Heartland Newsfeed features hard-hitting investigative reporting, in-depth political coverage, timely behind-the-scenes sports analysis, and insightful entertainment and cultural coverage.
Our news organization strives to maintain a commitment to transparency and deliver groundbreaking news that no local or mainstream platform provides.
We also strive to have a diverse staff, which we hope to see to full fruition by 2030.
Heartland Newsfeed is working on expanding its bureaus with the following digital departments which include seven former print and/or digital newspapers: Arena SportsNet Chicago, Champaign-Urbana Courier, The Daily American News, Illinois Intelligencer, ISNet America, Metro-East Journal, Murphysboro American, The Illinois Report, Sideline Sports Media, Mattoon Messenger, 365 News Daily, Baseball News Portal, and Financial News Minute.
We are looking to acquire digital media outlets as time passes.
History
Heartland Newsfeed was founded on December 31, 2016 combining passions for journalism and information technology. (Founder and editor-in-chief Jake Leonard has been a freelance journalist since 2009, and he’s owned a tech firm since 2004.) It was launched with the initiative that the news be reported without the toxic influences that the mainstream media espouses and the excessive political theater involved with some alternative media outlets.
That initiative has not changed as the digital publication focuses more closely on local news in central and southern Illinois as well as eastern Missouri in addition to national, world, and other news features, such as sports.
On December 31, 2018, its sister radio network — Heartland Newsfeed Radio Network — would launch, Leonard’s second venture into Internet radio streaming.
The launch surrounded the relaunch and rebranding of its broadcast predecessor — WWPM MediaNet — which operated from 2010 to 2013 as a variety talk and music station.
The relaunch would no longer focus on music due to increasing broadcasting royalty costs, but rather doubling down on the talk radio programming, adding sports content from San Francisco-based Sports Byline USA Radio Network.
More information about current programming is available here.
| Publisher | Heartland Media Group of Central Illinois |
| General Manager | Jake Leonard |
| Advertising Director – Website | |
| Advertising Director – Radio and Podcast | |
| Advertising Sales Staff | |
| Office Administrator | |
| Office Staff |
| Editor-In-Chief | Jake Leonard | @JakeLeonardJRN |
| Associate Editor – Illinois | ||
| Associate Editor – Missouri | ||
| Associate Editor – National | ||
| Managing Editor – Illinois | ||
| Managing Editor – Missouri | ||
| Managing Editor – Sports | ||
| Managing Editor – Politics | ||
| Managing Editor – Investigations | ||
| Managing Editor – Entertainment | ||
| Editorial Page Editor | Jake Leonard | @JakeLeonardJRN |
| Editorial Board | Jake Leonard, Ben Cox seeking six more board members |
@JakeLeonardJRN @Cox4Liberty |
| Columnists – General | Rix Quinn, Rick Steves |
| Regional Editors | Region | |
| Bond, Christian, Macoupin, Montgomery, Sangamon | IL Region 1 | Jake Leonard |
| Coles, Cumberland, Douglas, Effingham, Moultrie | IL Region 2 East | |
| Fayette, Logan, Macon, Shelby | IL Region 2 West | |
| Champaign, DeWitt, McLean, Piatt | IL Region 3 East | |
| Cass, Morgan, Menard, Scott | IL Region 3 Capital | Ben Cox |
| Mason, Peoria, Tazewell | IL Region 3 West | |
| Adams, Brown, Calhoun, Pike | IL Region 4 | |
| Greene, Jersey, Madison, Monroe, St. Clair | IL Region 5 Metro | |
| Clinton, Jefferson, Marion, Washington | IL Region 5 East | |
| Franklin, Perry, Randolph | IL Region 5 South | |
| Cape Girardeau, Perry | MO Region 6 East | |
| St. Francois, St. Genevieve | MO Region 6 West | |
| Franklin, Gasconade, Jefferson | MO Region 7 | |
| St. Louis City, St. Louis County | MO Region 8 STL Inner Metro | |
| Lincoln, St. Charles, Warren | MO Region 8 STL Outer Metro | |
| Pike, Ralls | MO Region 9 East | |
| Audrain, Monroe, Montgomery | MO Region 9 West | |
| Clark, Lewis, Marion | MO Region 10 East | |
| Knox, Scotland, Shelby | MO Region 10 West |
| Bureau Chiefs | Region | |
| Springfield | Illinois Capital Bureau | |
| St. Louis | St. Louis Bureau | |
| Jefferson City | Missouri Capital Bureau |
| Bureau Chief | |
| Washington, D.C. | |
| Other contributors | |
| Columnists | Thomas Knapp |
Departments
| Associate Editors | |
| Staff Reporters | |
| Digital Exclusives | |
| Prep Sports Editor | |
| Prep Sports Reporters | |
| College Sports Editor | |
| College Sports Reporters | |
| Amateur/Pro Sports Editor | |
| MLB – Cardinals Staff Reporters | |
| NHL – Blues Staff Reporters | |
| UFL – BattleHawks Staff Reporters | |
| MLS – City SC Staff Reporters |
| Investigations Editor | |
| Entertainment Editor | |
| Breaking News Editor | |
| Photo Desk Editor | |
| Photojournalists |
| Managing Editor – Newswire |
| Director of News Productions | |
| Director of Special Projects | |
| Director of Digital Operations |
| Radio Network General Manager and Program Director | Jake Leonard |
| Podcast Network General Manager and Program Director | Jake Leonard |
| Director of Media Partnerships |
