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  • The postmark deadline has passed for the 2024 IJEA Yearbook Contest! Books were to be mailed and entry forms submitted by Oct. 15. Please contact us if you ran into any problems or have questions!
  • 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! Now let's get ready for contest season!
  • High school seniors! Get your portfolios ready for the 2025 Illinois Journalist of the Year Contest! Entries will be due Feb. 15.
  • 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

Abigail "Abbe" Murphy was named the 2017 Illinois Journalist of the Year by IJEA. Runner-up was Marissa Martinez of University of Chicago Laboratory High School.

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: Becoming a CJE is well worth the effort

IJEA Blog: Becoming a CJE is well worth the effort

Trudy Hurd, CJE, Retired Journalism Educator October 10, 2016
A decade ago, Trudy Hurd put in the hard work to pass JEA's Certified Journalism Educator exam. The now-retired yearbook adviser explains why all advisers should embark on the journey to becoming certified.
Become a Certified or Master Journalism Educator at the 2016 IJEA Fall Conference

Become a Certified or Master Journalism Educator at the 2016 IJEA Fall Conference

By Amanda Bright, IJEA Co-Secretary and Region 5 Board Member June 11, 2016

For the second year, the Journalism Education Association will be offering the exam to become a Certified Journalism Educator or a Master Journalism Educator at the 2016 Fall Conference (Friday, Sept....

JEA Write-Offs recognize 10 students from Illinois

JEA Write-Offs recognize 10 students from Illinois

By Amanda Bright, IJEA Co-Secretary and Region 5 Board Member April 17, 2016

Ten journalists from Illinois made the trip back from California with JEA Write-Off honors. Congratulations and kudos forĀ amazing performances against other students from across the nation (1,268 participants,...

Hannah Boufford, IJEA's 2016 Illinois Journalist of the Year, and her adviser, Michael Gluskin, received the good news about the award Tuesday, March 1, when IJEA board members Brenda Field and Stan Zoller visited Libertyville H.S. to make the announcement in person. Boufford is IJEA's 27th Journalist of the Year since 1989. She now advances to the national competition, with the winner to be announced in mid-April at the JEA/NSPA Spring National High School Journalism Convention in Los Angeles.

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!
Students from only five other states earned more JEA Write-off awards than Illinois student journalists did at last week's JEA/NSPA  Convention in Orlando, Fla. (Creative Commons photo)

Illinois students take home sixth-largest number of awards at Fall 2015 JEA Write-offs

By Dave Porreca, IJEA Website Editor November 18, 2015
There's probably no type of contest that better simulates the deadline conditions of real journalism than a write-off competition. No wonder the JEA Write-offs in Orlando attracted more than 2,000 participants. And Illinois students were right in the thick of things.
JEA Write-off contests are always one of the highlights of JEA/NSPA Conventions. Next month's Orlando convention will be no exception, so register for the Write-offs before Wednesday's 6 p.m. CST deadline.

Don’t let your students miss out! Orlando JEA Write-off registration deadline is Oct. 21

October 20, 2015
Part of the fun of attending a JEA/NSPA Convention is giving your students the opportunity to compete against their peers in JEA Write-off contests. So be sure to sign up!
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.
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.

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.
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