A Peoria broadcasting legend has ended his career after 50 years. Chuck Collins retired mid-October as Chief Meteorologist at 25 News, where he’d been on the air since 2009. He had also worked “across the river” at WMBD-TV in Peoria for 23 years prior. Before becoming a forecaster and then a meteorologist, he was a news reporter and anchor down the hall with WMBD radio in Peoria. But broadcasting started even earlier than that for Collins. His first job was at a small radio station in Sullivan, Illinois, in the summer of 1976.

He’s been an INBA member for many years, and has participated in convention programming several times.

Collins was celebrated with a reception on his last day at 25 News, with News Director Leon Hendricks presenting him a proclamation, and his family and many former co-workers attending the reception. Chuck is known for his enthusiasm for all things weather, his devotion to his family, and his love of Bond, James Bond.

In this podcast, Margaret Larkin interviews Jeff Burnett, a producer at WTHR in Indianapolis. Burnett is an Illinois native, with a non-traditional path to broadcast journalism.

Burnett talks about why he delayed going to college and what he learned from working at places like Walmart. Burnett participated in ISU’s TV-10 program and graduated from the Public Affairs Reporting Program at University of Illinois-Springfield.

He previously worked as a producer at WEEK-TV in Peoria and WHAS11 in Louisville.

What drew him to journalism was his interest in music and radio. From there, Burnett said he chose his college where he could get experience in Top 40 radio. To learn how he worked his way from ‘Jeff Jams’ on the radio to TV news producer, take a listen.

The INBA Spring 2022 Convention is May 6-8 at the Peoria Marriott Pere Marquette Hotel.

Our keynote speaker is Ray Long, author of The House That Madigan Built. He’ll speak that Saturday evening and will sign books afterward.

The convention starts Friday evening at 6:00 with an open bar and hors d’oeuvres at the Peoria Riverfront Museum’s Dome Planetarium. The museum curator will show several rare items and the planetarium director will present a show on the overhead dome. A shuttle bus will provide transportation to and from the hotel, all in Peoria’s lively downtown.

SATURDAY SESSIONS

•  9:00-9:45 AM – Time, Stress and Health Management with a psychologist, dietician, and others
•  10:00-11:15 AM – Transportation and Infrastructure with former U. S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, current Illinois Transportation Secretary Omer Osman, and others
• 11:30 AM -12:45 PM – Environment and Climate Reporting with Illinois State Climatologist Trent Ford and others
• 1:00-2:00 PM – Lunch and Business Meeting
• 2:30-3:45 PM – The Face of Law Enforcement with representatives of the Illinois Fraternal Order of Police and Chiefs of Police Association
• 2:30 PM – Concurrent session for student resume & reel feedback
• 6:00 PM – Banquet with Ray Long, scholarship winners and SINBA awards

SUNDAY SESSION

• 9:30-10:45 AM – Covering Partisan Politics with Ray Long, Brad McMillan, and Tiffany White of the Dirksen Congressional Center

The deadline for room reservations at the hotel is April 22. Please mention the INBA for a rate of $109 plus tax. Call 309-637-6500 to book your room or click here. Convention registration is open until April 29. Click here to register for the convention. If you can’t attend the whole weekend, there are options to attend different parts of the weekend.

Contact H Wayne Wilson at hwilson@mtco.com with any questions or requests.

To book a room at our group rate of $109 per night with free parking, please click here or call 309-637-6500.

Deadline for room reservations is April 22.

Convention registration cost: 

Members: $115

Spouses: $95

Students: $95

Non-members: $130

Saturday day only (includes lunch): $50

Saturday evening banquet only: $50

According to the Chicago Sun-Times, he was found unresponsive in his favorite recliner at home in St. Charles. They reported he ultimately died of a brain hemorrhage.

This interview is posted in his memory. He was also a Navy Veteran, and according to Rich Samuels, who was a friend of his and coworker at NBC5, he went to Bradley University in Peoria on the GI Bill.

Illinois competes in Region 7, made up of radio and television stations in Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and Michigan.  The awards are broken up in to “Large Market” and “Small Market.”

Broadcasters from across the state took home a total of 25 Regional Murrows, with two stations, WBBM-TV and WBBM Newsradio in Chicago, winning the top honor of Overall Excellence.

The Edward R. Murrow Awards recognize outstanding achievement in electronic journalism are among the most respected journalism honors in the world.

All 25 awards will now advance to the national competition.  Winners from that competition will be announced later this summer.

Here’s a breakdown of the awards won by stations in Illinois:

Large Market Television

Overall Excellence
WBBM-TV
WBBM, Chicago

Digital
WBBM
WBBM, Chicago

Excellence in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Beyond the Numbers: Chicago’s Deadly Disparities
WBBM, Chicago

Excellence in Innovation
Left in the Dark
WBBM, Chicago

Excellence in Writing
Edwards’ Writing Composite
WBBM, Chicago

Hard News
Eviction Protections Leaving Landlords Homeless
WBBM, Chicago

Investigative Reporting
My Name is Anjanette Young
WBBM, Chicago

Newscast
CBS 2 News at Six: My Names is Anjanette Young
WBBM, Chicago 

Large Market Radio

Overall Excellence
WBBM Newsradio
WBBM, Chicago

Digital
COVID-19 Coverage
WBEZ, Chicago

Excellence in Writing
How the Green Line, A Pink House and 12 Cents Changed How | See My City
WBEZ & City Bureau, Chicago

News Documentary
Starting College Behind
Chicago Public Media, Chicago

Newscast
WBBM Newscast
WBBM, Chicago

Podcast
Motive Season 3
WBEZ, Chicago

Small Market Television

Breaking News Coverage
Rockford protests the death of George Floyd, racial injustices
WREX, Rockford

Continuing Coverage
Belvidere Police accused of systematic abuse of power, excessive force
WREX, Rockford

Digital
Severe weather education saves lives
WREX, Rockford

Excellence in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Together We Rise: A WMBD/WYZZ Town Hall Special
WMBD/WYZZ, Peoria/Bloomington

Excellence in Video
Who killed Dalton Mesarchik?
Heart of Illinois ABC, East Peoria

Excellence in Writing
James Stratton Composite
WREX, Rockford

Hard News
Fear on 500 Webster Avenue
WREX, Rockford

Investigative Reporting
Belvidere Police accused of systematic abuse of power, excessive force
WREX, Rockford

Small Market Radio

Continuing Coverage
University of Illinois COVID-19 Testing
WILL/Illinois Public Media, Champaign-Urbana

Digital
Illinois Newsroom
WILL/Illinois Public Media, Champaign-Urbana

Hard News
No Wiggle Room
WILL/Illinois Public Media, Champaign-Urbana

“How I am in person is how I get to be with our viewers at home,” she said about her morning anchor job at WMBD, Peoria.

This podcast is worth a listen for those looking for some encouragement about landing that first job and beyond!

Shelbey was interviewed by Margaret Larkin via Zoom.

Miletich talks about what it’s like doing stories for five stations, keeping up a social media presence, and adding substance to web stories. He also details his experience starting as a producer and working his way into his goal of being on air.

He’s on the board of the INBA and has been involved with INBA since college at ISU. He also completed the Public Affairs Reporting program at the University of Illinois Springfield. Mike was interviewed by Margaret Larkin via Zoom.