Reginald Hardwick

News & Public Affairs Director

About Reginald

Reginald Hardwick is the News & Public Affairs Director at Illinois Public Media. He oversees daily newscasts and online stories. He also manages The 21st Show, a live, weekday talk show that airs on 7 NPR stations throughout Illinois. He is the executive producer of IPM’s annual environmental TV special “State of Change.” And he is the co-creator of Illinois Soul, IPM’s Black-focused audio service that launched in February 2024.

Before arriving at IPM in 2019, he served as News Director at WKAR in East Lansing and spent 17 years as a TV news producer and manager at KXAS, the NBC-owned station in Dallas/Fort Worth. Reginald is the recipient of three Edward R. Murrow regional awards, seven regional Emmy awards, and multiple honors from the National Association of Black Journalists. Born in Vietnam, Reginald grew up in Colorado and is a graduate of the University of Northern Colorado.

Email: rh14@illinois.edu | Twitter: @RNewsWILL

PHOTOS: 2026 LGBTQ pride celebration in Urbana

October 17, 2026 No Comments

Sixteenth annual event includes parade and booths featuring 150 community organizations along Race and Main Streets.

A man in a blue hat and a blazer speaks into a microphone.

Beloved Urbana High School principal Taren Nance dies at age 41

October 11, 2026 No Comments

With his signature fedora hats, Taren Nance referred to himself as “Fresh Principal Nance.”

UPDATE: Champaign County clerk says 600 people need to watch mail for replacement ballots

October 5, 2026 No Comments

A total of 28 people already voted with incorrect ballots in person and by mail.

IPM’s Content Creation Lab returns offering unique opportunity to teen media enthusiasts

September 18, 2026 No Comments

The semester blends hands-on studio time with guided workshops, creative challenges, and real-world media practices.

IPM News reporter recalls Champaign-Urbana’s reaction to September 11 terror attacks

September 11, 2026 No Comments

Jim Meadows was a full-time reporter at Illinois Public Media on that day, and he shared some reflections with IPM News and Public Affairs Director Reginald Hardwick earlier this week.

two men sitting in podcast studio at IPM.

Champaign County Clerk candidates disagree on Trump’s SAVE Act, decline to discuss federal charges

August 31, 2026 No Comments

Champaign County’s incumbent clerk, Democrat Aaron Ammons, faces a challenge from Republican Alan Anderson. During a candidate forum hosted by IPM, the two discussed election administration and local challenges. They declined to comment on allegations against Ammons in a federal indictment.