Broadcast Pioneer Award

Each year IBA pays tribute to both a Chicago market and downstate broadcaster who have spent most of their careers in Illinois behind the microphone, in front of the camera, in the production room, or in the manager’s office. IBA’s Broadcast Pioneer award was renamed in 2016 as the “W. Russell Withers Jr., IBA Broadcast Pioneer Award” in recognizing those, like Withers, have devoted years to bringing local programming to their audiences while serving as a pillar in the community, exemplifying the true meaning of “Localism” before it became popular.

IBA celebrates the long careers of the following broadcasters while thanking them for their contributions to Illinois.