The Illinois Journalism Education Association’s new institutional home is the Medill School of Journalism, Media, and Integrated Marketing Communications, according to a news release issued on Thursday.
According to the press release, IJEA is a non-profit organisation that collaborates with Illinois teachers and advisers to “promote high standards in scholastic media.” At Medill, IJEA will continue to organise the IJEA Fall Conference, run several student contests, and select the IJEA All-State Journalism Team.
“IJEA’s board is delighted to enter into this partnership with Medill and looks forward to continuing our important work with Illinois student journalists, their teachers, and advisers,” IJEA Executive Director Linda Jones (MSJ ’85) said in a statement.
After leaving Eastern Illinois University, the association moved to the Illinois Press Foundation in Springfield.
Katie Fernandez, Senior Program Coordinator at Medill Teach for Chicago Journalism, will become the new executive director of the IJEA in the autumn of 2025.
“We are excited to take on this role and work closely with the dedicated board, students, and advisers who are members of this storied organisation,” Medill Dean Charles Whitaker said in a statement. “We look forward to continuing to strengthen and grow scholastic journalism and publishing here in Illinois.”
