Sean Crawford
Managing Editor, NPR Illinois/ CAB Ex-OfficioSean has led the NPR Illinois news operations since the fall of 2009. He replaced the only other person to do so in the station's history, Rich Bradley.
Prior to taking over the News Department, Sean worked as Statehouse Bureau Chief for NPR Illinois and other Illinois Public Radio stations. He spent more than a dozen years in the statehouse press room, winning numerous awards for his reporting, including a national Capitolbeat honor for coverage of former Gov. Rod Blagojevich's impeachment and removal from office.
Overall, Sean has logged 40 years in journalism. He began his broadcasting career at his hometown station WJPF in Herrin, Illinois while still in high school. It was there he learned to cover local government, courts and anything else that made the news.
He spent time in the Joliet area as News Director and Operations Manager for radio station WKBM and worked for a chain of weekly newspapers for two years. Along with news coverage, he reported heavily on sports and did on-air play by play.
Sean hosts weekly shows Statewide and State Week, which air across Illinois Public Radio stations. He holds a Master's Degree in Public Affairs Reporting from the University of Illinois Springfield.
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The immigration enforcement campaign in the Chicago area has gotten quieter, but not silent. -
Five years ago, a prominent letter rippled through the Chicago theater community, sparked by outrage at the murder of George Floyd. It put an industry in the spotlight, but did it make a difference? -
The skull was found in September,. -
League organizers say they chose Springfield because of its location and the city was also the site of the first game where women were paid to play baseball in 1875. -
Todd Snider died November 14, 2025. The following is an archival interview previewing his performance at a NPR Illinois Bedrock 66 Live show January 13, 2012.—Todd Snider says what’s on his mind. His music is steeped in his beliefs about war and politics, religion and any other subject often viewed as taboo for most artists. Snider’s latest cd “The Storyteller” allows him to further explain his songs and whatever else is on his mind. -
Lake Decatur, the water source for the city and Mt. Zion residents, is about three feet below normal. -
The retiring senator was among a handful of Democratic lawmakers to help Republicans reopen the federal government after the longest-ever shutdown.
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First Listen for Friday, Nov. 14, 2025 -
The two rival newspaper critics began their landmark pairing on Chicago public television. -
First Listen for Thursday, Nov. 13, 2025
