• The postmark deadline has passed for the 2024 IJEA Yearbook Contest! Books were to be mailed and entry forms submitted by Oct. 15. Please contact us if you ran into any problems or have questions!
  • 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! Now let's get ready for contest season!
  • High school seniors! Get your portfolios ready for the 2025 Illinois Journalist of the Year Contest! Entries will be due Feb. 15.
  • 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 All-State Journalism Team Nomination Form

ALL-STATE JOURNALISM TEAM NOMINATION FORM


THE AWARD: Each year since the spring of 2005, the Illinois Journalism Education Association has named an All-State Journalism Team, recognizing those students who have proven themselves indispensable to their respective school media (e.g., yearbook, print or online newspaper, print or online newsmagazine, broadcast or other student media). IJEA began the All-State Journalism Team as a way to recognize those students who are “most valuable players” — those MVPs whose leadership, energy, dedication and expertise make their publications possible but whose main contributions often occur behind the scenes.

ELIGIBILITY: All Illinois student journalists in grades 9-12 are eligible to be nominated by their advisers, who must be members of the Illinois Journalism Education Association. Nominations may not exceed two students per school. If two students are nominated from the same school, they must represent different publications or programs (e.g., yearbook and newspaper).

REQUIREMENTS: Students must be nominated by their adviser to be considered for selection to the All-State Team. The nominating adviser should show this form to the student if the student is not already familiar with the All-State selection process. The student should send all required Section 2 information and Section 3 materials to the adviser. The nominating adviser should then fill out the form and upload all supporting documents. When considering each candidate, the selection committee will consider the following items:

  • A nomination statement in which the adviser discusses why the student should be named to the IJEA All-State Journalism Team.
  • Three student work samples from the current school year.
  • A brief text document in which the student discusses the background and significance of each work sample.
  • An essay in which the student discusses her or his journalism activities during the current school year.
  • A color "headshot" photo of the student, to be posted on the IJEA website and in the IJEA newsletter if the student is selected.

PRESENTATION: All-State Team members are honored at the annual All-State Journalism banquet in June, held in Springfield in partnership with the Illinois Press Foundation. Each member of the All-State Journalism Team receives a plaque. All honorees, their parents and advisers are invited to the event.

PREVIOUS RECIPIENTS: Click these links to see our previous All-State Teams: 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005.

DEADLINE FOR 2025 NOMINEES: This form and all supporting material must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. Sunday, March 30, 2025.

NOTE: Asterisks indicate fields in which a response is required.


  • SECTION 1: INFORMATION ABOUT THE NOMINATING ADVISER

  • NOTE: List your preferred address — school or personal. This is how we will contact you if we have any questions.

  • NOTE: This is optional. Fill this out only if you think we would have trouble reaching you by email.

  • NOTE: List the names and types of all publications and other student media you advise — print, digital or broadcast.

  • NOTE: Use current IHSA figures if you are unsure. You can find those figures in the IHSA school directory.


  • SECTION 2: INFORMATION ABOUT THE NOMINATED STUDENT

  • NOTE: Students in any of the high school grades may be nominated.

  • NOTE: List preferred address. This is how we will contact the nominated student if we have any questions.

  • NOTE: This is optional. Fill this out only if we might have trouble reaching the nominated student by email.

  • NOTE: This is the publication for which the nominated student is MVP. "Publication" in this context includes any kind of school-sponsored student media — print, digital or broadcast. Please list the name and type of publication.

  • NOTE: Briefly describe what the nominated student does for the publication on a regular basis. This description does not have to go into detail. You will have the opportunity to provide a fuller account of the student in the "Supporting Documents" section below.

  • NOTE: List the names and types of all other publications to which the nominated student has contributed during the current school year. These other publications may include nonschool media, such as a local newspaper or an independent website. A response is required, so enter "N/A" if the student has not contributed to other publications.

  • NOTE: Briefly describe what the nominated student has done for other publications during the current school year. A response is required, so enter "N/A" if the student has not contributed to other publications.



  • SECTION 3: SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS

  • Accepted file types: doc, docx, rtf, txt, pdf, Max. file size: 15 MB.

    NOTE TO NOMINATING ADVISER: Please upload a brief text document (400 words maximum) explaining why you believe the nominated student should be selected as a member of the All-State Journalism Team. Please be as specific as possible. Limit yourself to what the student has done for your publication this year. In what ways has the student been essential to producing your publication? How does the student compare with the best student journalists you have worked with? Criteria to keep in mind when writing about your nominee include leadership ability, enthusiasm, dedication, command of journalistic skills (e.g., reporting, writing, copy editing, photography, design), ability to impart those skills to others (e.g., through coaching and/or maestro sessions), commitment to high ethical standards, commitment to fairness and accuracy, understanding of the responsibilities of journalists in society, ability to learn from mistakes, willingness to take controversial stands if the facts have been accurately and fairly documented, and the ability to inspire others by example. File size is limited to 10 MB.


  • Drop files here or
    Accepted file types: doc, docx, rtf, txt, pdf, Max. file size: 15 MB.

      NOTE TO NOMINATED STUDENT: Please send your adviser three samples of your journalistic work from the current school year. Your adviser will upload the samples here. The samples do not have to contain your byline as long as you can explain (in UPLOAD 3 below) your role in the production of each. For example, you might submit the PDF of a print page you designed or text documents containing the various versions of a story that you edited through several drafts. Upload size is limited to 10 MB per file.

      IF ANY OF THE WORK SAMPLES COME FROM A DIGITAL PUBLICATION: Please upload a text document containing the URL of each digital work sample as well as a brief explanation of what the judges will see when they arrive at each digital sample.


    • Accepted file types: doc, docx, rtf, txt, pdf, Max. file size: 15 MB.

      NOTE TO NOMINATED STUDENT: Please send your adviser a brief text document (250 words maximum) in which you discuss what is noteworthy about each of your submitted work samples. Your adviser will upload the document here. What is the background and significance of each piece? If a sample does not contain your byline, please explain your role in its production. File size is limited to 10 MB.


    • Accepted file types: doc, docx, rtf, txt, pdf, Max. file size: 15 MB.

      NOTE TO NOMINATED STUDENT: Please send your adviser a brief essay (400 words maximum) describing your journalism activities during the current school year. Your adviser will upload the essay here. Please be as specific as possible. What are your responsibilities? How many hours do you devote to journalism per week? What are you most proud of? What have you found most enjoyable about journalism this year? Most frustrating? What would you do differently if you had the chance? What motivates you to do journalism? What are your strengths as a journalist? Your weaknesses? In your view, what is good journalism? How well have you lived up to your own standards? File size is limited to 10 MB.


    • Accepted file types: jpg, png, Max. file size: 15 MB.

      NOTE TO NOMINATED STUDENT: Please send your adviser a color headshot of yourself. Your adviser will upload the photo here. The photo will be posted on the IJEA website and in the IJEA newsletter if you are selected to the All-State Team. File size is limited to 10 MB.


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    IJEA All-State Journalism Team Nomination Form