The Long Island University Public Radio Network is dedicated to the ideals of public broadcasting envisioned by the Carnegie Commission: "to be a force in the public interest, a display case for the best of the creative arts, and a forum for public debate." WLIU's mission is to produce high quality entertainment and informational programs of educational value, artistic merit, and journalistic excellence which reflect the diversity of artistic, social, cultural, and intellectual accomplishments of the people of our region and around the world, and to provide information and understanding of the social context in which life, art, and learning are experienced by the people who live and work on Long Island.

As the anchor station for The Long Island University Public Radio Network, WLIU 88.3 FM broadcasts news, jazz and public radio entertainment from the campus of Southampton College. Its signal ranges from Montauk to western Suffolk County and well into southern New England with a balanced blend of jazz and local, national and international news programming presented around the clock, 365 days a year. WLIU 88.3 FM and its sister station WCWP 88.1 FM in Brookville, NY (simulcast) are the only full-service public radio stations licensed to a major Long Island educational institution.

WLIU is a member of National Public Radio and Public Radio International and carries the daily broadcasts of Morning Edition and Marketplace, and is the sole radio broadcast source of the NewsHour with Jim Lehrer.

WLIU is also one of the few remaining radio stations in the United States committed to a strong program schedule of jazz, rhythm and blues, world music, and music from the Broadway theater. Locally and nationally hosted jazz programs are broadcast from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and 8 to 11 p.m. weekdays,overnight from 1am –5am, and weekends from 1am – 5am, and weekends from 1am to noon. Nationally syndicated jazz programs are broadcast from 11 p.m. to 1 a.m. weekdays and throughout the evening and mornings on weekends.

Local weekend programming includes the jazz, rhythm and blues, world and pop mix of The Eclectic Café, Friday Night Soul and American Musical Theater. Other weekend programming features special national features including The Splendid Table, Putumayo World Music Hour, Afropop, and Worldwide Jazz among others.

General Manager Wally Smith, a founding member of Public Radio International, who for more than thirty years has been one of the most innovative leaders in public radio, manages the station.