Former WRMJ owner John Hoscheidt being honored by the Illinois Broadcasters Association this week. Hoscheidt is receiving the “W. Russell Withers Jr., IBA 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, who have devoted years to bringing local programming to their audiences while serving as a pillar in the community, exemplifying the true meaning of “Localism.”
Hoscheidt sold WRMJ in August of 2023 and served the station another year as WRMJ transitioned to new ownership. Here was a conversation during his last day at the station on July 31.
Hoscheidt is scheduled to accept the IBA Broadcast Pioneer Award during the association’s conference luncheon, this Tuesday at Illinois State University’s Bone Center.