ABOUT THE HOST
Jak Tichenor joined "Illinois Lawmakers" as Statehouse correspondent in 1991 and later became host and executive producer of the program. A 40+ year veteran broadcast journalist, Tichenor’s credits include in-depth coverage of Illinois politics and government with a focus on the Illinois General Assembly and state executive offices. He has extensive experience as a public media news director and senior video producer including the annual Lincoln Academy of Illinois Convocation and Investiture public television series, numerous weekly TV magazine programs, and documentaries including "P.S. Illinois, the Paul Simon Story," a 90-minute special honoring the late United States Senator, state lawmaker, and crusading journalist.
“I’m thrilled that public media and Capitol News Illinois have joined forces to keep ‘Illinois Lawmakers’ on the air on Illinois Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) stations statewide while expanding the program’s audience to include commercial television stations across Illinois.
This new partnership is critical to providing Illinois residents with reliable, independent, in-depth, up-to-date coverage from the Illinois Capitol after many newspapers and broadcasters shuttered their Statehouse bureaus over the last decade.”