It broadcasts primarily local news and NPR programs, plus music in the evenings and on weekends.

The station's studio is in the WGLT-Vidette Building on the campus of Illinois State University.

WGLT signed on the air on February 6, 1966, with only 10 watts of power and a studio in Cook Hall.

On August 5, 2013, WGLT dropped jazz programming from its daytime schedule to concentrate on news/talk full time.

Its marquee daily newsmagazine show is "Sound Ideas," airing every weekday.