Congratulations to our 2020 Newspaper & Digital News winners!

Dave Porreca, CJE, Illinois JEA Board Member

May 14, 2020

Whether it was dealing with a Chicago teachers strike in the fall or a statewide closure of schools in the spring, Illinois high school journalists have faced a truly daunting array of challenges this year — and they have risen to the occasion!

In recognition of the outstanding work they’ve done, including coverage of COVID-19 and its impact on their school communities, we are proud to announce the following winners of the 2020 IJEA Newspaper & Digital News Media Contest:

How the Contest Was Organized

Member publications could submit work published between March 2019 and March 2020. Schools that entered the contest were assigned to a division based on enrollment.

The 2020 competition featured five divisions, from smallest schools (Division 1, enrollment 700 or fewer) to largest (Division 5, enrollment 2,651 or more).

The contest offered 31 categories in which students could compete, including a special timely category devoted to COVID-19 coverage. These categories allowed us to recognize the great variety of student journalism being produced by print, digital and hybrid publications.

The 31 categories were divided into four types:

CORE | Twenty categories open to all media, print and digital
PRINT | Five categories open to print-only media and print versions of hybrid media
DIGITAL | Five categories open to digital-only media and online versions of hybrid media
SPECIAL | One category (Best COVID-19 Coverage) open to all media, print and digital

Overall Awards & Our Scoring System

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).

Publications earned points based on how they placed in each category except for the special category of COVID-19 coverage, which did not count for points. All other categories followed the scoring system outlined below. Congratulations to all of our winners — and to everyone who competed and all of the journalism professionals who served as judges!

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

DIVISION 1 BEST PUBLICATIONS

The following publications were the top point scorers in Division 1. The “Best Overall” honor went to the publication that earned the most points regardless of type (print, digital or hybrid).

For complete results in each D1 category as well as links to all winning entries, click the following link:

Division 1 Results | 2020 Newspaper & Digital Media Contest (includes links to all winning entries)

D1 Best Print Publication | Publication that appears in print only

1st: The Purple Clarion, Harrisburg H.S., Cathy Wall, adviser
2nd: Tiger News Today, Herscher H.S., Kerri Robinson, adviser

D1 Best Digital Publication | Publication that appears online only

1st: Meridian Daily, Meridian H.S., Sheila Moore, adviser
2nd: The Phoenix Chronicle, Phoenix Military Academy, Katie Fernandez, adviser
3rd: Launch Pad, Okawville H.S., Dana Donovan, adviser

D1 Best Hybrid Publication | Publication appearing in print and online

1st: U-High Midway, University of Chicago Laboratory H.S., Logan Aimone, adviser

D1 Best Overall Publication | Most points regardless of publication type

1st: U-High Midway, University of Chicago Laboratory H.S., Logan Aimone, adviser
2nd: The Meridian Daily, Meridian H.S., Sheila Moore, adviser
3rd: The Purple Clarion, Harrisburg H.S., Cathy Wall, adviser
HM: Tiger News Today, Herscher H.S., Kerri Robinson, adviser

DIVISION 2 BEST PUBLICATIONS

The following publications were the top point scorers in Division 2. The “Best Overall” honor went to the publication that earned the most points regardless of type (print, digital or hybrid).

For complete results in each D2 category as well as links to all winning entries, click the following link:

Division 2 Results | 2020 Newspaper & Digital Media Contest (includes links to all winning entries)

D2 Best Print Publication | Publication that appears in print only

1st: The Zephyr, Taylorville H.S., Stephen Steele, adviser
2nd: Shield, Richwoods H.S., Dan Kerns, adviser
3rd: Bogan Bytes, Bogan Computer Technical H.S., Maria Baltsas, adviser

D2 Best Hybrid Publication | Publication appearing in print and online

1st: Paw Print, Walter Payton College Prep H.S., Michelle Mowery, adviser
2nd: The Pritzker Press, Pritzker College Prep, H.S., Katie Curtin, adviser
3rd: Viator Voice, Saint Viator H.S., Chris Paolelli, adviser

D2 Best Overall Publication | Most points regardless of publication type

1st: Paw Print, Walter Payton College Prep H.S., Michelle Mowery, adviser
2nd: The Zephyr, Taylorville H.S., Stephen Steele, adviser
3rd: The Pritzker Press, Pritzker College Prep, H.S., Katie Curtin, adviser
HM: Viator Voice, Saint Viator H.S., Chris Paolelli, adviser
HM: Shield, Richwoods H.S., Dan Kerns, adviser

DIVISION 3 BEST PUBLICATIONS

The following publications were the top point scorers in Division 3. The “Best Overall” honor went to the publication that earned the most points regardless of type (print, digital or hybrid).

