2024 Illinois Public Media Annual Report

Just as Champaign-Urbana lies at the intersection of three major interstates, so too is Illinois Public Media uniquely positioned at the intersection of the University of Illinois, NPR, and PBS. We unite the missions of these three entities in executing our own mission: to enrich the lives of individuals in our community through the power of public media. In 2024, we worked to make our programming, events, and news an inclusive space for all to enjoy. Below is a brief snapshot of what you can find in this year's Illinois Public Media Annual Report.

If you would like to receive a free print copy of our annual report, please email will-membership@illinois.edu.

Unapologetically amplifying Black voices

In Feb., we launched Illinois Soul, a new radio station in the Illinois Public Media ecosystem highlighting Black experiences, celebrating Black culture, elevating Black voices, and showcasing Black music. From the station’s inception, Illinois Soul has been rooted in the idea of intentionally changing the media landscape with the support and guidance from respected Black community leaders and Black University of Illinois professionals who are advocating for the mission of the station and for its listeners. Additionally, we received feedback from more than 350 surveys distributed and filled out locally – along with conversations at nearly 30 public events. From these efforts, a new 24/7 public media audio service was born, featuring exceptional, Black-hosted NPR news programs alongside other popular programs, mixed with smooth jazz, neo soul, R&B, and throwback jams. Hosting countless community events and already recognized with several local and regional awards, Illinois Soul has provided a much-needed resource to central Illinois and deepened our connection with the diverse communities we serve.

Starting a local Dialogue

With the launch of Illinois Soul came a new weekly local community affairs magazine program, Dialogue, highlighting issues important to Black communities in central Illinois. In May, Illinois Public Media was excited to welcome Kennedy Vincent as the new permanent host of the program and as a specialty reporter for Black and immigrant communities for IPM News. Vincent is a native of Las Vegas with West Indian roots who earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Nevada Reno. She specializes in news writing, hosting, and audio and video producing and production work. Now based in Illinois, Vincent is focused on surrounding her work with collective BIPOC stories, universal rights, and community healing. Each week Dialogue features interviews with people across the region along with in-depth stories from the IPM News team about education, health, politics, arts, and more as it relates to local Black communities.

Award-winning programming

As WILL-TV’s Prairie Fire settled into its second season, the program was nominated for seven Mid-America EMMY® Awards, bringing home four statues from the at the 2024 National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Mid-America Regional Chapter EMMY® Awards ceremony in Kansas City in Oct. Chiefly among them, the monthly magazine show was honored with Best Magazine Program for its first season. The show also won in the following categories: “Preston Jackson” won for Arts/Entertainment, Short Form; “Operation Wild Horse” won for Diversity-Equity Inclusion, Short Form; and finally, “Susannah Scaroni” won for Human Interest, Short Form. Beyond the accolades, Prairie Fire produced eight new episodes in 2024. From visiting one-of-a-kind museums showcasing hats and typewriters to learning more about the craft of making paper, hand dying yarn, and the legacy of the Black barbershop, the program continues to showcase the rich diversity of our region and the colorful characters that make it so.

50 years of friendship

Everyone knows a friend is someone you can count on in good times and bad times. And perhaps that’s why in 1974 the small group of community members that helped create a member organization for supporters of the WILL stations, aptly named our donors for what they are, our “friends.” This year, we celebrated 50 years of the Friends of WILL. During the last half of 2024, we revisited how the Friends came to be and how those first volunteers helped expand WILL’s outreach – creating a platform for the central Illinois community to invest in our future. We featured some of our nearest and dearest, both new and old, learning more about what motivates each of them to invest in Illinois Public Media. And we welcome NPR Weekend Edition host Scott Simon to Urbana for a special afternoon with the Friends of WILL. The 21st Show host Brian Mackey talked with Simon about growing up in Illinois, his long and storied career in journalism, and his thoughts on the upcoming November election. It really was a lovely afternoon together.