It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Sarah Doerner, IJEA’s longest-serving president. Sarah died Nov. 29 in Du Quoin at the age of 86. Services were held Dec. 7. See below for our tribute to this great journalism educator.
High school seniors! Get your portfolios ready for the 2025 Illinois Journalist of the Year Contest! Entries will be due Feb. 15.
The winners of the 2024 IJEA Yearbook Contest have been announced! Check out our article below for the full listing of honorees!
A big thank you to everyone who attended our 2024 Fall Conference, which took place Sept. 20 at Illinois State University. The sessions were amazing! Thank you to all of our presenters!
Advisers! Join IJEA today! Annual memberships and lifetime memberships are available. Use our online form or fillable PDF to join!

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Illinois JEA

Bielong named Illinois Scholastic Journalism Educator of the Year

April 11, 2013

Laurie Bielong, longtime adviser of the Hy News at Belleville West, was surprised Wednesday, April 10, at a faculty meeting by being named IJEA’s 2013 Illinois Scholastic Journalism Educator of the Year.

Carol Smith of the IJEA Board of Directors and Sally Renaud, IJEA executive director, presented the award and flowers, with help from students from Bielong’s Hy News staff.

Bielong will formally accept her award at the IJEA adviser breakfast April 26 held in conjunction with the IHSA journalism state final at Eastern Illinois University.