Illinois Public Media News

In-depth reporting from WILL, NPR, the Associated Press, and other sources

Contact WILL News at willnewsroom@illinois.edu

Play

WILL Newscast

Covers of Reflejos, N'DIGO and Borderless magazines

Finding Black And Latino-focused news in Illinois

We talked to leaders of Black and Latino-focused media organizations about the history and objectives of their organizations, access to news that isn't centered on white communities, and more. This segment originally aired October 25, 2021.

A gauge shows the rate of papers being printed at The State Journal-Register in Springfield on Feb. 28, 2011. It was the last local run of the SJ-R — after that, the parent company dismantled the press and moved printing operations to Peoria, one of the early cost-cutting moves in what would be a decade of reductions.
Brian Mackey/Illinois Public Media

What a shrinking newspaper costs a community

Some version of the newspaper known today as The State-Journal Register has been published in Springfield and Sangamon County since 1831, but today, The newspaper of today is a shadow of what it once was. Today on the program, we talked about what's lost when a community sees its newspaper shrinks. This segment originally aired October 25, 2021.

People protest outside the offices of the New Mexico Public Education Department's office, Friday, Nov. 12, 2021, in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The education department proposed changes to the social studies curriculum that critics describe as a veiled attempt to teach critical race theory. Supporters say the new curriculum, which includes ethnic studies, is
AP Photo/Cedar Attanasio

Critical Race Theory: What is it? Where is it taught? How is it weaponized?

Today we spent our show understanding what Critical Race Theory is, why it’s become so weaponized and what examining systemic racism in a classroom setting looks like. To talk about it, we were joined by a professor of information sciences, a professor of education who teaches Critical Race Theory, a professor from NIU's Center for Black Studies, and a public policy reporter. This show originally aired November 17, 2021.

More articles →