Illinois Public Media (WILL-AM-FM-TV) will premiere a new hourlong talk show March 14. "The 21st" will be broadcast weekdays at 11 a.m., with veteran journalist and public radio host Niala Boodhoo serving as host and as executive producer. The program will be made available to other public radio stations throughout Illinois for simulcast to their broadcast audiences. WUIS in Springfield joins WILL as a launch partner.
“The 21st” – being promoted as “21st-Century Radio for the 21st State” – will combine relevant news and conversation with audience engagement through phone calls, social media and other digital channels. The program will not only facilitate discussions but also help listeners connect with each other and with the information vital to their lives.
“’The 21st’ will set a new standard in talk radio in Illinois by bringing people together and sparking conversations on air and online around the issues and ideas that affect people’s everyday lives across the state,” said Moss Bresnahan, the president and CEO of Illinois Public Media. “The public media audience is evolving and looking to interact with our content in new ways and on all platforms. There’s a real need in Illinois for a program that is relevant, smart and fun and connects people from all walks of life and from all corners of Illinois.”
Listeners will hear a mix of interviews and conversations – everyone from farmers, businesspeople, artists, politicians, and most important, residents across Illinois – on everything from news to politics to arts, culture and everyday life.
“We want to establish this hour as one where you will get a chance to connect with people throughout the state, and hopefully learn something about life here in Illinois,” said Boodhoo, who joins the Illinois Public Media team after two years of hosting “The Afternoon Shift” at WBEZ-Chicago Public Media. “I’d love for people to not just tune in, but also talk to each other about what’s happening in Illinois and across the Midwest, the country and the world.”
The show will bridge the traditional with the digital. “The 21st” will build upon the foundation of public radio talk shows, but it also will go beyond the studio by plugging into digital conversations. “The 21st” will be made available to all audiences through WILL’s streaming services and mobile app, and all are welcome to join the conversation right now on Twitter (@21stShow).
Scott Cameron, formerly senior producer of NPR’s “Talk of the Nation” and currently Illinois Public Media’s director of news and public affairs, joins “The 21st” as a co-executive producer.
Boodhoo’s interview about the launch of “The 21st” during “Morning Edition” on WILL-AM (580) with host Brian Moline is available online.
As a part of the launch partnership between WILL and WUIS, WILL-AM (580) also will broadcast Springfield's midday news magazine, “Illinois Edition.”