The Executive Board recently met to work on planning and ironing out some issues. We wanted to give you an update on what was discussed!
If you are not the journalism adviser, please let me know so we can update our records. It would also be appreciated if you could forward this to the yearbook/newspaper/website/
1. Contest deadlines
- Golden Dozen – this deadline has passed. However, we did want to let the entire membership know that we are NOT using the same judge as last year. I don’t think anyone was happy with the feedback or the way in which they conducted business, so the decision was made to change judges. If this impacts your decision to enter Golden Dozen this year, please let me know immediately at [email protected].
- Print Blue Banner – the deadline for PRINT Blue Banner is to be postmarked December 15. Last year, we had some postal service issues, so please email me to let me know to expect it at [email protected].
- Web Blue Banner – the deadline for the WEB Blue Banner is January 15. These entry forms are emailed directly to me at [email protected].
- Manion Rice Adviser of the Year Award – the award is for advisers. Ideally, we love nominations from students, but we would also accept nominations from other advisers as well! No deadline posted, but this is announced at Winter Conference.
2. Winter conference
- The theme for this year’s Winter Conference on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, is “Every Story Starts Here.” Shirts and hoodies will be available for order. More information on this as soon as it becomes available. Sami is working on the design, and we are planning a program to keep in line with the idea of storytelling.
- We are looking for local examples of current/local journalistic excellence for speakers/interviews for the Winter Conference. If you have any ideas or know someone who would present a great session or even consent to be interviewed for one of the on-site contests, please let us know ASAP!
- Please be sure your membership dues are paid, and the form is sent to Gina Shook at Carlyle High School.
3. Best Story contests
- We are currently in the process of updating the Best Story Google Form links. This page on our website will be cleaned up as soon as the links are updated to new forms. We will also be adding instructional videos for saving as the correct file type. This should be live before we break for Christmas.
4. Accolades about your program
- Sami Goetting at Herrin (sami.goetting@herrinschools.
org) is in charge of updating the SISPA website and our social media pages (more info on these soon!). Please send her any accolades and special information about your program. One of our goals is to celebrate our members’ achievements. These can be program accolades or individual recognitions within your program.
5. Quill & Scroll info
- If you have a Q&S chapter, the Writing, Visual, Multimedia Awards are now open for submission. Deadline is Feb. 6 at midnight. Each entry is $8. There are 54 categories to enter.
- If you don’t have a Q&S chapter, it might be something to explore! Check their website (linked above) for information on starting a chapter.
6. IJEA info
- IJEA has undergone leadership changes with Katie Fernandez at Medill School of Journalism taking over as Executive Director. One of the big concerns is the fear of IJEA events being moved further north, alienating the smaller schools. We have been assured this will not happen. In fact, in order to attract more schools, the idea of holding 2 adviser retreats (one in each half of the state). I’m not sure what these could look like, but they definitely do not want to alienate us here in the south!
- Congrats to all our SISPA members who placed in the IJEA Yearbook Excellence contest!! Overall General Excellence Winners – Division 1 – Okawville 2nd place, Division 2 – Meridian 1st, Carlyle 2nd, Division 3 – Carterville 3rd, Division 4 – Carbondale 1st, Division 5 – Edwardsville 2nd. Individual awards can be found here. The Yearbook Excellence contest is hosted by IJEA each fall.
- The Newspaper & Digital Media Contest deadline is March 15. The fee structure is changing again. Last year, they went to a $20 entry fee, which included 5 entries, then each entry was $5. The information we gathered at our last board meeting indicated that the $20 entry fee would remain the same, but would include 10 entries, then each entry would be $5. This has not been updated on the website yet, but I have an email to Katie about this.
- IJEA also sponsors the All-State Journalism team, naming the Best of the Best of our staff members – our MVPs. The application deadline for students is March 30. Students named to the team are celebrated at a Banquet in June.
- Got an outstanding journalist? Consider having them apply for the Illinois Journalist of the Year! The application deadline is February 15, and applicants must submit a portfolio.
7. IHSA Journalism Contest info
- The IHSA contest is very closely modeled after the on-site competitions that we have at the Winter Conference. Your athletic director can contact the IHSA and let them know you would like to compete. The deadline for intent to compete used to be February 1, but I can’t find it on the website
- As far as we know, Sectionals will be virtual on 4/11, State will be in person at Heartland Community College in Bloomington on 4/24.
- There has been much discussion about taking sectional back in person – not likely at this point.
- There has also been discussion about moving Sectionals to a Friday – meaning we would need to find a place to compete within our building. There has also been talk of moving sectionals/state to a date in March. I have not heard anything concrete on this.
- The list of participants is due to IHSA on March 24 – this is the info on the tracker where we enter. The calendar on the Journalism page says April 1. Matt will definitely send more info as we get closer.
If I missed something, please let me know!! I promise we are trying to be more proactive about communication and making SISPA an organization that supports all of our advisers and students. As our first year, we admit things were rough, but please believe we are committed to always improving!
Thank you!
