Illinois Journalism Education Association

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!

Former colleagues, students mourn passing of Rodney Lowe

Linda Jones, IJEA Executive Director • August 29, 2020

The retired educator died Aug. 25. During his three decades of teaching and advising at Evanston Township High School, Rodney Lowe built a widely admired journalism program but more importantly influenced generations of students with his dedication to excellence and the rights student journalists.

Remembering Bill Colosimo

John J. Gonczy, CJE, Illinois JEA President • June 10, 2020

One of IJEA's founding members, William Colosimo, died on May 29 at the age of 81. He taught English and journalism at Addison Trail for three decades, retiring in 2003. As adviser of the school newspaper, the Torch, Bill was the consummate advocate for his students and for scholastic journalism.

We’re looking for a new home

October 9, 2018

After enjoying Eastern Illinois University's hospitality for the past 30 years, the IJEA is looking for a new home and a new executive director. If your university or college is interested in being the site of IJEA's new headquarters, check inside for more information.

IJEA Blog: Don’t stay on your island alone — help us get ready for JEA/NSPA Chicago ’18

Brenda Field, MJE, Illinois State Director, JEA • October 24, 2017

Hall of Famer Brenda Field is the local chair for the JEA/NSPA Fall Convention scheduled for Chicago in 2018. It's not too late to get involved, she says — and what you put in now will pay dividends throughout your career.

IJEA Blog: It’s OK to cheat! Use this to ID your deserving All-State Journalism Team member(s)

By Amanda Bright, IJEA Co-Secretary and Region 5 Board Member • February 27, 2017

Did that just say "Cheat"? Is that legal if I'm a teacher and adviser? Turns out, it is — especially if it's rewarding the most driven and passionate students in your newsroom with the honor of being on the IJEA All-State Journalism Team for 2017.

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.

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 Blog: Enemy of the American people? Scholastic Journalism Week gives students a chance to prove the opposite

Stan Zoller, MJE, IJEA Board Member • February 20, 2017

Never before have the media and the First Amendment come under such ridicule and hatred by a sitting president. During Scholastic Journalism Week — Feb. 19 to 25 — scholastic media outlets should encourage their audiences to become civically engaged and contact lawmakers on both sides of the aisle to let them know that an assault on the First Amendment is not only an attack on professional journalists but on the nation’s students as well.

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!

Congratulations to Katie Comeford, a JEA Rising Star!

January 30, 2017

The Journalism Education Association has selected 10 scholastic media advisers to receive its 2017 Rising Star Award, and the winners include IJEA board member Katie Comeford, yearbook and digital news media adviser at Phoenix Military Academy in Chicago. Congratulations, Katie!