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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. 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!
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

Best News Story

BEST NEWS STORY


OVERVIEW: Use this form to enter the Best News Story category, IJEA Newspaper and Digital News Media Contest. Asterisks indicate fields in which a response is required.

CORE CATEGORY: Best News Story is a core category, open to both print and digital media. Each publication may submit two entries in this category. If you want to submit a second entry, use this form to send both entries.

IF YOU ADVISE A HYBRID PUBLICATION: Please note that if your publication has both a print and digital version, you are limited to two entries overall in this category. You may enter two print items or two online items or one of each, but your total entries in this category may not exceed two.

DESCRIPTION: For a description of this and other core categories, click here.

2022 DEADLINE: All entries must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. on March 15, 2022.

REMINDER: Please make sure you have completed our Adviser Information Form before submitting your students' contest entries. Only one submission of the Adviser Information Form is required, regardless of how many categories your students compete in.


  • NOTE: You do not have to write the entire headline in this space. Simply write enough of the headline so our judges can easily identify the entry.

  • NOTE: A second entry for Best News Story is optional. If you want to submit a second entry for this category, use this form to submit both entries.

  • NOTE: You are responsible for making sure this URL is correct. If it does not work, the entry will not be judged.

  • NOTE: You are responsible for making sure this URL is correct. If it does not work, the entry will not be judged.

  • Max. file size: 15 MB.

    NOTE: Upload a PDF containing the entire page on which your entry appears. If the entry jumps to a second page, include the entire jump page in the same PDF document as the first page. (Total upload size for the PDF of your first entry is limited to 10 MB.)

  • Max. file size: 15 MB.

    NOTE: Upload a PDF containing the entire page on which your entry appears. If the entry jumps to a second page, include the entire jump page in the same PDF document as the first page. (Total upload size for the PDF of your second entry is limited to 10 MB.)

    REMINDER TO ADVISERS OF HYBRID PUBLICATIONS: You are limited to two entries overall in this category. You may enter two digital items or two print items or one of each, but your total entries in this category may not exceed two.

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Best News Story