For Immediate Release
Friday, March 7, 2014
WSIU Radio, Illinois Humanities Council to Launch Local Radio Series
Southern Illinois Wonders to Debut March 12
Carbondale, Ill. -- Not only do several of America's major rivers converge in southern Illinois, so do important streams of American history, culture, and thought. Southern Illinois Wonders, a new weekly regional radio series, will celebrate those streams.
Presented by the Illinois Humanities Council and produced by WSIU Public Radio, the public radio stations of Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Southern Illinois Wonders will feature five-minute humanities-themed programs focusing on the history, art, culture, and other wonders of southern Illinois. The series will air on WSIU 91.9 FM, WSIU 91.9 HD, WUSI 90.3 FM, and WVSI 88.9 FM on Wednesdays at 6:30 & 8:30am and 5:29pm beginning on March 12.
From steamboat building on the Ohio River to Popeye's statue overlooking the Mississippi in Chester, from Charles Dickens' writings influenced by his travels in southern Illinois to the musings of contemporary local poets like Gary DeNeal of Harrisburg, from stories of going down to "Egypt" to buy corn to stories of escaping through it on the Underground Railroad, Southern Illinois Wonders will highlight the region's place in the cultural landscapes of the state, the nation, and the world.
"It's a pleasure to work with the Illinois Humanities Council on this series, and we look forward to seeing the effort grow," says Jeff Williams, General Manager for WSIU Radio. "Southern Illinois is blessed with many fantastic voices that reflect the cultural richness and diversity of our region. Southern Illinois Wonders is a great way to share these unique stories and experiences in a way that will enhance our quality of life."
“We're very excited to be working again with our valued partner WSIU Public Radio in this new series,” says IHC Executive Director Angel Ysaguirre. “Southern Illinois Wonders will create opportunities for audiences to learn about the region's long history and distinctive culture, from those who study, celebrate, and live it.”
Programs will be presented as straightforward essays or commentaries, while others will be developed in more creative or experimental formats. After broadcast, each episode will be available as streaming audio or podcast online at wsiunews.org and www.prairie.org/programs/southern-illinois-wonders. Additional online resources will include a series overview, and a complete schedule of topics and presenters. WSIU's local Southern Illinois Wonders web page will be available at wsiunews.org after March 17.
About WSIU Public Broadcasting
WSIU Public Broadcasting is licensed to the Board of Trustees of Southern Illinois University and is an integral part of the College of Mass Communication & Media Arts on the Carbondale campus. The WSIU stations reach more than three million people across five states and beyond through three digital public television channels, three public radio stations, a radio information service, 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 WSIU Radio news online at wsiunews.org and on WSIU's Facebookand Twitter pages. WSIU's programs and services are partially funded by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.
About the Illinois Humanities Council
The Illinois Humanities Council (IHC) is a philanthropic and educational organization dedicated to making the humanities a vital part of the lives of individuals and communities in Illinois, regardless of their economic resources, cultural background, or geographic location. This year, the IHC marks 40 years of developing or funding educational activities and programs throughout the state, including lectures, seminars, performances, exhibitions, films, library discussions, and written materials -- all free and open to the public. Organized as a state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities in 1973, the IHC is now a private nonprofit (501 [c] 3) supported by state, federal, and private funds.
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