For complete results in each D3 category as well as links to all winning entries, click the following link:

Division 3 Results | 2020 Newspaper & Digital Media Contest (includes links to all winning entries)

D3 Best Print Publication | Publication that appears in print only

1st: The Advocate, Washington Community H.S., Jennifer Reiser, adviser
2nd: The Sentinel, Marist H.S., John Gonczy, adviser

D3 Best Hybrid Publication | Publication appearing in print and online

1st: Drops of Ink, Libertyville H.S., Michael Gluskin, adviser
2nd: Kaneland Krier, Kaneland H.S., Dominic Bruno, adviser
3rd: The Mustang, Mundelein H.S., Michelle Didzbalis, adviser
HM: The Knight Times, Grayslake North H.S., Brenda Smith, adviser

D3 Best Overall Publication | Most points regardless of publication type

1st: Drops of Ink, Libertyville H.S., Michael Gluskin, adviser
2nd: Kaneland Krier, Kaneland H.S., Dominic Bruno, adviser
3rd: The Mustang, Mundelein H.S., Michelle Didzbalis, adviser
HM: The Advocate, Washington Community H.S., Jennifer Reiser, adviser
HM: The Knight Times, Grayslake North H.S., Brenda Smith, adviser
HM: The Sentinel, Marist H.S., John Gonczy, adviser

DIVISION 4 BEST PUBLICATIONS

The following publications were the top point scorers in Division 4. The “Best Overall” honor went to the publication that earned the most points regardless of type (print, digital or hybrid).

For complete results in each D4 category as well as links to all winning entries, click the following link:

Division 4 Results | 2020 Newspaper & Digital Media Contest (includes links to all winning entries)

D4 Best Digital Publication | Publication that appears online only

1st: The Howl, Oswego East H.S., Justin Howard Query, adviser
2nd: PHS Cutlass, Palatine H.S., Sean Berleman, adviser

D4 Best Hybrid Publication | Publication appearing in print and online

1st: The Prospector, Prospect H.S., Jason Block, adviser
2nd: NCHS Inkspot, Normal Community H.S., Brad Bovenkerk, adviser
3rd: The McHenry Messenger, McHenry H.S., Dane Erbach, adviser
HM: The Omega, Downers Grove North H.S., Elizabeth Levin, adviser
HM: The Glen Bard, Glenbard West H.S., Carolyn Fritts, adviser

D4 Best Overall Publication | Most points regardless of publication type

1st: The Prospector, Prospect H.S., Jason Block, adviser
2nd: NCHS Inkspot, Normal Community H.S., Brad Bovenkerk, adviser
3rd: The Howl, Oswego East H.S., Justin Howard Query, adviser
HM: The McHenry Messenger, McHenry H.S., Dane Erbach, adviser
HM: The Omega, Downers Grove North H.S., Elizabeth Levin, adviser
HM: The Glen Bard, Glenbard West H.S., Carolyn Fritts, adviser
HM: PHS Cutlass, Palatine H.S., Sean Berleman, adviser

DIVISION 5 BEST PUBLICATIONS

The following publications were the top point scorers in Division 5. The “Best Overall” honor went to the publications that earned the most points regardless of type (print, digital or hybrid).

For complete results in each D5 category as well as links to all winning entries, click the following link:

Division 5 Results | 2020 Newspaper & Digital Media Contest (includes links to all winning entries)

D5 Best Hybrid Publication | Publication appearing in print and online

1st: The Oracle, Glenbrook South H.S., Bob Wysocki, adviser
2nd: Blueprint, Downers Grove South H.S., Mary Long, adviser
3rd (tie): Central Times, Naperville Central H.S., Keith Carlson, adviser
3rd (tie): The Voice, Huntley H.S., Dennis Brown, adviser
HM: Lion, Lyons Township H.S., Jason Scales, adviser
HM: New Trier News, New Trier H.S., Carlo Trovato, adviser
HM: Statesman, Stevenson H.S., Dean Bradshaw, adviser

D5 Best Overall Publication | Most points regardless of publication type

1st: The Oracle, Glenbrook South H.S., Bob Wysocki, adviser
2nd: Blueprint, Downers Grove South H.S., Mary Long, adviser
3rd (tie): Central Times, Naperville Central H.S., Keith Carlson, adviser
3rd (tie): The Voice, Huntley H.S., Dennis Brown, adviser
HM: Lion, Lyons Township H.S., Jason Scales, adviser
HM: New Trier News, New Trier H.S., Carlo Trovato, adviser
HM: Statesman, Stevenson H.S., Dean Bradshaw, adviser

Dave Porreca, CJE, former adviser of the nine-time NSPA Pacemaker finalist Gargoyle student newspaper at the University of Illinois Laboratory High School in Urbana and former IJEA president, administered the contest. Prof. Linda Jones, IJEA executive director and journalism professor at Roosevelt University in Chicago, oversaw the recruitment of contest judges, who were drawn from the ranks of experienced journalists and educators.

An enthusiastic congratulations to all newspaper and digital news media staffs and advisers! We are proud of the amazing work you do each year throughout Illinois. Best of luck as you end an eventful school year. For those who will be returning, we can’t wait to see what you produce next year!

Front-page montage created by Dave Porreca, CJE. Congratulations to the publications featured clockwise from top left: Libertyville’s Drops of Ink, Huntley’s The Voice, Stevenson’s Statesman, Prospect’s The Prospector, Saint Viator’s Viator Voice and University of Chicago Laboratory High School’s U-High Midway!