Chicago Public Media invests in partnership with Illinois public broadcasters

In a time when local stations are navigating challenges like the loss of federal funding, it is more important than ever that we support each other. By pooling our resources through the Illinois Statehouse Initiative, we can ensure that audiences across the state continue to receive the high-quality, continuous coverage of Springfield that they depend on.”

Ariel Van Cleave, managing director of audio at Chicago Public Media

Chicago Public Media is partnered with the Illinois Public Broadcasters (IPB) — a network of public media stations in Dekalb, Peoria, Quad Cities, Bloomington-Normal, Champaign-Urbana, Springfield, Macomb, Carbondale and St. Louis.

This journalistic collaborative aims to strengthen news coverage of the State Capitol in Springfield by expanding reporting capabilities. Utilizing a shared funding model, Chicago Public Media and the participating IPB stations will combine their financial resources to jointly pay for two full-time statehouse reporters, along with necessary equipment and an intern stipend.

“In a time when local stations are navigating challenges like the loss of federal funding, it is more important than ever that we support each other,” said Ariel Van Cleave, managing director of audio at Chicago Public Media. “By pooling our resources through the Illinois Statehouse Initiative, we can ensure that audiences across the state continue to receive the high-quality, continuous coverage of Springfield that they depend on.”

This dedicated team will produce daily news updates from the capitol that will extend across all participating member stations. Chicago Public Media will shoulder half the costs of this initiative. Chicago Public Media leaders also are working closely with the nine other station leaders on state legislative plans for budget relief and other cost-sharing opportunities, including broadcast systems.

“This collaborative effort is a powerful example of what public media can achieve together,” said Heather Norman, general manager at Tri States Public Radio and president of the Illinois Public Broadcasting Council. “By partnering with Chicago Public Media, we are making a commitment not only to our individual communities but to the entire state of Illinois.”

The initiative, which officially covers the upcoming fiscal year from July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027, will be renewed annually to ensure a sustainable future for collaborative state government reporting and to strengthen public media’s ability to serve communities with trusted journalism when people need it most.