top three print-only publications (Best Print Publication), top three digital-only publications (Best Digital Publication) and top three hybrids (Best Hybrid Publication).

Congratulations to all of our winners — and to everyone who competed!


Division 1 | Best Publications


The following publications were the top point scorers in Division 1. The “Best Overall” honors went to those publications that earned the most points regardless of type (print, digital or hybrid). For complete results, click the Division 1 link at the top of this page.


D1 Best Print Publication

1st: U-High Midway, University of Chicago Laboratory HS
2nd: The Purple Clarion, Harrisburg HS
3rd: The Warrior, Casey-Westfield HS


D1 Best Digital Publication

1st: Meridian Daily, Meridian HS
2nd: The Phoenix Chronicle, Phoenix Military Academy
3rd: Launch Pad, Okawville HS


D1 Best Overall Publication

1st: U-High Midway, University of Chicago Laboratory HS
2nd: Meridian Daily, Meridian HS
3rd: The Purple Clarion, Harrisburg HS


Division 2 | Best Publications


The following publications were the top point scorers in Division 2. The “Best Overall” honors went to those publications that earned the most points regardless of type (print, digital or hybrid). For complete results, click the Division 2 link at the top of this page.


D2 Best Print Publication

1st: The Advocate, Washington Community HS
2nd: The Zephyr, Taylorville HS
3rd: Tiger News Today, Herscher HS


D2 Best Hybrid Publication

1st: Paw Print, Walter Payton College Preparatory HS
2nd: The Pritzker Press, Pritzker College Prep
3rd: Viator Voice, Saint Viator HS


D2 Best Overall Publication

1st: The Advocate, Washington Community HS
2nd: Paw Print, Walter Payton College Preparatory HS
3rd: The Zephyr, Taylorville HS


Division 3 | Best Publications


The following publications were the top point scorers in Division 3. The “Best Overall” honors went to those publications that earned the most points regardless of type (print, digital or hybrid). For complete results, click the Division 3 link at the top of this page.


D3 Best Print Publication

1st: The Shield, Richwoods HS
2nd: The Sentinel, Marist HS


D3 Best Hybrid Publication

1st: The Correspondent, John Hersey HS
2nd: Kaneland Krier, Kaneland HS
3rd: The Knight Times, Grayslake North HS
HM: The Mustang, Mundelein HS


D3 Best Overall Publication

1st: The Correspondent, John Hersey HS
2nd: Kaneland Krier, Kaneland HS
3rd: The Shield, Richwoods HS


Division 4 | Best Publications


The following publications were the top point scorers in Division 4. The “Best Overall” honors went to those publications that earned the most points regardless of type (print, digital or hybrid). For complete results, click the Division 4 link at the top of this page.


D4 Best Print Publication

1st: Inkspot, Normal Community HS


D4 Best Digital Publication

1st: PHS Cutlass, Palatine HS
2nd: The Glen Bard, Glenbard West HS


D4 Best Hybrid Publication

1st: The Prospector / Prospector Now, Prospect HS
2nd: The Omega, Downers Grove North HS
3rd: Tiger Times / The Claw, Edwardsville HS


D4 Best Overall Publication

1st: The Prospector / Prospector Now, Prospect HS
2nd: The Omega, Downers Grove North HS
3rd: Inkspot, Normal Community HS


Division 5 | Best Publications


The following publications were the top point scorers in Division 5. The “Best Overall” honors went to those publications that earned the most points regardless of type (print, digital or hybrid). For complete results, click the Division 5 link at the top of this page.


D5 Best Print Publication

1st: Statesman, Stevenson HS


D5 Best Hybrid Publication

1st: Blueprint, Downers Grove South HS
2nd: The Oracle, Glenbrook South HS
3rd: Central Times, Naperville Central HS
HM: The Voice, Huntley HS
HM: Taft Today, Taft HS


D5 Best Overall Publication

1st: Blueprint, Downers Grove South HS
2nd: The Oracle, Glenbrook South HS
3rd: Central Times, Naperville Central HS


 

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2018 IJEA Newspaper & Digital News Contest