Illinois JEA

Naperville Central newspaper adviser Keith Carlson congratulates senior Jake Pfeiffer on winning the 2024 Illinois Journalist of the Year Award. Jake is editor-in-chief of both the print and online versions of the schools newspaper, Central Times. (Photo courtesy of Keith Carlson)

Naperville Central’s Jake Pfeiffer wins 2024 Illinois Journalist of the Year

Dave Porreca, CJE, IJEA Contest Committee Chair February 26, 2024
Jake Peiffer, editor-in-chief of the Central Times, has been named the 2024 Illinois Journalist of the Year. Jake is IJEA’s 35th Journalist of the Year and just the second from Naperville Central High School. Jake will now compete for national honors against the top high school journalists from other states. Congrats, Jake!
UPDATE: Deadline for 2024 Newspaper & Digital News Media Contest extended to Friday, March 22

UPDATE: Deadline for 2024 Newspaper & Digital News Media Contest extended to Friday, March 22

Dave Porreca, CJE, IJEA Newspaper Contest Coordinator February 25, 2024
In recognition of the time crunch that many of our members face at this time of the school year, we have extended by one week the deadline for submitting entries to the 2024 IJEA News & Digital News Media Contest. The deadline is now 10:59 p.m. Friday, March 22. Good luck to our members and their students!
Congratulations to our 2023 Yearbook Contest winners!

Congratulations to our 2023 Yearbook Contest winners!

Dave Porreca, CJE, IJEA Yearbook Contest Co-Coordnator January 10, 2024
With flair and style, Illinois yearbook staffs in 2022-23 captured the rituals, milestones, drama, laughs and excitement of high school life in memorable fashion. In recognition of their work, the IJEA is proud to announce the winners of our 2023 Yearbook Contest!
Congratulations to our 2023 All-State Journalism Team!

Congratulations to our 2023 All-State Journalism Team!

The IJEA is proud to announce the members of the 2023 All-State Journalism Team. The 12 students selected for this year's honor were nominated by their advisers in recognition of the indispensable contributions they made to their publications during 2022-23. Congratulations to these MVPs who rose to the occasion in yet another challenging year!
Montage of 2023 publication winners

Congratulations to our 2023 Newspaper & Digital News winners!

Dave Porreca, CJE, IJEA Newspaper Contest Coordinator May 14, 2023
Illinois high school journalists truly rose to the occasion during the 12 months covered by the 2023 IJEA Newspaper & Digital News Media Contest to document the post-pandemic return to in-person learning and extracurriculars throughout the state. Once again, these students made us proud to be associated with Illinois scholastic journalism!
Edwardsville High School student Caspar Dowdy named 2023 Illinois Journalist of the Year

Edwardsville High School student Caspar Dowdy named 2023 Illinois Journalist of the Year

Dave Porreca, CJE, IJEA At-Large Board Member March 5, 2023
Caspar Dowdy, a senior at Edwardsville High School, has been named the 2023 Illinois Journalist of the Year. Caspar is IJEA’s 34th Journalist of the Year and the first from Edwardsville High. Caspar will now compete for national honors against the top high school journalists from other states. Congrats to Caspar and EHS adviser Amanda Thrun!
Our 2023 Newspaper & Digital News Media Contest is open for entries!

Our 2023 Newspaper & Digital News Media Contest is open for entries!

Dave Porreca, CJE, IJEA Newspaper Contest Coordinator February 15, 2023
[MARCH 15 UPDATE: The 2023 contest is now closed for entries.] We have continued to partner with BetterBNC to provide a smooth and efficient platform for submitting entries in the IJEA Newspaper & Digital News Media Contest. Our 2023 platform is now up and running! The entry deadline is Wednesday, March 15. We look forward to recognizing the great work of your students. Good luck to all!
Congratulations to our 2022 Yearbook Contest winners!

Congratulations to our 2022 Yearbook Contest winners!

Dave Porreca, CJE, IJEA Yearbook Contest Co-Coordnator January 8, 2023
With creativity and style, 2021-22 yearbook staffs told their stories of a school year in which the rituals, milestones and traditions of high school life were celebrated precisely because they had become part of normal life once again. In recognition of that work, the IJEA is proud to announce the winners of our 2022 Yearbook Contest!
Calling all 2021-22 yearbooks! The 2022 IJEA Yearbook Contest is now open for entries through Nov. 15

Calling all 2021-22 yearbooks! The 2022 IJEA Yearbook Contest is now open for entries through Nov. 15

Dave Porreca, CJE, IJEA Board Member June 22, 2022
[NOV. 15 UPDATE: The 2022 contest is now closed for entries.] And we have a new contest address! Due to the retirement of longtime contest coordinator Dr. Sally Renaud, EIU will no longer be our yearbook home. Instead, the new mail-in destination for participating yearbooks will be Regina Dominican High School in Wilmette. The postmark deadline is Nov. 15, 2022. Good luck to all!
Annual awards event recognizes All-State Team, Journalist of Year and former IJEA director

Annual awards event recognizes All-State Team, Journalist of Year and former IJEA director

June 17, 2022
We honored our 2022 All-State Journalism Team, Illinois Journalist of the Year and IJOY runner-up as well as former IJEA Executive Director Dr. Sally Renaud on June 4 in Springfield. Thank you to the Illinois Press Foundation for making this event possible and to film critic Matt Fagerholm for serving as our keynote speaker. Congrats to all!
Congratulations to our 2022 All-State Journalism Team!

Congratulations to our 2022 All-State Journalism Team!

The IJEA is proud to announce the members of the 2022 All-State Journalism Team. The 13 students selected for this year's honor were nominated by their advisers in recognition of the indispensable contributions they made to their publications during 2021-22. Congratulations to these MVPs who rose to the occasion in yet another challenging year!
Congratulations to our 2022 Newspaper & Digital News winners!

Congratulations to our 2022 Newspaper & Digital News winners!

Dave Porreca, CJE, Illinois JEA Board Member May 10, 2022
With a pandemic affecting nearly every aspect of their lives, Illinois high school journalists truly rose to the occasion during the 12 months covered by our 2022 competition. Overcoming one challenge after another, these students made us proud to be associated with Illinois scholastic journalism!
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