• 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.
  • High school seniors! Get your portfolios ready for the 2025 Illinois Journalist of the Year Contest! Entries will be due Feb. 15.
  • The winners of the 2024 IJEA Yearbook Contest have been announced! Check out our article below for the full listing of honorees!
  • 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!
  • 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
Sam Bull interviews Mary Beth Tinker

Downers Grove North student named 2021 Illinois Journalist of the Year

John J. Gonczy, CJE, IJEA President • March 1, 2021
Sam Bull, a senior at Downers Grove North H.S., has been named the 2021 Illinois Journalist of the Year. He is IJEA’s 32nd Journalist of the Year, and he will now compete for national honors against the top high school journalists from other states. Congratulations to Sam and his adviser, Elizabeth Levin!
The 2017 IJEA Yearbook Contest General Excellence Winners (top to bottom; left to right): West Prairie High School (Division 1), Taylorville High School (Division 4), Meridian High School (Division 2), McHenry High School (Division 5), Glenbrook South High School (Division 6), Richmond-Burton High School (Division 3)

Congratulations, 2017 IJEA Yearbook Contest winners!

By Amanda Bright, IJEA Co-Secretary and At-Large Board Member • January 10, 2018
Whether it was copy writing, sports coverage, photography, graphics, layout and design, divider pages, theme development or overall coverage of the 2016-17 school year, Illinois high school journalists shined in IJEA's 2017 Yearbook Contest. Check out the complete results inside.
Adviser Steve Steele, left, and his Taylorville journalism students display their IHSA sectional team championship plaque after tying Urbana University High for first place at the Normal Illinois State University sectional in 2015. Students will compete at seven other sectional locations for the chance to qualify for the IHSA state final at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston for 2016.

Start preparing for IHSA Journalism Sectionals

By Amanda Bright, IJEA Co-Secretary and Region 5 Board Member • April 20, 2017

Illinois student journalists with striking skills in photography, strong creativity in yearbook theme development, and solid sports writing chops will travel to seven different sectional sites on April...

The five division winners of the 2016 IJEA Yearbook Contest include, top to bottom, left to right, University of Chicago Laboratory High School, Glenbrook South High School, and Richmond-Burton Community High School, Brown County High School and Calhoun High School. Congratulations!

Congratulations, 2016 IJEA Yearbook Contest winners!

By Amanda Bright, IJEA Co-Secretary and Region 5 Board Member • January 5, 2017
Whether it was copy writing, sports coverage, photography, graphics, layout and design, divider pages, theme development or overall coverage of the 2015-16 school year, Illinois high school journalists shined in IJEA's 2016 Yearbook Contest. Check out the complete results inside.
IJEA announces 2016 Newspaper and Digital News Media Contest Winners

IJEA announces 2016 Newspaper and Digital News Media Contest Winners

By Amanda Bright, IJEA Co-Secretary and Region 5 Board Member • May 12, 2016

In an effort to adapt to the changing scholastic newsrooms in Illinois and expand the possibilities for students to receive both feedback and encouragement, the Illinois Journalism Education Association...

The staff of the Glenbrook South High School Yearbook enjoys its 2016 Pacemaker while in Los Angeles for the JEA/NSPA Convention.

3 Illinois schools take home Pacemakers

By Amanda Bright, IJEA Co-Secretary and Region 5 Board Member • April 16, 2016

Student journalists from Illinois made the state proud as this year's Pacemaker awards were announced in Los Angeles. The Land of Lincoln was represented among the winners with a Yearbook Pacemaker...

The 2015 IJEA winners for Best Overall Yearbook in each enrollment division are shown here. Back row from left: Taylorville (Division 4); University of Chicago Laboratory High School (Division 3); Okawville High School (Division 1). Front row from left: Meridian High School (Division 2); Glenbrook South High School (Division 5). Congratulations to all who competed!

Congratulations, 2015 IJEA Yearbook Contest winners!

By Dave Porreca, IJEA Website Editor • January 6, 2016
Whether it was copy writing, sports coverage, photography, graphics, layout and design, divider pages, theme development or overall coverage of the 2014-15 school year, Illinois high school journalists shined in IJEA's 2015 Yearbook Contest. Check out the complete results inside.

Video: Here’s what’s so great about the IJEA All-State Journalism Team. Now go for it!

By Dave Porreca, IJEA Website Editor • September 14, 2015
Michael Geheren, a member of the IJEA All-State Journalism Team in 2012 and 2013, talks about why students should enter the competition and why advisers should nominate their MVPs.
IHSA approves changes to state journalism tournament

IHSA approves changes to state journalism tournament

By Dave Porreca, IJEA Website Editor • September 2, 2015
The biggest change concerns photography, but five other events were also revised. It's never too early to prepare for the spring tournament, so read on!
This photo by Ivan Cervantes of Chicago's Phoenix Military Academy won first place for best photograph in the Division 1 category of our newspaper contest this year. Check out the coverage below not only for the names of all our winners but also for links to all the first-place entries in the categories of features, blogging, headlines, photos, infographics and websites.

Print, online winners announced in IJEA’s 2014-15 Newspaper Contest

By Dave Porreca, IJEA Website Editor • May 9, 2015
Student news publications from around the state competed in our annual newspaper contest. Check out the winners, like this photo from Phoenix Military Academy of Chicago.
Meet our new All-State Team!

Meet our new All-State Team!

By Dave Porreca, IJEA Website Editor • May 5, 2015
Whether they're editing copy, writing headlines, designing pages or otherwise saving the day behind the scenes, these nine students make sure their school publications deliver excellence in journalism.
Adviser Rodney Lowe (back row, fourth from right) and his Evanston Township students enjoy victory at the IHSA journalism state final Friday in Charleston.

Evanston Township wins IHSA title as state journalism tournament celebrates 10th year

By Dave Porreca, IJEA Website Editor • May 2, 2015
The Eastern Illinois University campus was buzzing with high school journalists May 1 as the best in the state competed for individual medals and team trophies.
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