ABOUT WCBU NEWS

 

Meet the staff...

   

Tanya Koonce, News Reporter

    

Tanya was a freelance reporter for WCBU in 2000, and joined the WCBU staff full-time in 2001.  Tanya previously worked at public radio station WUIS in Springfield.  She also spent time at WTAX and WMAY, also in Springfield.  Tanya holds a Bachelors degree in Journalism from Eastern Illinois University, and a Masters Degree in Public Affairs Reporting from the University of Illinois at Springfield.  She spent the first part of her career at WCBU with a special focus on education reporting, and was selected to attend various seminars on the topic held by the Hechinger Institute.  She’s since expanded to cover more municipal issues, chiefly the city of Pekin. 

Tanya is originally from Harristown and Springfield.  She lives in Peoria with her cat, Sophie.  Her hobbies include swimming, biking, cooking and shopping. 

Denise Molina , News Announcer

    

Denise joined WCBU in 2005 to become the local host of Morning Edition.  She came to WCBU from WMBD in Peoria.  Denise previously worked at public radio stations WIUM in Macomb and WVIK in Rock Island  She also worked at WJBC in Bloomington and the Illinois Radio Network's Capital Bureau in Springfield. Denise holds a Bachelors degree in Broadcasting from Western Illinois University, and a Masters Degree in Public Affairs Reporting from the University of Illinois at Springfield.  In addition to her on-air work, Denise reports for WCBU, with an emphasis on transportation and housing issues.

When not at work, Denise is almost always listening to music.  Her favorite artists (right now) are Ben Folds, The Arcade Fire, Peter Bjorn and John, and The Pixies.  Denise is originally from Pontiac, and currently lives in Peoria.

 

In addition to our full-time news staff, some other people you will hear as part of the WCBU News Team:

- Daryl Scott, WCBU's Operations Manager, hosts All Things Considered

- Nathan Irwin, WCBU's Program Director, is also the local host of Day to Day.

- Mat Shaver is a Production Assistant at WCBU.  He hosts Weekend Edition and is the producer of Outside the Horseshoe.

- Sean Crawford, Amanda Vinicky, and Jenna Dooley are with Illinois Public Radio report from the State Capitol in Springfield.

- Sarah Goldstein, and Emily Melchner are Bradley University Students, and our Newsroom Assistants

When you can hear WCBU News...

- WCBU provides the latest local, state, and regional news at 5:30am, 6:30am, 7:30am and 8:30am during Morning Edition; at 12:30pm during Day to Day; and at 4:30pm and 5:30pm during All Things Considered. We recently added local newscasts on Saturday morning during Weekend Edition at 7:35am and 8:35am.

- Features and in-depth pieces from the WCBU News staff and Illinois Public Radio air at various times during our news programming.  You can hear these pieces on the Podcast portion of our web page.

-Outside the Horseshoe, a weekly show focusing on City of Peoria politics and government airs Tuesday nights at 6:00pm, right before the live broadcast of the Peoria City Council meeting.  You can also hear previous editions of the show on our Podcast page.

-WCBU News also produces special programs.  Stay tuned to 89.9FM and check in to the web site for more information.

Contact Us...

- by phone at 309-677-2772

- by fax at 309-677-3462

- via email at wcbunews@bradley.edu

Ethics...

WCBU endeavors to operate under the highest level of journalistic ethics.  We follow the code set forth by the Public Radio News Directors Incorporated (PRNDI).

Public Radio News Directors Inc. is committed to the highest standards of journalistic ethics and excellence. We must stand apart from pressures of politics and commerce as we inform and engage our listeners. We seek truth, and report with fairness and integrity. Independence and integrity are the foundations of our service, which we maintain through these principles:

TRUTH

Journalism is the rigorous pursuit of truth. Its practice requires fairness, accuracy, and balance We strive to be comprehensive. We seek diverse points of view and voices to tell the stories of our communities.

FAIRNESS

Fairness is at the core of all good journalism. We gather and report the news in context, with clarity and compassion. We treat our sources and the public with decency and respect. Our reporting is thorough, timely and avoids speculation.

INTEGRITY

The public's faith in our service rests on our integrity as journalists. Editorial independence is required to ensure the integrity of our work. We identify the differences between reporting and opinion. We guard against conflicts of interest - real and perceived - that could compromise the credibility and independence of our reporting. We are accountable when conflicts occur. We disclose any unavoidable conflicts of interest.

Awards...

Since 1999, WCBU News has won 7 national, 6 regional, and 16 statewide awards for journalistic excellence.

Radio Television News Directors Association Regional Awards

2006 Best Sports Report - Nomar Rehabs with Peoria Chiefs

2006 Best Feature Report - Maynard Ferguson

2005 Best Investigative Report - Peoria County Death Rates

2005 Best Continuing Coverage - District 150 Ousts Superintendent

2003 Best Continuing Coverage - The Closing of Zeller Mental Health Center

2002 Best Series - Health Care Issues for Farm Families

Public Radio News Directors Incorporated National Awards

2006 Best News Spot (2nd Place) - Rivermen Get New Coach

2004 Best News Feature (1st Place) - Keg Registration

2003 Best Newscast (2nd Place) - WCBU Newscast

2000 Best Newscast (1st Place) - WCBU Newscast

2000 Best Continuing Coverage (2nd Place) - Take Me Out to the Ball Game

2000 Best Series (2nd Place) - By Your River Gently Flowing, Illinois, Illinois

1999 Best Continuing Coverage (1st Place) - Springdale Cemetery Saga

Illinois Associated Press Downstate Radio Awards

2007 Best Light Feature (1st Place) – “They Call Her Cata”, Denise Molina

2007 Best Reporter (2nd Place) – Denise Molina

2007 Best Use of Sound (2nd Place) – Wayne Downing Funeral

2007 Best Investigative Report (2nd Place) – Governor Fudges Hospital Numbers

2007 Best Sports Report (2nd Place) – Bradley Basketball Preview

2006 Best Investigative Report (1st Place) - RenPark Property Values

2006 Best Newswriting (2nd Place) - Jonathan Ahl Compliation

2005 Best Spot News (1st Place) - Woodruff High School Shooting

2005 Overall Excellence (2nd Place) - WCBU News Team

2004 Best Investigative Report (1st Place) - Competing Hospitals

2004 Best sports Report (2nd Place) - Bradley Basketball Preview

2003 Best Investigative Report (1st Place) - No Funding for Gambling Addiction

2003 Best Investigative Report (2nd Place) - Ghost Hunting in Bartonville

2000 Best Series (1st Place) - By Your River Gently Flowing, Illinois, Illinois

2000 Best Sports Report (2nd Place) - Amazing Grace

2000 Best Newswriting (2nd Place) - Jonathan Ahl Compliation

Associations...

WCBU and its news staff are active members of the following organizations:

- Public Radio News Directors Incorporated

- Radio and Television News Directors Association

- Illinois News Broadcasters Association