CARBONDALE, ILL. - WSIU Public Broadcasting, the public media arm of Southern Illinois University Carbondale, is proud to announce the return of our flagship program, InFocus, on Thursday, Nov. 10 at 7pm on the WSIU stations and to highlight the accomplishments of series producer Julie Staley.
WSIU’s local television production, InFocus, has expanded to a weekly series this month. It explores the major issues impacting central and southern Illinois with a focus on health, politics, education, and the arts. Through interviews and creative storytelling, the series introduces viewers to the people and organizations hoping to make an impact in the region. The season premiere will broadcast Thursday, Nov. 10 at 7pm on the WSIU stations (WSIU 8.1, WUSI 16.1, WSEC 14.1, WQEC 27.1 and WMEC 22.2) and will also be available to livestream online at wsiu.org and via the PBS Video app.
The new season of InFocus will explore several topics of regional importance with a special emphasis on the health of Illinois waterways and rural access to healthcare.
“InFocus will dive right into its new season with a look at how invasive carp are impacting Illinois waterways, and what some leaders are hoping to do to manage their population,” says Jennifer Fuller, WSIU Associate Director for News & Public Affairs. “We’ll also take a closer look at access to healthcare and other services in rural areas and explore the issues important to our audience. We’re really looking forward to bringing these great segments to the people we serve,” she adds.
WSIU is also pleased to highlight the achievements of WSIU television producer Julie Staley for her outstanding contributions to broadcasting and for her Emmy win at the 2022 Mid-America Regional Emmy Awards on October 29th. Staley took home the honor for a special InFocus segment on the Negro Baseball League which was nominated for best ‘Historical/Cultural - Short Format Content.’
“Julie’s contributions to InFocus have – and will continue to bring – a wonderful depth and context about issues and events in our region,” says Fuller. “She and her team bring stories to life, focusing on history and the arts. Journalism is so important, and local journalism provides that added layer of understanding to our audience, so that their shared experience can be seen and heard on a broader level,” Fuller adds.
“This is such an honor to be recognized by the NATAS for the work that’s been done for InFocus and for the community,” says Julie Staley. “It was surprising and humbling because so many talented and experienced journalists were nominated. I also was thrilled that my father could be there with me. He’s given me so much inspiration and support in my career,” she adds.
Staley holds several roles in addition to her reporting partnership with WSIU. She serves as the director of the Staley Family Foundation; the president of the Staley Museum in Decatur, Illinois; CEO of Spencer Films, LLC; and she is the president of the Spencer Theatre Company. InFocus is produced in partnership with the Staley Family Foundation.
“This is a win for the community because these are stories we tell about places we live. It’s about the history, and the culture, and the arts that celebrate the people in our area,” says Staley. “The Staley Family Foundation supports historic preservation as one of its missions and we try to tell stories that show the rich history of our area. This particular piece that was awarded is about the Negro Baseball League, and I have had many people tell me they didn’t know much about this part of baseball’s past. So, it is deeply meaningful to uncover important pieces of history and keep a light shining on those stories,” she adds.
“Preserving the arts and culture is central to our mission. WSIU congratulates Julie Staley for this much deserved recognition,” says WSIU Executive Director, Dr. Fred Martino. “We are so proud to feature Julie's work on InFocus. WSIU will be able to include an increasing number of interviews and features with the expansion of InFocus as a weekly series,” he adds.
WSIU’s Illinois Stories series was also nominated for best ‘Interview/Discussion - Short Form or Long Form Content’ at the 2022 Mid-America Regional Emmy Awards for a segment on the Udder Hill Dairy in Carthage, Illinois.
About WSIU Public Broadcasting
WSIU Public Broadcasting is licensed to the Board of Trustees of Southern Illinois University Carbondale in partnership with the Office of the Chancellor and the College of Mass Communication & Media Arts. The WSIU stations reach more than five million people across six states and beyond through five digital public television channels (WSIU/WUSI TV – Southern Illinois, WSEC/WMEC/WQEC TV – greater Springfield-area), three public radio stations (WSIU 91.9FM Carbondale, WUSI 90.1 FM Olney, WVSI 88.9FM Mt. Vernon), a radio information service for the blind (Southern Illinois Radio Information Service/ SIRIS), a website, and an education and community outreach department.
WSIU's mission is to improve the quality of life of the people they serve. The WSIU stations partner with other community organizations to promote positive change and to support the academic and public service missions of Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Learn more and get the latest station news online at wsiu.org and on WSIU's Facebook and Twitter pages.
WSIU's programs and services are partially funded by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.
###
