Illinois News Broadcasters Association

Before covering Illinois and Missouri politics for KSDK-TV in St. Louis, Mark Maxwell was Capitol Bureau Chief at WCIA-TV in Springfield. He talks about his career in TV news, how he develops sources, covering politicians and news gathering, challenges, what he's learned, and more. This is from a livestream that Mark did with Margaret Larkin.

Welcome to our inaugural episode of INBA Podcast Bite, a short-form audio series designed to help broadcast journalists get ideas and do their jobs better. In this episode, INBA board member and WNIJ reporter Yvonne Boose talks with Ryan Denham, content director for WGLT. He also served on a task force that helped the Illinois Supreme Court design new rules for Extended Media Coverage, which allows reporters to bring cameras and recording devices into courtrooms. EMC is now an option in all 102 counties. Ryan walks us through some tips to effectively use EMC and cover trials and other court proceedings in your county.

The last time former INBA president Steve Scott was interviewed was when he was at WCBS in New York. After WCBS stopped operations, he became a news anchor at KCBS radio. He gives us an update about being an alum of San Jose State, working in San Francisco, covering news, doing PA announcing for the Golden State Warriors and other NBA teams, the importance of joining an organization, and more. Listen to the previous interview at https://soundcloud.com/illinoisnewsbroadcasters/steve-scott-wcbs-radio-anchor-in-new-york-now-wls-radio-in-chicago-then This is from a livestream that Steve did with Margaret Larkin.

After more than 40 years, Craig Dellimore retired from WBBM Newsradio, where he was Political Editor and a reporter in Chicago and the Illinois state legislature. He started in New York at Columbia University, then worked at WNYC and WCBS. Before he moved to Chicago, he worked at the Associated Press in Washington, D.C. This is from a livestream that Craig did with Margaret Larkin. Margaret also interviewed Craig in 2018, when he shared various stories and challenges he encountered.

With more than two decades of experience, Justin Kaufmann is working in Chicago news for Axios as a reporter and writer. He talks about his broadcasting career at WBEZ Public Radio and WGN Radio, getting subscribers and communicating with listeners, being on the air, deadlines, getting more exposure, dealing with challenges, journalistic discipline, writing, producing, and more. Justin was interviewed by Margaret Larkin via a livestream.

After working at the Chicago Tribune Media Group and WBBM Newsradio, Lauren Westphal is now a digital content creator at Fox 32 Chicago (WFLD-TV). Lauren studied journalism at the University of Missouri and talks about what digital journalism requires, AI and SEO, the pressure to be first, writing tips, the importance of networking and adaptability, how she managed to work in a large market, and a lot more. Lauren was interviewed by Margaret Larkin in a livestream.

After growing up in Chicago and watching his dad, Lester Holt, report news on WBBM-TV, Stefan Holt went into TV news as a reporter and anchor. He is now an anchor at NBC affiliate WMAQ-TV in Chicago, and he talks about his career in Florida and New York before coming back home. He also talks about what he learned from his dad, bosses, and on-the-job training, why journalism is important, writing, being flexible, flying planes, and much more. This interview is from a livestream that Stefan did with Margaret Larkin.

After spending several years anchoring news at KGW-TV in Oregon, St. Louis-native Joe Donlon came to Chicago to work at WGN-TV and now CBS-TV. He discusses his professional journey, why he's living the dream, his Chicago Unscripted podcast, how to be effective on the air, why writing is important, how experience helps develop your skills, structuring a story, reporting and anchoring, changing technology, why ambition is important, working in cable and local news, and much more. This interview is from a livestream that Joe did with Margaret Larkin.

Tom Petersen reported the news for several years at WGN Radio, where he worked with Bob Collins. Tom was an excellent radio broadcaster who started his long media career in Milwaukee as a disc jockey, and worked at WEMP in Milwaukee, WXYZ in Detroit, KWWL-TV in Waterloo/Cedar Rapids, and at a rock station in Duluth, Minnesota before he came to Chicago. Margaret Larkin interviewed him at Mitsuwa Marketplace in Arlington Heights 15 years ago. He talked about his news career, why he didn't like Detroit, how Chicago was less corrupt than Detroit, WGN Radio's popularity, compelling radio content, and more. Tom passed away on May 10, 2025. He was a wonderful person who will be missed.

