Randy Eccles
General Manager, NPR Illinois/ Co-Host, Community Voices/ CAB Ex-OfficioSpringfield
Please reach out at randy.eccles@nprillinois.org.
Randy Eccles became NPR Illinois general manager in 2013 after serving as development director since moving to Springfield in 2008. Randy served on the Governor's Local Journalism Task Force 2023-2024.
Randy currently serves as the past-president of the Illinois Public Broadcasting Council (IPBC) – the association for all public media organizations in Illinois.
Randy previously worked at KTAR in Phoenix and WGN in Chicago in programming and marketing management after producing talk shows and sports coverage. He also served in management and news stints at student-run stations WHFH, WONC, and WUEV.
Born in Hinsdale, he was raised by teachers in south suburban Glenwood and graduated from Homewood-Flossmoor High School, then North Central College in Naperville. Randy also spent a lot of time at the family farm in Industry, Illinois (south of Macomb).
Randy served on the Springfield Area Arts Council board and was awarded the best of show in the Springfield Art Association's 2023 Art Synergy program in a collaboration with professional artist Alissa Ohashi.
Randy co-hosts Community Voices and its music-focused edition, CV-X, Saturdays 5 to 7 p.m.
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A Special Temporary Authority (STA) has been extended by the FCC. -
Jerry Nowicki and Jennifer Fuller of Capitol News Illinois discuss how the organization started helping replace the loss of print statehouse reporting and how they have expanded into providing multimedia news coverage to supplement government coverage in Illinois media. -
Reggie Britton is the lead vocalist, drummer, and harmonica player for central Illinois blues band Black Magic Johnson.Reggie discussed the path of his musical journey including playing with Buddy Guy, Koko Taylor, Lonnie Brooks and others. He also shares his challenge with cancer. -
Kate Schwartz (formerly known as Mark Schwartz) is a central Illinois musician who has recorded over 40 albums under her own name and with bands End Times Trio, Forest Saints, Tin Ghost, Demons on Wheels, and collaborations like Petulant Clark. Kate shares how she recently transitoned and how she facillitates a trans support group at the Phoenix Center. -
Nirmala Rajesekar, veena player, discusseds100 Strings, her musical team of musicians coming to the UIS Performing Arts Center October 10, 2024. -
Dr. Deborah Brothers of Lincolnland Community College talks banned books, and a special event at LLCC Sept. 25. -
Chris Vallillo is a musician who combines history and sense of place in much of his work. Forgottonia is an Illinois Humanities Council funded performance project combining music and photography into a memorable take on western Illinois and rural places. -
Max Beckman talks about his appearance at Sept. 13 UIS Date Night event and his music with Waxwell Weckman and others. The Date Night performance will feature an electric bass quintet in a way you might not imagine. -
Ben's creativity overfloweth. Ben Bedford is a Springfield-based internationally recognized folk musician. Ben stages his first art exhibit of his pen and ink work at Perspectives Art Gallery with an opening reception Sept. 7, noon to 5 p.m. -
Ben Hage, Innovate Springfield director, shares the new iSPI speaker series that will bring innovators to the capital to discuss their experiences and to network. The series; Founders, Failures, and Fun will also result in a podcast series in partnership with NPR Illinois.
