Local Resident Produces Award-Winning Television Show

Janice Newman, a South Holland resident and library board trustee, was honored in 2022 during the National Federation of Press Women Communications contest ceremony in Fargo North Dakota as an award recipient during the 2022 NFPW Awards for 2nd place for Radio and Television – Talk Show category. Janice Newman produces and host the community public access television show Y? Why Not! that airs locally on Comcast 19 Homewood and over 200 suburban towns around Chicago, CAN TV Chicago, and in over 10 regions across the country.

NFPW is a nationwide organization of women and men pursuing careers across the communication spectrum, including print and electronic journalism, freelancing, new media, books, public relations, marketing, radio and television. Janice advanced to the Nationals by winning first-place in the Illinois Woman’s Press Association state level competition. The show has also received awards for the 2020, 2021, and 2022 competitions, and for the Wisconsin Community Media Awards for 2021 and 2022.

The Y? Why Not! Show’s goal is to help others to achieve their goals by providing valuable information that can help improve their lives through interviewing outstanding guests on the special topics. The show episodes discusses topics on psychology, marriage and family, finances, teen chat, religion, career options, education, life coaching, business tips, and entertainment. The show first aired in December 2018 and has produced over 90 episodes.

Janice was inspired to start the show after a major health issue. She had brain surgery in December 2016 and while recuperating, an accident in the hospital, which a nurse accidentally dropped her, caused her to suddenly lose all ability to communicate including her speech and writing abilities were both negatively impacted. She could only speak three words “I have” and “mokin”. When she spoke or wrote it would come out as gibberish. Janice didn’t cry over the devastation but prayed and talked to God about the situation and what God wanted for her life. She realized that her voice was valuable and could help others. After three and a half days of quiet prayer, her ability to communicate returned.

In 2018 on her birthday, Janice made a decision to start the Y? Why Not! Show as a platform to help others via a talk show. Prior, she had filmed one show with Comcast Homewood in 2008 for a Teen Chat program and was interested in filming again. She said a prayer seeking God’s help on where to start and about three hours later Comcast called unexpectedly inquiring if she would like to produce a show. And the rest is history through God. Janice created the show title to inspire people to reach for their goals and aspirations: “Y? Why Not!” Why not try to reach your goals, you lose out when you don’t try and they never come to fruition.

The Y? Why Not! Show expanded helping others by creating and running a free summer youth group program in South Chicago Heights in 2018 & 2019. Mrs. Newman also writes articles, published an IWPA award-winning self-help book, and has conducted a free life coaching programs at the South Holland Library. The show airs almost daily somewhere across the country and as has a YouTube page bit.ly/ywhynotshow. The show is notfor-profit.