Molly Jirasek was first interviewed six years ago at the Illinois News Broadcasters Association convention when she was Assistant News Director at Heart of Illinois ABC in Peoria. Now she is News Director at ABC57-TV in South Bend, Indiana. Molly says that she is hiring and explains what she looks for in an applicant. She also offers advice for recent college grads, including demo reels, necessary skills, attitude and passion, how to get experience, and more. This interview is edited from a livestream that Molly did with Margaret Larkin.

John Kendall is the assignment manager at WEEK-TV in Peoria and is on the INBA board. This is from a livestream that John did with Margaret Larkin. (Entire transcript at inba.net) Margaret Larkin: the INBA...how did you get involved with that? John Kendall: Tanya Koonce was a big part of why I became part of INBA. Also Mike Miletich and Jeff Burnett. I think I knew of INBA back in college, but I really never did much with it. But I kind of knew a lot of our newsroom was part of it, and I talked with Tanya a little bit about it. She was another one that I have learned a lot from, and when she was with us at WEEK. I'm glad to call her a comrade and a friend. But she and Mike were like "Hey, the meeting's in Bloomington. Why don't you come over for the day?" And I came over to the meeting and met a lot of people that I didn't know, but a few that I did. I was able to learn and grow from there and was able to network. I was nominated for the board by Jeff out of the blue. And I'm like, "I'm not even a member yet. I'm here as a visitor." I lost out on the board, but I felt like I was learning a lot. And during the group gatherings and just throughout it I was just speaking to people I was meeting with, yourself included, and H [Wilson] and Rachel [Lippmann] and Emily [Manley], who are all part of the board. And things kind of went by, kind of happened, and some people left the board, and Rachel called Tanya and said, "If John's still interested, we'd be more willing to have him on the board to fill out a term." And Rachel, Tanya, and I spoke over the phone, and I felt more than honored to be part of the board to help fill a term. I was recently reelected to the board because I feel being on the INBA board and a member of the INBA itself helps the new generation and not just a new generation, but us journalists as a whole, to learn how to become better at our craft. We always ask, how can I be better at my craft? INBA allows us to do that at the spring and fall meetings. Here we had Maggie [Vespa] speak, and we learned about opioid overdoses and why they're causing a major problem, not only here in Peoria but across the state. The meeting we were at in 2022 in Bloomington, we were talking about electric vehicles and the way electric vehicles are now part of every day life, not only here in Illinois, but the world. That was just so helpful, being able to understand and ask questions, not only to professionals who work with you every day, but professionals who work at other stations. We're also asking the same questions. I've been able to become good friends with a lot of people through INBA, and that's just helped grow me as a better journalist and as a better person as well. I've learned a lot from those people and how good journalists do their job. Emily Manley and Rachel Lippmann in Missouri, how you do your job nowadays up there in Chicago. And I can see my good friends Mike and Maggie, who are INBA members as well, and how they and others help college kids. And it's not only just networking. You submit your stuff, in the spring meeting, not only for SIMBA awards, but you also can get your stuff looked at by a professional. Where else can you do that? You bring your stuff on a resume reel and they say, "Hey, that right there looks pretty good," or "I would maybe take that out." And that little 20-minute interaction with them can maybe be the difference of you waiting 6 to 8 months like I did to get a job, compared to, "Hey, I like your stuff; here's my business card; why don't we talk when you graduate." Margaret Larkin: so obviously, you're saying that you think it's still beneficial for people to join. John Kendall: I think it's beneficial to join 100%. You know, the conventions are very informative and you learn things, like at the recent convention when we did the Emiquon trip, how we learned about the watershed. I covered something like that 20-plus years ago up in Hennepin when they were doing the water life.

