York Community High School’s Kate Brody wins 2025 Illinois Journalist of the Year

Linda Jones, IJEA Executive Director, and Dave Porreca, IJEA Contest Committee Chair • March 31, 2025

Kate is IJEA’s 36th Journalist of the Year and the first from York Community High School! She has been an award-wining journalist at her school since her freshman year. The senior is co-editor-in-chief of the online news site This is York and the magazine York-hi. Kate will now compete for national honors against the top high school journalists from other states. Congrats, Kate!

Naperville Central’s Jake Pfeiffer wins 2024 Illinois Journalist of the Year

Dave Porreca, CJE, IJEA Contest Committee Chair • February 26, 2024

Jake Peiffer, editor-in-chief of the Central Times, has been named the 2024 Illinois Journalist of the Year. Jake is IJEA’s 35th Journalist of the Year and just the second from Naperville Central High School. Jake will now compete for national honors against the top high school journalists from other states. Congrats, Jake!

Edwardsville High School student Caspar Dowdy named 2023 Illinois Journalist of the Year

Dave Porreca, CJE, IJEA At-Large Board Member • March 5, 2023

Caspar Dowdy, a senior at Edwardsville High School, has been named the 2023 Illinois Journalist of the Year. Caspar is IJEA’s 34th Journalist of the Year and the first from Edwardsville High. Caspar will now compete for national honors against the top high school journalists from other states. Congrats to Caspar and EHS adviser Amanda Thrun!

Annual awards event recognizes All-State Team, Journalist of Year and former IJEA director

June 17, 2022

We honored our 2022 All-State Journalism Team, Illinois Journalist of the Year and IJOY runner-up as well as former IJEA Executive Director Dr. Sally Renaud on June 4 in Springfield. Thank you to the Illinois Press Foundation for making this event possible and to film critic Matt Fagerholm for serving as our keynote speaker. Congrats to all!

Prospect High School student named 2022 Illinois Journalist of the Year

March 3, 2022

Olivia Kim, a senior at Prospect High School, has been named the 2022 Illinois Journalist of the Year. She is IJEA’s 33rd Journalist of the Year, and she will now compete for national honors against the top high school journalists from other states. Congratulations to Olivia and her adviser, Jason Block!

Downers Grove North student named 2021 Illinois Journalist of the Year

John J. Gonczy, CJE, IJEA President • March 2, 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!

Meet our 2017 Illinois Journalist of the Year: Downers Grove North’s Abigail “Abbe” Murphy

By Amanda Bright, MJE, IJEA Co-Secretary and Region 5 Board Member • March 4, 2017

The editor-in-chief of the awarding-winning Omega newspaper of Downers Grove North High School is our choice for top high school journalist in Illinois. Check inside for more about Abbe and runner-up, Marissa Martinez!

IJEA Blog: The lasting lessons of a high school journalism education

Alexandria Johnson, 2011 Illinois Journalist of the Year • February 13, 2017

As the Feb. 15 deadline nears for entering the 2017 Illinois Journalist of the Year contest, former IJOY Alexandria Johnson offers her reflections on what scholastic journalism has meant to her. Alexandria says she's still using the lessons she learned from high school journalism to help others.

IJEA Blog: Seniors, here’s how to get ready for the upcoming Illinois Journalist of the Year contest

Brenda Field, MJE, Illinois State Director, JEA • January 30, 2017

Who will succeed Libertyville's Hannah Boufford as Illinois Journalist of the Year? JEA State Director Brenda Field has some advice for those seniors who plan to compete for the honor: Let your passion shine through!

IJEA Blog: Three life lessons from Room 216

Lauren Lawley Head, 1994 IJEA Journalist of the Year • December 5, 2016

More than 20 years after earning IJEA's top individual honor, former Illinois Journalist of the Year Lauren Lawley Head is still putting into practice the lessons she learned as a high school reporter and editor.

Meet the Winners: IJOYs and All-State Team honored at annual IPF/IJEA Luncheon

By Amanda Bright, IJEA Co-Secretary and Region 5 Board Member • June 6, 2016

Keynote speaker Jamey Dunn-Thomason noted that it was so good to see so many great student journalists. It gave her hope for the future of journalism. All of the advisers, parents, and student...

Meet our 2016 Illinois Journalist of the Year: Libertyville’s Hannah Boufford

By Dave Porreca, IJEA Website Editor • March 2, 2016

The editor-in-chief of the awarding-winning newsmagazine Drops of Ink is our choice for top high school journalist in Illinois. Check inside for more about Hannah and our two runners-up, Hope Johnson and Danielle Tuchman!