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  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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

Welcome, New IJEA Members!

2025-26 IJEA MEMBERSHIP FORM


GREETINGS! Thank you for joining the Illinois Journalism Education Association! We are delighted to welcome you into our community of advisers and teachers.

WE ADVOCATE FOR YOU! We are proud of our organization, which led the charge for an Illinois student media bill, signed into law in July 2016, that significantly strengthened protections for student journalists and their advisers. We advocate for you — and for your students!

TWO WAYS TO JOIN IJEA: 1. Fill out and submit this online form. OR: 2. Fill out and submit via email or postal mail our fillable PDF membership form. You can find our fillable PDF form here. To submit the PDF via email, attach it to a message titled "2025-26 IJEA Membership" and send it to [email protected]. If you would prefer to mail in a hard copy of the form, the mailing instructions are included in the PDF.

HOW TO PAY FOR YOUR MEMBERSHIP: Mail us a check. We are not yet accepting online payments, so please pay by check regardless of whether you submit our online membership form or our PDF form.

WHEN SUBMITTING YOUR PAYMENT: Please make your check payable to "Illinois Journalism Education Association." Mail your check to: Susan Bookless, IJEA Treasurer, 11420 West Chetlain Lane, Galena, IL 61036

A NOTE ABOUT MEMBERSHIP: Once we receive your payment, you and your students will be eligible for the full benefits of IJEA membership. All 2025-26 single-year IJEA memberships are effective from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026.

IF YOU USE THIS FORM: Asterisks in the form below indicate fields in which a response is required.


"*" indicates required fields

Section 1: Information for IJEA Membership

Name*
NOTE: Asterisk indicates field in which response is required.


Home address*

NOTE: Enter your preferred address (personal or work).


NOTE: Enter your preferred number (cell, office or home).


NOTE: Enter "N/A" if this doesn't apply to you.


School, business or organization address
NOTE: Enter "N/A" in the "Street Address" field if this doesn't apply to you.


To which address should we mail IJEA publications?*

IJEA region in which your school Is located*


Student media you advise (check all that apply)*

NOTE: Enter "N/A" if this doesn't apply to you.


NOTE: Enter "N/A" if this doesn't apply to you.


NOTE: Enter "N/A" if this doesn't apply to you.


What is your JEA certification?*

Would you be interested in assisting IJEA in an elected or appointed position?*

Type of IJEA membership (choose only one)*

Are you joining IJEA for the first time, or are you renewing, rejoining or upgrading?*


Section 2: Information for National JEA Membership (Optional)

JEA OPTION: You have the option of using this form to join national JEA. To do so, select your JEA membership directly below and include the JEA membership fee in your payment to IJEA. As a bonus, IJEA receives $5 back from the national organization.

If you have selected the JEA option: Are you joining national JEA for the first time, or are you renewing, rejoining or upgrading?

If you have selected the JEA option: Do you want to join or continue with the JEA Members Listserv?

Ethnicity (optional)


Section 3: Payment


MAKE CHECK PAYABLE TO: Illinois Journalism Education Association.

MAIL PAYMENT TO: Susan Bookless, IJEA Treasurer, 11420 West Chetlain Lane, Galena, IL 61036

HIT "SUBMIT": Submit this form after you have entered your total amount owed. Mail your check separately to the above address.

CONFIRMATION MESSAGE: After you hit the "Submit" button, your screen will display a message confirming that your form was successfully submitted. If you don't see the confirmation message, please let us know by contacting us at [email protected]. Thank you again for joining IJEA!

REMINDER: Your membership will take effect only when we receive your payment.


This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

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Welcome, New IJEA Members!