At WLS-AM in Chicago, Scott Childers anchors and reports news, traffic, and fills in for show hosts. He's spent several years in radio and talks about his reporting at the DNC and RNC, traffic reporting for various stations, how traffic and news require similar skills, writing and broadcast styles, and more. This interview was part of a livestream that Scott did with Margaret Larkin.

Putnam County native John Kendall started as a part-timer at WEEK-TV in Peoria, and has worked his way up to be the Assignment Manager. He started his journalism career at Illinois Valley Community College and Western Illinois University in Macomb. John talks about why networking is important, why he’s passionate about journalism, his writing and sports experience, how he got into producing news, how school helped his career, how technology has changed over the years, the importance of Leon Hendricks and other mentors, how journalism has changed, and more. This interview is from a livestream that John did with Margaret Larkin.

"Sports is part of news," says Ron Gleason, who went from sports broadcasting to WBBM Newsradio, where he was an anchor then Director of News and Programming for several years. Before WBBM, Ron was Director of Sports and Programming at WSCR The Score, which changed the style of sports radio. He talks about management vs being on air, sportscasting and play-by-play; his long radio career that started in California, continued at WJOL in Joliet, then Chicago; why he loves radio; advice for getting a job; the end of news stations WMAQ in Chicago and WCBS in New York; radio before and during the Internet, and much more. Margaret Larkin did this extensive interview with Ron via livestream.

After starting her broadcasting career at TV-10 News at Illinois State University, Alex Corradetti was the morning anchor at WCIA 3 News in Champaign and is now an anchor on the CBS 58 Morning News in Milwaukee, where she also hosts Racine & Me on WMLW-TV. She talks about the importance of keeping a positive attitude, pursuing your dreams, learning all angles of the TV news business, effective storytelling, and more. Alex was interviewed by Margaret Larkin via livestream.

As a Missouri capitol bureau reporter, Emily Manley reports for Nexstar TV stations in Illinois and Missouri, and nationally. She talks about her journalism experience, why she is passionate about reporting and how she got into broadcast journalism, how she balances her responsibilities and information, and her career trajectory. She also offers advice and insight for journalists and goes into detail about what her job entails. Emily is the vice president of the Illinois News Broadcasters Association and often speaks to students about journalism. Margaret Larkin conducted this interview via livestream.

After graduating from Western Illinois University, Aaron Frye began his broadcasting career in Illinois. He worked in sports and news as a videographer and digital journalist, eventually becoming Director of Photography at WDJT-TV, CBS 58 in Milwaukee. Aaron talks about the cameras, lights, and drones he uses in broadcasting, how he works with reporters to cover stories, offers advice for getting into the business, and describes what is required to be a top-notch photojournalist. This interview was edited from a livestream with Margaret Larkin.

TV-10 news director Laura Trendle Polus retired from Illinois State University and moved to Chicago to become a news writer at WGN-TV. She talks about her teaching and TV experience in Illinois and Wisconsin, explains why the INBA is important, and offers advice for students and recent grads. Laura was interviewed by Margaret Larkin via livestream.

After working as a producer for several years in TV, Reginald Hardwick became News and Public Affairs Director at Illinois Public Media, where they have just launched the new radio station Illinois Soul. He discusses what he's learned during his long career, why he cares about diversity in broadcasting, his personal and professional experiences with race and ethnicity, challenges and changes in the media, advice, and much more. Reginald was interviewed by Margaret Larkin via livestream.

Chicago native Beth Godvik is an award-winning producer and news writer at CBS Chicago, adjunct professor at DePaul University, and board member of the WGA East. She shares her insights from more than 20 years in TV journalism, a career that she loves. Beth was interviewed by Margaret Larkin via livestream.

After graduating from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Carolina Garibay got a reporting job at WBBM Newsradio, and she has started anchoring there as well. She talks about why she loves audio, how the U of I helped her, what she's learned so far, advice for aspiring journalists, and more. This is from a livestream that Carolina did with Margaret Larkin.

