Reasons to Join IJEA
Why Join the Illinois Journalism Education Association?
We can think of lots of good reasons to join IJEA, but let’s stick to an even dozen. For just $25 per year, your IJEA membership allows you to do the following:
- Be part of an organization that 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!
- Enter your students’ work in our annual Yearbook Contest.
- Enter your students’ work in our annual Newspaper & Digital News Media Contest.
- Nominate your top senior for Illinois Journalist of the Year and our $300 prize.
- Nominate your MVPs for our All-State Journalism Team.
- Apply for or nominate others for our annual top scholastic media educator award.
- Nominate administrators and friends of scholastic journalism for recognition.
- Receive email updates on the latest news in Illinois and national scholastic journalism.
- Receive mentorship from our experienced advisers.
- Support our fall conference at Illinois State University — each year our conference energizes students and advisers with expert breakout sessions, hands-on learning opportunities and an inspiring keynote address.
- Support our state tournament partnership with IHSA — since the 2005-06 school year we’ve worked with IHSA to put on a statewide journalism tournament that begins with sectionals and culminates in a state final that crowns individual and team champions.
- Enjoy the backing and fellowship of a statewide organization devoted to scholastic journalism — you’re not alone out there! With IJEA, you have likeminded women and men around the state ready to assist you when you need help and eager to celebrate with you when your students produce great work.
2026-27 Membership (with Lifetime Option)
Advisers have the option to join IJEA as annual ($25) or lifetime ($250) members. Annual memberships take effect on July 1 of each year and expire at the end of June 30 the following year. Advisers may use an online form or a fillable PDF form to join at any time during the membership year.
To join for 2026-27:
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Click here to access our 2026-27 online membership form
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Click here to download our 2026-27 fillable PDF membership form
If you choose the fillable PDF option, you can send it via email or postal mail. To submit via email, attach the completed PDF to a message titled “IJEA Membership Form” and send it to [email protected]. If you would prefer to mail in a hard copy of the form, please follow the mailing instructions included in the PDF.
Membership and IJEA Contests
IJEA membership is required for participation in our contests. Our 2026-27 student competitions consist of:
• 2026 IJEA Yearbook Contest (postmark deadline of Oct. 15, 2026, for submission of 2025-26 books)
• 2027 Illinois Journalist of the Year (online entry deadline of Feb. 15, 2027)
• 2027 IJEA Newspaper & Digital News Media Contest (online entry deadline of March 15, 2027)
• 2027 All-State Journalism Team (online nomination deadline of March 30, 2027)
In addition, on-site writing competitions will be offered at our 2026 Fall Conference on Oct. 9 at Illinois State University.
IJEA’s Partnership with the IHSA
Our partnership with the IHSA in the annual staging of the IHSA journalism tournament is an excellent example of how IJEA works on behalf of Illinois journalism students and advisers.
IJEA leaders were instrumental in creating the tournament, which launched in April 2006. Since then, IJEA members have continued to be closely involved in the competition. From 2006 to 2018, then-IJEA executive director Dr. Sally Renaud managed the state final at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston. IJEA members continue to manage or co-manage sectional sites.
Over the years, the IHSA tournament has become a fixture of Illinois high school journalism. For the story of how IJEA worked with IHSA to create the tournament, click here.