• 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
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...

IHSA reminder: Feb. 1 is the deadline to sign up for the 2017 tournament

IHSA reminder: Feb. 1 is the deadline to sign up for the 2017 tournament

January 30, 2017
Does your school intend to compete in this year's IHSA journalism tournament? If so, the deadline to enter your school into the competition is Wednesday, Feb. 1. Read on for more information about signing up for the 2017 tourney.
In memoriam: Laurie Bielong, 2013 IJEA Educator of the Year, longtime adviser and advocate of scholastic journalism

In memoriam: Laurie Bielong, 2013 IJEA Educator of the Year, longtime adviser and advocate of scholastic journalism

January 10, 2017
The dynamic teacher and adviser who led award-winning journalism programs and inspired fellow educators died Jan. 7. For those who didn't get a chance to know Laurie, the video of her IJEA Educator of the Year acceptance speech (check inside) will give you a sense of both her playfulness and dedication.
The team from Homewood-Flossmoor High School took home first in state at the annual IHSA Journalism State tournament held at Eastern Illinois University on April 29.

IHSA State in Review: Celebrating Scholastic Journalism

By Amanda Bright, IJEA Co-Secretary and Region 5 Board Member • April 30, 2016

With another state tournament in the books, attendees and participants noted that both the number of students and schools, as well as the quality of entires in this year's IHSA Journalism competition,...

IHSA Journalism State is almost here!

IHSA Journalism State is almost here!

By Amanda Bright, IJEA Co-Secretary and Region 5 Board Member • April 26, 2016

More than 350 Illinois high school journalists will be traveling to Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, Ill., on April 29 to compete at the highest level -- IHSA Journalism State. With 86 schools...

Student journalists compete at IHSA Sectionals

Student journalists compete at IHSA Sectionals

By Amanda Bright, IJEA Co-Secretary and Region 5 Board Member • April 23, 2016

Beautiful spring weather only enhanced the performances of student journalists at seven sites across Illinois during the IHSA Sectional competition on April 23. One team from each site took home the...

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!

Video: Watch Janet Levin’s acceptance speech for the 2015 James A. Tidwell Award

By Dave Porreca, IJEA Website Editor • May 4, 2015
The longtime Hersey High newspaper adviser was honored May 1 at the IHSA state final, and she had some insights and advice for her peers.
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.
Members of the Mattoon High School journalism team await the start of last week's IHSA sectional at Illinois State University in Normal. Mattoon students qualified for seven events in Friday's state final at Eastern Illinois University.

Encouraging words: Reasons to be optimistic going into Friday’s IHSA state journalism final!

By Dave Porreca, IJEA Website Editor • April 29, 2015
Even if your school is small or you didn’t win your sectional, IHSA history says you have ample grounds to be positive!
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.

Congratulations, IHSA state qualifiers and sectional champs!

By Dave Porreca, IJEA Website Editor • April 25, 2015
Qualifiers in 17 events were chosen April 25 at seven sectional sites for the IHSA journalism state final, which takes place May 1 in Charleston.
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