The longest INBA interview ever! Rafer Weigel talks about a lot, revealing much professionally and personally: TV news and sports broadcasting, breaking the Jussie Smollett story and losing his job, mistakes he's made, egos in TV, mental health, what makes a good producer and storyteller, his famous sportscaster dad Tim Weigel, the importance of networking, pressure and competition, and much more! After Rafer graduated from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign he became an actor in Hollywood, then worked in sports and news in Chicago at WFLD-TV, WLS-TV, and the Chicago Sun-Times; in Atlanta at CNN Headline News; St. Louis at KTVI-TV, KOVR TV in Sacramento, and currently works at KUSI-TV in San Diego. This incredible interview is from a livestream that Rafer did with Margaret Larkin.

Jon Hansen works in all media. He started his broadcasting career at WPGU when he was a student at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Now he works in Chicago for WCIU, Block Club Chicago, and WGN Radio. He reports stories for WCIU's "It's All Good" which includes a podcast, hosts financial and legal shows on WGN and fills in for other hosts there, and even works at Blackhawks games. This is from a livestream that Jon did with Margaret Larkin.

After 17 years in TV news, including several years at MSNBC, Colleen King is now the Director of the Richard and Leslie Frank Center for Leadership and Innovation in Media and Clinical Assistant Professor in Journalism at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. She worked on shows including "Morning Joe," "Hardball with Chris Matthews," "Way Too Early," and "The 11th Hour with Brian Williams." She's done all levels of TV news producing and talks about why she went into academia, writing for TV, and offers advice. Colleen spoke at the fall INBA convention. This is from a livestream that she did with Margaret Larkin.

After being an anchor at CLTV for 25 years, Judy Wang joined WGN as a TV news reporter. The biggest takeaway from this interview is that if you want to get into the TV news business, stations need producers! She also talks about paying your dues, reporting vs anchoring, competition and stress, writing, interviewing, and more. This is from a livestream that Judy did with Margaret Larkin.

Quad Cities native Redrick Terry is a news anchor and host of "Real Conversations in the QC" and the business show "INSI6HT" at KWQC-TV6 in the Quad Cities. After graduating from Western Illinois University, he was an anchor and reporter at WHBF-TV in the Quad Cities; so far, he's spent his TV career in his home area. He talks about why he likes being an anchor, how he got into news, why college students should do internships, what it's like to work near home, and more. This interview is from a livestream that Redrick did with Margaret Larkin.

After 45 years in radio news, Dave Schwan is at the height of his career at WGN Radio where he is also on the air with Dean Richards. He talks about anchoring and reporting in Chicago, why he loves doing radio news, hosting the Grant Music Festival concerts and jazz network for WFMT, his mentors, advice, writing, and more. This is from a livestream that Dave did with Margaret Larkin.

Maggie Hradecky has spent several years in TV news and is currently the news director at CBS affiliate WIFR-TV in Rockford. She talks about her long career including in Rockford TV stations WTVO and WREX, and the Rockford Register Star, Fox Chicago, WCIA in Champaign, and more. Maggie talks about writing for TV vs print, advice for getting into TV news, dealing with burnout, and more. Maggie was interviewed by Margaret Larkin via a livestream on Zoom.

After a successful TV news career in Canada, including at CTV National News, Ravi Baichwal came to Chicago to anchor news on ABC 7. He went from weekend anchor to now weekday evening anchor, and he talks about diversity, Canada, advice for getting into TV news, challenges he faced, perseverance, his documentary "Summit 72" and more. Ravi was interviewed by Margaret Larkin via Zoom in a livestream.

Former longtime reporter and graduate of the Public Affairs Reporting Program at University of Illinois/Springfield, Doug Cummings, talks about why starting at a small station is helpful for a media career and education, reporting for KCMO in Kansas City, and WMAQ, WGN, and WTMX in Chicago, approaching victims after a tragedy, what to do when there is a mass shooting, safety advice, and more. Doug updated his personal safety handbook, Escaping the O-Zone, to help people take steps to keep themselves safe and prevent becoming a victim. All proceeds of book sales go to the Highland Park Community Foundation. Doug lives in Highland Park, where a shooter killed and injured several people at the July 4th parade. Doug was interviewed by Margaret Larkin via a livestream on Zoom.

