Our 2025 Newspaper & Digital News Media Contest is now open for entries! Advisers, we want to recognize your students' great work! Deadline is March 15.
Congratulations to IJEA Executive Director Linda Jones on receiving the national JEA's Lifetime Achievement Award! She will be 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

“NSPA Live from Minneapolis”: Illinois students honored at virtual ceremony

Dave Porreca, CJE, Illinois JEA Board Member • April 19, 2020

Even though the 2020 Spring National High School Journalism Conference was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Illinois student journalists nonetheless received national recognition for their work thanks to a virtual ceremony held April 17. Congratulations to all!

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: In praise of journalism conferences and conventions

Brenda Field, MJE, Illinois State Director, JEA • November 21, 2016

Brenda Field attended her first JEA/NSPA convention in 1996. More than 30 conventions later, she's still attending — and still learning! Whether you go with or without students, conventions will always leave you feeling inspired, refreshed and renewed.

3 Illinois schools take home Pacemakers

By Amanda Bright, IJEA Co-Secretary and Region 5 Board Member • April 16, 2016

Student journalists from Illinois made the state proud as this year's Pacemaker awards were announced in Los Angeles. The Land of Lincoln was represented among the winners with a Yearbook Pacemaker...

Illinois publications, students win NSPA awards at Orlando convention

By Dave Porreca, IJEA Website Editor • November 18, 2015

With one Newspaper Pacemaker, four Best of Shows and five Individual Awards, Illinois was well represented in the winners circle at the 2015 JEA/NSPA Fall National High School Journalism 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.

Four Illinois newspapers named NSPA Pacemakers

December 1, 2014

Four Illinois student newspapers have been named Pacemakers by the National Scholastic Press Association. They are: • The Advocate, Washington Community High School, Haley Willis, editor, Jennifer...

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.

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