In an effort to adapt to the changing scholastic newsrooms in Illinois and expand the possibilities for students to receive both feedback and encouragement, the Illinois Journalism Education Association expanded its newspaper contest this year.

In addition to the change in how entries were submitted (all online), additional categories and divisions in the IJEA Newspaper and Digital News Media Contest were meant to reward and further inspire the great work that student journalists do throughout the state.

Just as the number and range of categories was expanded, so was the judges’  base, according to IJEA Executive Director Sally Renaud. Professionals provided detailed commentary to students “from such varied media entities as the Washington Post, the Topeka (Kan.) Capital-Journal, ESPN, The Appleton (Wisc.) Post-Crescent, as well as smaller dailies and magazines,” according to Renaud, who added that retired high school and out-of-state advisers also helped in the judging process.

Certificates for winners should have been received by advisers in the mail, but the IJEA Newspaper and Digital News Media Master List of Winners for 2016  and a 2016 Newspaper and Digital News Media Top Publication Results sheet for each division with point totals are also available.

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Please feel free to provide constructive criticism for this revised contest. Our ultimate goal is to challenge, honor and energize the student media staffs of Illinois. Thank you to all who participated, and we hope to see your entries again next year!