Longtime award-winning broadcast journalist Michael Puente started his career in newspapers and is now a reporter for Chicago Public Radio WBEZ at their Northwest Indiana bureau, where he also fills in as host of the Reset show and reports from Chicago's Southeast Side and South Suburbs. He talks about writing, the editing process, how he puts together stories, balanced reporting, how he made the transition from print journalism to radio and TV, hosting Latino Voices at WTTW Chicago PBS, and more. This interview is from a livestream that Michael did with Margaret Larkin.

An established pro-broadcasting member of the INBA, Cisco Cotto started his radio career while he was a student at Western Illinois University, where he was on the air at Tri States Public Radio in Macomb, at WIUM and WIUW. After he worked at WBYS in Canton, Illinois, he joined WMAQ in Chicago as a reporter, eventually reporting and anchoring at WLS Radio and now WBBM Newsradio, where he is a morning anchor. This is from a livestream that Cisco did with Margaret Larkin, who interviewed him via Zoom.

Longtime INBA member Jeff Burnett describes his journey from Rockford, Illinois to Indianapolis, Indiana, where he is a news producer at 13News WTHR. He previously was a producer at 25 News WEEK-TV in Peoria and at WHAS11 in Louisville, Kentucky. As a student at Illinois State University, he covered politics for TV-10 under Laura Trendle-Polus' guidance (who is the "Laura" he mentions during the interview) and graduated from the Public Affairs Reporting Program at University of Illinois-Springfield. This edited version is from a livestream that Jeff did with Margaret Larkin.

A total legend in TV news: John Drummond is best known for covering mobsters and corruption for CBS TV in Chicago. He talks about starting out in radio reporting and eventually getting into TV, where he was a general assignment reporter. His renown led to being in the movie "The Fugitive" in the opening scene. John was interviewed by Margaret Larkin via phone.

In addition to spending many years in Chicago broadcast radio as a reporter and news manager at WXRT, WNUA, FM News, and WGN, Charlie Meyerson expanded his digital journalism experience at the Tribune Company, the Chicago Tribune, and Rivet. He now runs his own successful digital outlet called Chicago Public Square. He talked about writing, news gathering, opportunities in the changing media, advice, and more. This is from a livestream discussion with Margaret Larkin.

Over the past several years, master reporter Phil Rogers has investigated and reported stories in Chicago and all over the nation and the world. He has been at NBC in Chicago since 1991 after working at WBBM Newsradio and at stations in Oklahoma. He talks about notable stories he has covered, why journalism is important, wisdom he has gained, why he loves being a reporter, advice for reporting, and a lot more. This interview comes from a livestream that Phil did with Margaret Larkin.

After starting out on the air in sports radio at Tribune Media, Lauren Lapka became a TV news reporter at KODE in Joplin, Missouri, then anchored and reported at KSN. She worked at KVAL-TV in Eugene, Oregon before returning to Chicago to be an anchor at WGN Radio. She shares lessons she's learned, why she loves broadcast journalism, gives advice, and a lot more. This interview is from a livestream with Margaret Larkin.

Before she became the Kane County Public Information Officer, Julie Mann worked for a few decades in radio news, starting out as an intern at WGN Radio, then as a reporter in Kane County, an anchor at WMAQ, and an anchor and reporter at WBBM until she became the Managing Editor there. Julie was interviewed by Margaret Larkin in a livestream, and this is an edited version of that interview.

Reporter and local host of All Things Considered, Sue Stephens has been working at WNIJ and WNIU public radio stations for several years, and has won various journalism awards. She is sincerely interested in people and is very passionate about covering interesting stories, and capturing compelling audio, all over northern Illinois. Sue was interviewed by Margaret Larkin via Zoom.

A graduate of Southern Illinois University and a Chicago native, John Dempsey stayed in Illinois for his entire reporting and anchoring career. He worked for several years at WLS Radio after working at WBBM Newsradio, WJOL in Joliet, and in public radio at WSIU in Carbondale and WBEZ in Chicago. He also was a TV reporter in Chicago at WFLD/Fox Chicago. He talks about broadcast writing, what he's learned in his almost 40 years in broadcast journalism, advice he has for journalists, how he thrived in a competitive business, and more. John was interviewed by Margaret Larkin via Zoom.

