DGN Senior Matt Troher has been named as Runner-Up for Illinois Journalist of the Year.
Matt Troher, a senior at Downers Grove North High School, has been named runner-up for the 2019 Illinois Journalist of the Year by the Illinois Journalism Education Association (IJEA). Troher will be an honored guest at the IJEA’s annual luncheon in Springfield in June.
Troher becomes the organization’s third to be honored from Downers Grove. DGN graduate Natalie White was named Illinois Journalist of the Year in 2018 (and national runner-up) and Abigail Murphy was named Illinois Journalist of the Year in 2017.
“Matt’s extensive online portfolio, submitted for the IJOY competition, showcases his dedication to journalism. He writes hard-hitting investigative stories and light-hearted reviews; he hosts podcasts and designs infographics,” says Elizabeth Levin, Downers Grove North English Teacher. “The diversity of his skills, paired with his devotion to journalism’s core principles, earned him this recognition. We’re so proud of him.”
Levin serves as the faculty advisor of the student newspaper, The Omega, and Troher serves as editor-in-chief.
"We are so proud of Matt, who is a skilled young journalist and covers important topics at our school,” says North High Principal Janice Schwarze. “DGN has now been recognized by the IJEA three years in a row, proof that our entire journalism program and Omega sponsor Liz Levin are providing our students with a valuable experience.”
For more information about the Illinois Journalism Education Association and its contests, visit https://www.ijea.net/.