Peter Medlin

Education Reporter

Carl Nelson

Peter is an education reporter for the station. He is a graduate of North Central College where he was the news editor of their student-run news magazine and website “NCCLinked,” as well as a host for their pure rock radio station WONC. After graduating, he reported for Naperville Community TV, before hopping back into radio at WNIJ. He is also the host of WNIJ's Teachers' Lounge podcast. He loves comic books, writing, running and basketball; and can often be found walking his dog, who is very cute.

Enrollment Exodus: Equity And The Effort To Retain Illinois Students

By Peter Medlin • Sep 23, 2019

What happens when universities see enrollment plunge year after year? For many Illinois schools, they focus on how to hold on to the students already walking their halls. Students often leave between their first and second year.

Teachers' Lounge Coming Soon

By Peter Medlin & Joe Kuntz • Jul 29, 2019

Beginning August 2nd, WNIJ launches a new podcast called Teachers' Lounge on WNIJ telling the stories of education in Illinois with the help of stories from Illinois educators. Join reporter Peter Medlin every other Friday (payday!) for a new episode.

If you are a teacher, you know a teacher who you think should be on the show, or have a story about a teacher that inspired you -- send us an email at teacherslounge@niu.edu to join the conversation.

Also, feel free to send us your ideas for stories and topics for the show to cover.

Rockford Welcomes NBA Champ Fred VanVleet Home With Celebration

By Peter Medlin • Jun 29, 2019

For a moment, it was difficult to tell if they were chanting “F-V-V” or “M-V-P,” but to this crowd it might as well have meant the same thing. Of course, the hundreds of Rockford residents gathered around the City Market Pavilion were chanting “F-V-V” for hometown hero and basketball star Fred VanVleet.