                                                                                                         IJEA HISTORY

      In the mid-1980s, a group of like-minded high school advisers in Illinois, who had been meeting informally at Journalism Education Association national conventions and state regional conventions for years, sometimes under the name of the Illinois Association of Teachers of Journalism, began putting together the foundation for what would become a statewide group organized using the guidelines of JEA. It was not easy. Illinois is a big state with regional distinctions, but a dedicated group met throughout 1986 and 1987 to develop what would become IJEA.

     In those early meetings, there was concern that regional groups would not want to take part in a statewide group, but handwritten notes on hotel notepads tell the story of a dedicated group of advisers who wanted to strengthen Illinois scholastic journalism. They wanted cohesiveness and help, both practical and legal, for their fellow advisers. They wanted state unity - achieved through a state directory and a newsletter, recognition - achieved through awards, and professional development - achieved through workshops and retreats.

    Some of those advisers included William Colosimo, Addison Trail; Jeff Currie, Oak Park; Melinda Foys, Conant; Barbara Fuson, Stephen Decatur; Susan Hathaway, Wheeling; Sheryl Hinman, Galesburg; Randy Swikle, Johnsburg; and Tom Winski, Monmouth. Representatives from university journalism programs were involved, too, including Richard Stegeman, the University of Illinois, and James Tidwell, Eastern Illinois University - and others offered support.

   The advisers, with Winski as their leader, named their new group the Illinois Journalism Education Association with a structure of six regions, each with two elected directors to serve as the governing board, and a state director. Bylaws echoing those of the JEA were constructed.

    IJEA was incorporated on Aug. 18, 1988.