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University of Illinois Interim Journalism Department Head and Professor of Journalism Nancy Benson welcomes students to the 2017 IJEA Fall Conference on behalf of the College of Media at the University of Illinois.

Student journalists and advisers from across Illinois were able to share ideas and enjoy like-minded conversation during this year’s IJEA Fall Conference on the campus of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

Centered on building both skills and tenacity in the next generation of journalists, sessions ranged in topic from concept-driven storytelling to immersion journalism to empathy in journalism.

Ash-har Quraishi, a reporter for NBC 5 Chicago and University of Illinois alumuns, set the stage during his keynote address, where he admitted to the uncertainty in the field but saw it as an opportunity for journalists to “rediscover their voices” and rededicate themselves to truth and credibility.

Quraishi’s speech was also the topic of both a News and Feature Write-Off this year, proctored and judged by editors from the Daily Illini.

New Story: Speech Coverage
1st Place: Michelle Lenz, Marist HS
2nd Place: Elizabeth Link, Washington Community HS
3rd Place: Allison Pariso, Conant HS
Feature Story: Personality Profile
1st Place: Alayna Nulty, Washington Community HS
2nd Place: Sarah Ahmad, Conant HS
3rd Place: Stephanie Zoklowskim, Marist HS

Congratulations to our Write-Off winners and all our participants.

Also, a big thank you goes to Quraishi for his insightful keynote and subsequent Q&A, as well as the University of Illinois’ College of Media for hosting the 2017 Fall Conference.