University News

"Western Illinois Magazine" is now available (Dec. 7, 2009). Produced by Western Illinois University journalism students, the premier issue of the free publication includes a cover feature on George Harker, also known as "Dr. Leisure," the only tenured professor ever fired at WIU. According to Editor in Chief Lauren Finkler (a senior journalism major), the students' goal for the magazine is "to spotlight intriguing subjects with regional appeal."
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WIU Journalism Students Publish "Western Illinois Magazine"

December 7, 2009

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MACOMB, IL -- Journalism students at Western Illinois University have produced "Western Illinois Magazine," a new publication designed to showcase interesting people, places and things in Western Illinois.

The premier issue of the free publication, which can be found in or near "Western Courier" newspaper racks on the WIU campus and in Macomb this week, includes a cover feature on George Harker, also known as "Dr. Leisure," the only tenured professor ever fired at WIU; a story about Monastic Fleece, a monastery near Galesburg where nuns and monks raise champion llamas; a look at old-fashioned soda fountains in the region; and an article on the five most popular majors at Western.

"Our goal is to spotlight intriguing subjects with regional appeal," said Lauren Finkler, a WIU senior journalism major from Algonquin (IL), and editor in chief of the new publication. "We don't want this to simply be a Western Illinois University publication, but one that focuses on great stories found anywhere in Western Illinois."

The student-run magazine is entirely funded from advertising and will be produced once each semester. A portion of the magazine's profits will go to scholarships for WIU journalism majors. Advisers include veteran Illinois journalist and WIU journalism professor Bill Knight and Rich Moreno, director of Student Publications at WIU and a former magazine publisher.

Learn more about WIU's English and journalism department at www.wiu.edu/english/. Join the Facebook group for "Western Illinois Magazine" at facebook.com/group.php?gid=198794160090.

Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
Office of University Communications & Marketing