Over 200 Students Attend Fall Conference at Illinois State

October 30, 2025

On Oct. 3, the Illinois Journalism Education Association held its annual Fall Conference at Illinois State University in Normal, Ill. This marked the third consecutive year the event took place on campus....

A tribute to former IJEA President Sarah Doerner, RIP (1937-2024)

Linda Jones and Dave Porreca, CJE • December 15, 2024

Sarah Doerner, IJEA's longest-serving president, died Nov. 29 at the age of 86. After teaching for 37 years, the final 21 in Du Quoin District 300 in Perry County, she served IJEA in many capacities, including president from 2006 to 2016. Her dedication to scholastic journalism was second to none. Read on for tributes to this wonderful educator.

When schools take free speech seriously, so do students

By Randy Swikle, IJEA Board Member • October 23, 2015

That's what Randy Swikle learned during his 25 years at Johnsburg High School. Sure, free speech is risky, but when a school builds a culture of trust, students show time and again that they'll live up to the responsibilities they're given.

Who better to celebrate Free Speech Week than journalism teachers and advisers?

By Sally Renaud, IJEA Executive Director • October 21, 2015

Thanks to their time in student media, many young people learn firsthand the true power of free expression: how to communicate with strength, passion and logical rigor.

Lessons from ASNE, a summer program that left an impact

By Dave Porreca, IJEA Website Editor • September 4, 2015

After 15 years, the ASNE Reynolds High School Journalism Institute has come to an end, but not before helping more than 2,340 teachers — including 101 from Illinois — become better educators and advisers.

Remembering Georgia Stohr: A tribute from her students

By Stephanie Bias, LaSalle-Peru High School • June 16, 2015

When LaSalle-Peru yearbook adviser Georgia Stohr died in late May from cancer, her students grieved, but they also did what Stohr would have insisted on — they soldiered through the remainder of their school year. Now they pay tribute to their beloved teacher.

What would Queen Latifah do? Advice for the next generation of journalists

By Carla Jimenez • June 10, 2015

One of the highlights of Saturday's IJEA awards luncheon was the inspiring speech by Carla Jimenez. Read on to find out what Queen Latifah has to do with great journalism!

Visit our new gallery of Illinois student publications!

By Dave Porreca, IJEA Website Editor • May 22, 2015

With links to more than 120 high school publications from around the state, our gallery is the go-to place to see the work of Illinois student journalists. Is your publication not in the gallery? Send us your links — we want to include you!

Encouraging words: Reasons to be optimistic going into Friday’s IHSA state journalism final!

By Dave Porreca, IJEA Website Editor • April 29, 2015

Even if your school is small or you didn’t win your sectional, IHSA history says you have ample grounds to be positive!