Reginald Hardwick joins Illinois Public Media as News and Public Affairs Director

“I look forward to working with the talented reporters, hosts, and editors at WILL radio, the Illinois Newsroom, the 21st talk show and more,” said Hardwick. "I'm already familiar with Side Effects Media and the great reporting by WILL radio’s Lee Gaines and Christine Herman.”

Hardwick spent nearly three years as the News Director at WKAR public media at Michigan State University. He led a news team that included full-time and student journalists. The team won an award from the Public Radio News Directors Inc. for coverage of the Larry Nassar scandal and resulting administration changes at MSU. The team also won a regional Edward R. Murrow regional award for a series on childhood literacy.

Prior to joining WKAR, Hardwick spent more than 20 years as a news producer and executive producer at television stations in Denver and Dallas/Fort Worth. He is the winner of seven regional Emmy awards. His love of storytelling led him to switching from commercial tv news to public media.

"Great storytelling—writing, natural sound, interviews—is what drives my love of journalism," said Hardwick. "News from public radio stations like WILL is in demand. I want to be involved in telling important stories that reach all types of audiences more often."

Hardwick was born in Vietnam and grew up in Colorado. He graduated from the University of Northern Colorado. He spent his childhood summers in the Midwest with family.

"I cannot wait to settle into the Champaign-Urbana region and be part of the tradition of serving central Illinois with the hard-hitting, fact-based journalism that they've come to expect from WILL radio and the Illinois Newsroom.”