• 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
IJEA Blog: Reflections on winning the James A. Tidwell Award

IJEA Blog: Reflections on winning the James A. Tidwell Award

Mike Doyle, CJE, Former IJEA Board Member • February 21, 2017
The IJEA's annual James A. Tidwell Award recognizes our state's top journalism educators. With the March 1 deadline for 2017 nominations quickly approaching, we asked a recent Tidwell honoree, Mike Doyle, to discuss what winning the award has meant to him. "It means that every day I know I made a difference in the lives of so many students and that I was able to teach the values of fairness, ethics and integrity to so many of them," he writes.
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!
National JEA honors three IJEA members

National JEA honors three IJEA members

By Dave Porreca, IJEA Website Editor • August 28, 2015
Retired advisers Deb Buttleman Malcolm and Tom Winski have won Lifetime Achievement awards, and Phoenix Military Academy adviser Katie Comeford has earned a Future Teacher Scholarship. Check out the details inside.
Kristen DiGiorgio works with senior John Gordon in her journalism class at Bradley-Bourbonnais Community High School. The first-year adviser recently won an award of $1,000 from the 1 For All First Amendment Challenge for her innovative instructional unit on media law and ethics.

Innovation pays off for first-year adviser Kristen DiGiorgio

By Dave Porreca, IJEA Website Editor • May 27, 2015
The Bradley-Bourbonnais teacher (and IJEA member) was a national winner in the 1 For All First Amendment Challenge, which recognized inventive approaches to teaching the five foundational freedoms of American democracy.

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.
Illinois publications, student journalists win honors at JEA/NSPA spring convention

Illinois publications, student journalists win honors at JEA/NSPA spring convention

By Dave Porreca, IJEA Website Editor • April 22, 2015
In a strong showing at the 2015 Spring National High School Journalism Convention, Illinois students and advisers brought home Pacemakers, Best of Show honors and Write-Off awards.
Janet Levin, who has advised The Correspondent newspaper at John Hersey High School in Arlington Heights for 30 years, receives the news that she has won the IJEA's highest honor for a journalism educator: the James A Tidwell Award.

Hersey adviser Janet Levin receives honor

By Amanda Bright, IJEA Board Member • April 17, 2015
The long-time journalism educator has earned the 2015 James A. Tidwell Award for Excellence in Scholastic Media Education.
IJEA's Stan Zoller selected for NSPA's top honor to journalism educators

IJEA’s Stan Zoller selected for NSPA’s top honor to journalism educators

September 29, 2014
The former Rolling Meadows adviser and tireless scholastic journalism advocate will receive the Pioneer Award in November at the JEA/NSPA Fall National Convention.

Mike Doyle: Lifetime Achievement Award recipient

August 26, 2014
The newly retired Belvidere North adviser is one of 13 to be recognized with a 2014 JEA Lifetime Achievement Award.

Video: Mike Doyle reflects on career as he accepts 2014 James A. Tidwell Award

May 16, 2014
The Belvidere fixture is retiring after 15 years of working with high school journalists — and fittingly he's the recipient of IJEA's highest teaching award .

Video: Top 10 great things about advising from Educator of the Year Laurie Bielong

April 29, 2013

CHARLESTON — Belleville West newspaper adviser Laurie Bielong, along with sound effects, gave a fantastic acceptance speech for the 2013 Illinois Scholastic Journalism Educator of the Year award at the...

Bielong named Illinois Scholastic Journalism Educator of the Year

April 11, 2013

Laurie Bielong, longtime adviser of the Hy News at Belleville West, was surprised Wednesday, April 10, at a faculty meeting by being named IJEA's 2013 Illinois Scholastic Journalism Educator of the Year. Carol...

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IJEA Member Recognition