2023 Illinois Public Media Annual Report
Coming off our centennial celebration, Illinois Public Media began to ask: what kind of public media organization do we want to be in this next century? And even more importantly, what kind of public media station should we be to continue to best serve our communities and meet our mission in an ever-evolving world? In many ways, 2023 was a year of intentional, foundation-building work to help all aspects of Illinois Public Media become our local public media station of the future.
Below is a brief snapshot of what you can find in the 2023 Illinois Public Media Annual Report. The full report can be viewed and downloaded at will.Illinois.edu/about/annualreports. If you would like to receive a free print copy of our annual report, please email will-membership@illinois.edu.
National conversations from Campbell Hall
Illinois Public Media was proud to serve as the host and a partner station for The Middle with Jeremy Hobson’s return to the airwaves in the fall. The award-winning journalist headed back to Campbell Hall and the WILL radio studios here in Urbana, Illinois to launch his new national, now weekly, live call-in show, which premiered on September 28. The Middle is produced in partnership with Illinois Public Media, Nashville Public Radio, and iHeart Media and can be heard on more than 400 stations from coast to coast, thanks to our distribution of the program from here at Campbell Hall.
Reviving an old favorite for a modern audience
In 1992 a new program debuted on WILL-TV called Prairie Fire. This half-hour magazine show painted a rich picture of the people, places, music, and quirks that make Illinois a vital, creative, innovative, and beautiful nucleus of the American Midwest. The show went on to become a long running darling among viewers and friends alike. Some 31 years later, Illinois Public Media was excited to welcome Prairie Fire back to our airwaves in its newly re-imagined form. This modern take on a fan favorite is still rooted in storytelling, bringing you profiles, places, and performances from around the downstate area.
Growing smarter, stronger, and kinder together
In August, Illinois Public Media participated in CU Days at Douglass Park, bringing along Costume Character Elmo. Our favorite Sesame Street monster danced, played, and posed for photos with kids and families, and our Education Department gave out 250 Pre-K learning bags. We saw so many smiling faces throughout the day and had a blast. This was Illinois Public Media’s second year at CU Days, and we love this opportunity to serve our diverse audiences across east central Illinois. Thank you to PNC Grow Up Great® and Sesame Workshop for making Costume Character Elmo’s visit possible!
Community conversations expand
The year’s first installment of News, Brews & Beatz welcomed University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Chancellor Robert J. Jones and two associate chancellors -- Christopher Span, chief of staff and associate chancellor for administration and PreK-12 initiatives, and Wanda E. Ward -- into the Collins Studio for a discussion about enrollment, tuition, agriculture, race, and the campus’ relationship with the Champaign-Urbana Black community. News, Brews & Beatz has always strived to provide a space for diverse voices to engage in breakthrough conversations regarding pressing community issues and allow for realistic solutions to be identified. The inaugural year of events focused on the gun violence crisis here in Champaign-Urbana but since has expanded into quarterly community conversations on a variety of topics impacting the Black community here in central Illinois.
To view a complete audited financial statement, please visit will.Illinois.edu/about/compliance.