“On the first day of my freshman year, I sent my parents an email saying ‘I never want to leave this newsroom,’” Light Dohrn said, recalling her first time entering the U-High newsroom in the 2022-23 school year. 

Light, now an editor-in-chief for the U-High Midway, was named Illinois Journalist of the Year on Thursday by the Illinois Journalism Education Association. 

Light had to create and submit a portfolio of her work, two essays and recommendations. Now that she has won the state award, Light is up to become National Journalist of the Year. 

Light has been in journalism since 2022 and previously served as an assistant editor and arts and entertainment editor. 

Three other U-High students have received the honor of Illinois Journalist of the Year since the award was created in 1989, most recently in 2012. Three others have been runners-up.

For Light, joining journalism was a way to merge her favorite attributes — community and writing.

“It combined two things that I like more than anything else,” Light said, “which are writing and being part of a close-knit team.”

Much of Light’s journalism career has been spent reconciling her own political views and activism with being an objective journalist. It’s taken her four years to learn that she could merge her journalism with her activism.

“I think that journalism is a form of activism,” Light said, “and I think that especially this week, and this day, during Student Press Freedom Day, a message that I really want to get out to other young journalists is: ‘you are resisting.’”

Logan Aimone, the U-High Midway’s adviser, believes Light’s work is characterized through her unique, bold voice. 

“Light is a fierce journalist, someone who doesn’t shy away from things that are uncomfortable or stories that are complicated,” Mr. Aimone said, “and as far as her work ethic: she sets the standard.”

During sixth period on Feb. 26, Light’s parents and some of her close friends in U-High journalism surprised her with confetti cannons, streamers, a blinking headband and cookies to celebrate in her honor.

Lila Coyne, who joined the celebration, has been friends with Light since they met in a math class a year ago and bonded over their shared love for media analysis and critique. Lila thought the celebration for Light was a way for the staff to express their joy.

“It was very slightly chaotic but also very joyful,” Lila, the current arts and entertainment editor, said.

Lila thinks Light’s ability to persevere is derived from her combination of joy and consideration. 

“Light combines this incredibly sober thoughtfulness and determination with real joy,” Lila said. “She takes a great amount of joy in the journalistic work that she does, and I think that actually furthers her ability to be determined.”

Light has stuck with journalism due to her pride in the work that the Midway produces and the community that it has given her. She’s known since she joined the Midway in 2022 that this was the place for her.

“I knew that I wanted to spend the majority of my high school career in this room,” Light said, “with these people and this adviser, and producing this work.”