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  • Our 2025 Newspaper & Digital News Media Contest is now open for entries! Advisers, we want to recognize your students' great work! Deadline is March 15.
  • Congratulations to IJEA Executive Director Linda Jones on receiving the national JEA's Lifetime Achievement Award! She will be 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

Advisers gather together after a luncheon at the 2017 IJEA Fall Conference.

Holley-Bruns, Doerner receive IJEA honors for their service

By Amanda C. Bright, Co-Secretary and At-Large Board Member September 18, 2017

For one, it was her final year directing the IJEA Fall Conference at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. For the other, it was a lifetime of service as past president of the Illinois Journalism...

From left, the IHSA's Matt Troha, Tidwell award recipient Cathy Wall, IJEA President Sarah Doerner, and former SISPA leader and journalism adviser Herman Albers celebrate after Wall's acceptance speech.

Know of a deserving colleague? Deadlines are drawing near for IJEA educator and friend awards

Dr. Sally Renaud, IJEA Executive Director February 21, 2017
Although we love to honor student journalists, we also strive to recognize their elders — the teachers, advisers, administrators and friends who make outstanding scholastic journalism possible with their guidance and support. Do you know of deserving candidates? Submit your nominations — or your own applications — today!

IJEA honors Linda Jones as 2016 Friend of Scholastic Journalism

By Amanda Bright, IJEA Co-Secretary and Region 5 Board Member September 29, 2016

In accepting the Friend of Scholastic Journalism award, Linda Jones spoke of everyone -- except herself. From the McCormick Foundation to the Scholastic Press Association of Chicago advisers, Jones...

Video: Press on! Film critic Dann Gire honored as 2013 Friend of Scholastic Journalism

September 15, 2013

URBANA — Dann Gire, film critic for the Daily Herald in Arlington Heights, was named the 2013 Friend of Scholastic Journalism by the IJEA Sept. 13 at the Colonial Room of the Illini Union on the campus...

Karen Waldron honored as Friend of Scholastic Journalism

September 24, 2012

Karen Waldron, longtime administrative aide at Southern Illinois University Carbondale and SISPA and IHSA coordinator, was honored Friday, Sept. 14, 2012, as IJEA's Friend of Scholastic Journalism. Waldron,...

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Friend of Scholastic Journalism