After six years as WNIU’s news director, Marc Magliari is leaving for a job with United Press International.

UPI has finally proposed an offer that could be accepted by Magliari, after several years of propositions. Bureau chief at UPI’s Champaign bureau will be Magliari’s new position. His new job includes, covering and writing news, agriculture, sciences and sports stories for clients of UPI.

“Challenging” describes the transition, Magliari said. Writing stories in newspaper style, rather than broadcasting will be a change for Magliari, although he did work on his high school newspaper.

“I’ll miss a lot of people,” Magliari said, but his philosophy is to “do everything pretty well and somethings even better.”

“We’re always sorry to see good employees leave,” said Michael Lazar, WNIU General Manager. WNIU is a small station, which provides training and people will often move from WNIU to another job because of the size, Lazar said.

Magliari began his career in radio as a disc jockey for WTAD in Quincy, Ill., his home town. He went to a community college in Quincy and worked for radio station WWQC. Later, he transferred to Sangamon State in Springfield where he worked for the college radio station, WSSU, and for the station in town, WCVS.

In 1979, he became the public affairs director for WNIU, news manager in 1981 and news director in 1983. He also had been writing part-time for UPI during his years at WNIU.

The past 10 years were very interesting for Magliari and he wouldn’t have been there if he wasn’t having a good time, he said. His job with UPI will require less time and will pay substantially more, he said.

Oct. 27 is Magliari’s last day with WNIU and he’ll begin his job commuting to UPI on Oct. 30. In the first week of December he will move to Champaign and actually be settled in, he said.

Magliari has “met a lot of great people in DeKalb and recently Rockford, covered exciting stories and worked with a great staff,” he said.

“I’m leaving with mixed feelings, and in some cases, I wouldn’t mind staying here,” Magliari said. “This next year will be exciting for WNIU because of the move and maybe a second radio frequency. I’m sorry I won’t be a part of it,” said Magliari, the second longest serving public radio news director in Illinois.

“It’s (UPI) is an excellent personal opportunity for him (Magliari),” Lazar said.

Magliari, 32, is divorced and the father of three. His family is one of the hardest parts of leaving, but he’ll be around to visit, he said. His children are excited for him, but will miss him, Magliari said.

Lester Graham, WNIU’s assistant news director, has been recommended for the open position by Magliari, but it’s between Graham and the station, Magliari said.

Lazar did not comment on who might take the position and did not know when that information would be available. He said the employee would be chosen after a civil service test was taken and the three top scorers were interviewed.