2025 Illinois Public Media Annual Report
In 2025 public media throughout the country faced an unprecedented challenge with the rescission of federal funding. Reductions of $1.5 million have directly impacted the operations of our IPM stations. Throughout the year, we said farewell to several remarkable colleagues — reporters, communicators, content creators, and behind-the-scenes staff — whose creativity and dedication helped shape who we are. Their work continues to inspire us and reminds us why public media matters more than ever.
Our beloved classical station, WILL-FM 90.9 Classical, underwent a refresh with a new name, Illinois Classical, alongside an updated look. While some elements have changed, the role of Illinois Classical as a cultural touchstone for communities throughout central Illinois has not altered. Illinois Classical continues to offer listeners a thoughtful mix of classical music, expert curation, and educational enrichment.
February 1, 2025, marked the one-year anniversary of the official launch of Illinois Soul, IPM’s not-for-profit public radio station focused on Black voices, music, and culture throughout central Illinois. Illinois Soul celebrated by doing what it does best — hosting a perfectly curated evening of music and culture while bringing together fans as a community.The Illinois Soul team followed up this one-year celebration with countless community engagement and cultural events throughout 2025.
Illinois Public Media’s local magazine program, Prairie Fire, was awarded five regional Emmy awards — out of nine nominations — by the Mid-America chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. Among the awards, Prairie Fire was named Best Magazine program at the awards event Oct. 25 in St. Charles, Missouri. The team also earned regional Emmys for four Prairie Fire segments.
In July, IPM released an all-new weekly radio program and podcast, a partnership with the Department of Climate, Meteorology and Atmospheric Sciences in the School of Earth, Society & Environment at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Weather Realness brings the best weather and climate scientists in Illinois to help the public understand weather and climate by providing scientific facts and enlightening conversation, including up-to-date information about recent and ongoing weather and climate events.
Alongside these highlights, IPM continued to provide important local news and services audiences rely on every day. Across our radio, television, and digital platforms, we connected central Illinois to PBS and NPR programming. Our Book Mentor Project continued to expand learning opportunities for young readers, and dozens of community outreach events strengthened partnerships with organizations throughout central Illinois.
