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.

Cisco Cotto: WBBM News Anchor, lifelong Illinois broadcaster

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.

Dave Schwan: WGN Radio News

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.

Redrick Terry: KWQC Anchor

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.

Judy Wang: WGN TV Reporter

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.

Colleen King: from MSNBC to Professor

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.

Jon Hansen - TV, Radio, Sports, Reporting, Podcasting

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.

Rafer Weigel: TV News Anchor and Reporter

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.

Carolina Garibay: Newsradio Reporter and Anchor

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.

Beth Godvik: Writer and Producer at CBS Chicago

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.

Reginald Hardwick: Illinois Public Media

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.

Cisco Cotto: WBBM News Anchor, lifelong Illinois broadcaster

Illinois News Broadcasters Association

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