For several years, Max Armstrong has been covering important agricultural issues in Illinois, the Midwest, and throughout the country. He is the Director Of Broadcasting for Farm Progress, is the host of Farm Progress America, Max Armstrong's Midwest Digest, and This Week In AgriBusiness. He also was a Business/Agri-Business Broadcaster for over 30 years at WGN Radio. He is popular on Ag Twitter (@maxarmstrong). Max was interviewed by Margaret Larkin via Zoom.

After spending her entire life in Illinois, Michele Rave has just started a reporting job at Univision in Dallas-Fort Worth, where she is also a multimedia journalist. Before becoming a Spanish-language reporter, she was an English-language multimedia journalist and producer at WIFR-TV, and a multimedia journalist at WTVO-TV/WQRF-TV in Rockford. She talks about why she loves TV, how she went from market 145 to number 5, what makes a good story, advice, and more. Michele was interviewed by Margaret Larkin via Zoom.

Pat Cassidy retired from WBBM Newsradio after several successful years of anchoring news in the morning there and at WMAQ, WBMX, and other radio stations. He talks about what he learned, his success, notable stories, and the most embarrassing mistake he made on the air. Margaret Larkin interviewed him at WBBM a couple of days before he retired in late 2021. This podcast also includes parts of an interview that she did with him at WBBM in 2013.

As a multimedia journalist at ABC and FOX TV stations in Springfield, Illinois, Jordan Elder has covered various local stories and talks about reporting, writing, pitching, social media, and video editing, and gives advice for getting into the media, how she got into TV, why she loves being a journalist, her hometown Kansas City, her educational experience in Arizona, and more. Jordan was interviewed by Margaret Larkin via Zoom.

In East Peoria, Gabi Guerrero is a multimedia journalist at Heart of Illinois and WEEK-TV. She talks about how being from a small town has helped her reporting, how COVID and the media are perceived in Central Illinois, how her goals have changed since she graduated from Illinois State University, advice for getting into the media and persevering, why she wants to go into management, and the importance of digital media. Gabi was interviewed by Margaret Larkin via Zoom.

Bob Kessler has just become the Midday News Anchor at WGN Radio. He talks about his career, including working at Voice News Network, Rivet, WGN Radio, and The Ramsey Lewis Morning Show; how he got from producing to being on the air, the importance of airchecks, dealing with changing circumstances, and how Zen Buddhism helps his work. Bob was interviewed outside by Margaret Larkin in downtown Chicago.

After spending several years in the corporate world, Yvonne Boose joined the journalism profession, currently as an Arts and Culture Reporter for WNIU and WNIJ radio. She talks about her work experience, writing, and what it's like to live and work in the far western suburbs/exurbs. Yvonne was interviewed by Margaret Larkin via Zoom.

INBA board member Rich Egger talks about how the radio station "paid the price" for reporting on issues with the administration at Western Illinois University, why it's important to report the truth, why he likes working in a small market, some interesting stories he's reported, what makes a good story, and why he likes living in Macomb. Rich was interviewed by Margaret Larkin at Illinois State University, after an INBA board meeting that they both attended.

After 20 years, Dave Marsett is retiring from WBBM Newsradio. He has worked in radio for half a century as a news director, reporter, and broadcaster at stations including WYSL in Buffalo, New York. He talks about how he became a minister during his radio career, why he likes anchoring, tips for broadcasting, the first time the news was used to make a point by the people in power, bias, and more. Dave was interviewed at WBBM by Margaret Larkin.

Paul Lisnek has been working in TV for several years, most recently as the political analyst for WGN-TV and anchor of the WGN-TV Political Report. He shares advice for interviews, effective communication, and staying focused. He also discusses how he remains neutral and why politicians think he is fair. Paul is actively involved with his alma mater, the University of Illinois, and talks about the legacy he is leaving, and how he helps the community. Paul was interviewed by Margaret Larkin in Chicago via Zoom.