WILL Press Room

Stranded by the State—a two-part documentary special presented by Illinois Public Media focusing on the long-term toll the Illinois budget crisis has had on everyday people across the state—will begin broadcasting on public television stations February 14, the day before Governor Bruce Rauner’s state budget address.

The new PBS KIDS 24/7 WILL-TV channel and live stream will support Illinois Public Media’s mission to reach all central Illinois children with high-quality educational content. Interactive games integration to follow initial launch.

This is a series of eight short films—produced by students of the College of Media at University of Illinois under the leadership of journalism professor Charles "Stretch" Ledford—examining the larger pervasive national issue of the severe underrepresentation of African-Americans in the sciences.

Barns are practical. They store equipment, keep animals safe, and speak to our agricultural impact. And now Illinois Public Media is bringing you the story of these iconic structures that dot our landscape with the new documentary Barns: An Illinois Story, featuring barns in Champaign, Piatt, McDonough, and Peoria counties.

Illinois Newsroom—the statewide, seven-station journalism collaborative, spearheaded by Illinois Public Media and funded through a $715,000 grant from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) as well as support from the public media partner newsrooms—launches with the appointment of a new leader.

Illinois Public Media, NPR Illinois, and the League of Women Voters of Champaign County will host an Illinois 13th Congressional District Debate in the WILL-TV studio on Thursday, Oct. 13, from 7-8 pm. 

Illinois Radio Reader’s principal fundraiser, the annual Vintage Vinyl sale, returns for its 23rd year this Saturday, October 1, 2016, at the Fluid Event Center in Champaign. 

Illinois Public Media has recently received $2.8 million through two separate estate gifts: The Geneva and R. Linn Belford Fund and the Howard Rutan Endowment. 

In celebration of the 18th Annual Roger Ebert’s Film Festival, Illinois Public Media produced Ebertfest 2016: Center of the Universe. The film covers the life and legacy of Roger Ebert and the history of the festival, including a short preview of Ebertfest 2016.

Illinois Public Media has been awarded a $200,000 grant from the Robert R. McCormick Foundation through their Democracy Program to support Illinois Newsroom in strengthening its digital journalism model and regional engagement over the first two years.