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  • We are delighted to announce IJEA's new partnership with Northwestern University's Medill School! We are now headquartered at Medill, and our new executive director is Katie Fernandez, CJE, senior program coordinator of Medill's Teach for Chicago Journalism program. Thank you, Medill, for your support of high school journalism!
  • Journalism educators! Join IJEA today! Annual memberships for 2025-26 and lifetime memberships are available. Use our online form or fillable PDF to join!
  • Yearbook advisers! We are now accepting entries for the 2025 IJEA Yearbook Contest! The postmark deadline is Oct. 15, 2025, for books that cover 2024-25 school year.
  • Congratulations to IJEA member schools Huntley H.S. and Prospect H.S. on co-winning the IHSA journalism state title! The schools tied for 1st place at the IHSA finals April 25 in Normal.
  • Congratulations to IJEA Executive Director Linda Jones on receiving the national JEA's Lifetime Achievement Award! She was honored at the 2025 Spring JEA/NSPA National High School Journalism Convention in Seattle.
  • Congratulations to IJEA member Leslie Fireman, journalism adviser at West Chicago High School, on winning the national JEA's Rising Star Award! She was honored at the 2024 Fall JEA/NSPA National High School Journalism Convention in Philadelphia.
  • Congratulations to IJEA Hall of Fame member Stan Zoller, MJE, on being the inaugural winner of the National JEA's Candace and John Bowen Adviser First Amendment Leadership Award! He was honored at the 2024 Fall JEA/NSPA National High School Journalism Convention in Philadelphia.
Illinois Journalism Education Association, Medill School, Northwestern University, 1845 Sheridan Road, Evanston, IL 60208-2101

Illinois JEA

Illinois Journalism Education Association, Medill School, Northwestern University, 1845 Sheridan Road, Evanston, IL 60208-2101

Illinois JEA

Illinois Journalism Education Association, Medill School, Northwestern University, 1845 Sheridan Road, Evanston, IL 60208-2101

Illinois JEA

2025 Fall Conference



Friday, Oct. 3, 2025

8:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

State Farm Hall of Business
Illinois State University
410 S. University St.
Normal, IL 61761
2025 IJEA Fall Conference Registration Form
2025 Conference Program
(This link will be added later in the summer)

We are delighted to announce that our 2025 Fall Conference will once again be held on the campus of Illinois State University. Sessions will take place at the State Farm Hall of Business, a short walk from Fell Hall, home of ISU’s School of Communication and the student-run FM station WZND and TV-10 News.

This will be the third year in which ISU has hosted the conference.

We are honored to announce Carol Marin, Political Editor at NBC5 Chicago and the Director of DePaul University’s Center for Journalism Integrity and Excellence as the our keynote speaker for the fall conference.

Marin is one of the nation’s most respected voices in journalism with a career spanning CBS News, 60 Minutes, and Chicago’s leading newsrooms. She has dedicated her work to uncovering truth, exposing corruption, and holding power accountable. Her reporting has earned multiple Peabody, duPont-Columbia, and Emmy awards, reflecting her unwavering commitment to integrity in journalism.

Marin will speak to students in the Brown Ballroom on Illinois State University’s campus at noon.

Students will also have the opportunity to compete in our popular onsite write-off competitions.

State Farm Hall of Business is located at 410 S. University St. in Normal, on the west end of the quad.


2025 Fees, Registration & Parking Info


Adviser Fee: $20 per school (schools with more than one adviser do NOT have to pay extra)

Student Fee: $10 per student

Registration: Please fill out and submit our 2025 IJEA Fall Conference Registration Form no later than Monday, Sept. 29.

Early Bird Deadline: Early bird registration lasts until Friday, Sept. 12. Register early to be eligible for swag drawings the day of the conference!

Parking: Vehicles may park in the South University Street Garage, 450 S. University St., Normal, located just south of the State Farm Hall of Business. Parking on the first level costs $1 per hour.

Payment: Checks are accepted at the registration table during check-in at the conference. Checks should be made out to Illinois Journalism Education Association.

Lunch: Please note that lunch will not be provided this year.  Students and advisers are encouraged to eat lunch after the conference concludes.


What You Can Expect


2025 Conference Schedule:

Session I 8:30 – 9:50 a.m.

IJEA Board Meeting – all advisers are encouraged to attend

Write-offs

Tours of ISU Student Media Outlets – all students who are not participating in the write-offs are encouraged to attend

Session II 10:00 a.m. – 10:50 a.m.

Session III 11:00 a.m. – 11:50 a.m.

Keynote Speaker, Brown Ballroom 12:00 – 12:50 p.m.

Session IV 1:00 p.m. – 1:50 p.m.

Sessions included tips and advice on:

• Broadcast journalism
• Print and online journalism
• Yearbook design and writing
• Digital reporting
• Journalism preparation for college


More Information


Questions about the conference? Please contact:

Katie Fernandez, Executive Director
Illinois Journalism Education Association
[email protected]


 

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2025 Fall Conference