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  • 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. We will be publishing a tribute to this great journalism educator in the coming days.
  • 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!
Illinois Journalism Education Association, 2501 Chatham Road, Suite 200, Springfield, IL 62704

Illinois JEA

Illinois Journalism Education Association, 2501 Chatham Road, Suite 200, Springfield, IL 62704

Illinois JEA

Illinois Journalism Education Association, 2501 Chatham Road, Suite 200, Springfield, IL 62704

Illinois JEA

IJEA History


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A Brief History of Our Organization


In the mid-1980s, a group of like-minded high school advisers in Illinois, who had been meeting informally at Journalism Education Association national conventions and state regional conventions for years, sometimes under the name of the Illinois Association of Teachers of Journalism, began putting together the foundation for what would become a statewide group organized using the guidelines of JEA.

It was not easy. Illinois is a big state with regional distinctions, but a dedicated group met throughout 1986 and 1987 to develop what would become IJEA.

In those early meetings, there was concern that regional groups would not want to take part in a statewide group, but handwritten notes on hotel notepads tell the story of a dedicated group of advisers who wanted to strengthen Illinois scholastic journalism.

They wanted cohesiveness and help, both practical and legal, for their fellow advisers. They wanted state unity — achieved through a state directory and a newsletter; recognition — achieved through awards; and professional development — achieved through workshops and retreats.

 


Founding IJEA Members


Some of those advisers included William Colosimo, Addison Trail High School; Jeff Currie, Oak Park and River Forest High School; Melinda Foys, Conant High School; Barbara Fuson, Stephen Decatur High School; Susan Hathaway, Wheeling High School; Sheryl Hinman, Galesburg High School; Randy Swikle, Johnsburg High School; and Tom Winski, Monmouth High School.

Representatives from university journalism programs were involved, too, including Richard Stegeman, University of Illinois, and James Tidwell, Eastern Illinois University — and others offered support.

The advisers, with Winski as their leader, named their new group the Illinois Journalism Education Association with a structure of six regions, each with two elected directors to serve as part of the governing board, and a state director. Bylaws echoing those of the JEA were constructed.

IJEA was incorporated on Aug. 18, 1988.

 


IJEA Presidents


Keith Carlson

Naperville Central High School
Naperville | DuPage County | IJEA Region 3
2022-present


John Gonczy

Marist High School
Chicago | Cook County | IJEA Region 3
2018-2022


Brad Bennewitz

Galesburg High School
Galesburg | Knox County | IJEA Region 1
2016-2018


Sarah Doerner (retired at time of service)

DuQuoin High School
DuQuoin | Perry County | IJEA Region 6
2006-2016


Dave Sennerud

Hononegah High School
Rockton | Winnebago County | IJEA Region 2
2004-06


Dave Porreca

University of Illinois Laboratory High School
Urbana | Champaign County | IJEA Region 5
2001-04


Randy Swikle

Johnsburg High School
Johnsburg | McHenry County | IJEA Region 2
2000-01


Melinda Foys

Conant High School
Hoffman Estates | Cook County | IJEA Region 3
1994-2000


Diana Peckham

Pekin High School
Pekin | Tazewell County | IJEA Region 4
1991-94


Randy Swikle

Johnsburg High School
Johnsburg | McHenry County | IJEA Region 2
1988-91


 

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IJEA History