NIU Today

Susan Stephens of the WNIJ News staff has captured three first-place awards in the Illinois Associated Press Broadcasters Association Journalism Excellence Award in the Downstate Radio division. She was named Best Newswriter for the second year in a row. Judges evaluate a sampling of the reporter’s writing in stories that aired in 2012. Stephens’ entries...

The popular National Public Radio news quiz show “Wait, Wait … Don’t Tell Me” takes over the Coronado Performing Arts Center in Rockford at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 4. This Chicago-based production features host Peter Sagal, official judge and scorekeeper Carl Kasell and a panel of writers and humorists who help celebrity guests and play-at-home...

Staci Hoste has been named director and general manager of Northern Public Radio, the five-station network owned and operated by NIU. Hoste served as interim director after the February 2012 death of her predecessor, the late Tim Emmons. When it became clear that Emmons would not survive his cancer, he worked closely with Hoste to craft...

News reporter Jenna Dooley has come board full-time as Morning Edition producer at Northern Public Radio. No stranger to the area or to the radio station, Dooley earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism from NIU and has served as weekend host and part-time reporter for WNIJ. She spent several years working for WUIS Public Radio...

WNIJ/WNIU (Northern Public Radio) will host a “Business After Hours” in conjunction with both the DeKalb Chamber of Commerce and the Sycamore Chamber of Commerce. The event will take place from 4:30 to 7 p.m. Thursday, May 10, at the NIU Broadcast Center, 801 N. First St. in DeKalb. Plans include studio tours, door prizes,...

Northern Public Radio was one of eight public radio organizations nationwide selected to participate in a special 11-week training session on advancing the use of digital media to enhance the public radio experience. The training program is funded by the Knight Foundation through NPR (National Public Radio). Development Director and Interim General Manager Staci Hoste,...

The Illinois Associated Press Broadcasters Association recently announced winners in the 2011 Journalism Excellence Contest. WNIJ (89.5-FM) reporter Susan Stephens was named “Best Newswriter” and took first place in the “Hard News Feature” category in the downstate radio division of the Illinois Associated Press Broadcasters Association 2011 Journalism Excellence contest. Judges evaluated a variety of...

Tim Emmons, director and general manager of Northern Public Radio since 1997, died at home Saturday after a long battle with colon cancer. He was 53. Emmons is survived by his wife, Charlene, their son, Daniel, and their daughter, Jordan. Funeral services are planned during the morning of Saturday, Feb. 25, at Christ Community Church,...

Seems like just yesterday that National Public Radio’s Carl Kasell was in town to help launch WNIJ, the news-talk station of Northern Public Radio. Twenty years later, WNIJ is stronger than ever, thanks to its loyal listeners and supporters. Join WNIJ in welcoming Kasell, the retired NPR newscaster and official “Wait, Wait … Don’t Tell...

As staff and faculty return for a new academic year enriched with guest speakers, special events and workshops, they are encouraged to consider the natural marketing partner available in Northern Public Radio. Two public radio stations licensed to Northern Illinois University provide access to the educated, engaged audience they want to reach. And, for a...

Public radio station 89.5-WNIJ invites listeners, supporters and friends to an open house from 3 to 7 p.m. Thursday, April 28, at the Broadcast Center, 801 N. First St. in DeKalb. An official cake-cutting ceremony is planned for 4 p.m. The gathering officially celebrates WNIJ’s 20 years of broadcasting with refreshments, displays of memorabilia and staff-guided tours...

Classical WNIU will host a two-day pledge drive from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday, March 22, and Wednesday, March 23. To raise the funds necessary to keep commercial-free classical music on the air 24 hours a day, WNIU conducts several brief on-air fundraising campaigns each year with the goal of turning listeners into contributing...