New national public radio talk show to debut from central Illinois
Illinois Public Media is proud to serve as the host and a partner station for The Middle with Jeremy Hobson’s return to the airwaves this fall. The award-winning journalist is headed back to Campbell Hall and the WILL radio studios here in Urbana, Illinois to launch the national, now weekly, live call-in show, which premieres on September 28.
“I am excited to have The Middle included as a part of weekly programming for so many public radio stations across the country. After more than 20 years in journalism, I think more than ever we must listen to each other, and we need to have media organizations that are trusted across the political spectrum,” Hobson said. “I want this show to be a go-to for non-judgmental, civil dialogue and debate. And I want it to be fun to listen to, as well.”
Americans who are geographically, politically, or philosophically in “the middle” are so important in our politics but are often ignored by the media. And that’s where the idea for the show originated. Hobson originally piloted the show in a special four-part series last fall, with the focus being the midterm elections and aiming to listen to everyday Americans and elevate the voices of those who live between the coasts.
“We’re excited to present a live program with a focus on really listening to everyday Americans and amplifying the voices of those in the Heartland,” said Moss Bresnahan, executive director for Illinois Public Media. “This new series is a great opportunity for public media to address this need, and to find a new approach to advancing civil dialogue and public engagement at a time when our nation needs it the most.”
The Middle is hosted and produced by Hobson, a veteran public radio journalist and former host of NPR’s Here & Now and Marketplace Morning Report. The Urbana native got his broadcasting start at the age of 9, contributing to WILL’s Treehouse Radio and later working on WILL radio documentaries at University of Illinois Laboratory High School (Uni High) through Illinois Public Media’s Illinois Youth Media project.
“Growing up in the Midwest, I know people don’t necessarily spend every waking minute thinking about politics, but they do have a lot of sway in our politics, and they have something to say,” said Hobson. “As someone who has worked in public broadcasting my whole career, I know firsthand that public radio is in a unique position to facilitate conversations focused on these overlooked but important voices.”
“There is no doubt the media overlooks or minimizes the stories and perspectives of people living in the Midwest, despite the fact Midwesterners have a significant impact on the direction of our country. The Middle will help public radio grow audience and engagement across the political spectrum in the best possible way,” said Bresnahan.
Illinois Public Media provided the technical support back in 2022, delivering all four episodes to the more than 500 public radio stations who aired the program nationwide. This marked WILL’s first national distribution effort in modern history. As The Middle moves to a regular weekly program, Illinois Public Media will continue to provide distribution support for the show.
The Middle is produced in partnership with Illinois Public Media, Nashville Public Radio, and iHeart Media and will be heard on a growing list of public radio stations nationwide, which currently stands at 320 stations from coast to coast.
Listen to The Middle, Thursday nights at 8 pm on WILL-AM 580, FM 90.9, and streaming live at will.illinois.edu and at listentothemiddle.com. The Middle will also be available as a podcast, wherever you find your podcasts.