WGN-TV lays off 8 on-air reporters, anchors in massive downsizing
The ax is falling at WGN-Ch. 9, chopping a large swath out of “Chicago’s Very Own” TV newsroom.
Eight veteran reporters and anchors have been laid off Monday, in line with newsroom sources.
Sean Lewis, an almost two-decade veteran at WGN-TV who has anchored the weekend morning broadcast since 2010, obtained the dangerous information Monday afternoon.
“This afternoon, I filed my last report for WGN on the noon show,” mentioned Lewis, 50. “A lot of really good people lost their jobs today, and it’s a shame.”
A union steward at WGN, Lewis was sitting in on a gathering in that position the place a colleague was being laid off. When that assembly was over, his bosses requested him to remain, including his identify to the record. By Monday night, the ultimate tally of layoffs reached eight.
The massive downsizing is casting a pall over the newsroom, in line with insiders, who say Dallas-based proprietor Nexstar Media is decreasing the station to a shell of its former self.
“It’s not often where you can leave a room full of people who work in TV news speechless, and today was one of those days,” he instructed newsroom supply. “It’s been a pretty rough day.”
The layoffs Monday are simply the newest at WGN-TV, which has been eliminating a wide range of positions for a number of months, in line with a number of newsroom sources, who requested to not be recognized for worry of shedding their very own jobs.
Six newswriters have been laid off and three technical director positions have been eradicated final month. In October, 4 ground director positions have been eradicated as nicely, in line with the sources.
“Nexstar does not comment on personnel issues, but the company is taking steps necessary to compete effectively in this period of unprecedented change,” Nexstar spokesperson Gary Weitman mentioned in an announcement Monday.
Akemi Harrison, who was named information director at WGN-TV in August, is reportedly holding group conferences with newsroom workers Tuesday, ostensibly to debate the reorganization, in line with sources.
Nexstar Media purchased WGN-Ch. 9 in 2019 as a part of its $4.1 billion acquisition of Chicago-based Tribune Media — the previous broadcast guardian of Tribune Publishing — creating the nation’s largest native TV station group and shifting WGN’s TV, radio and cable stations underneath the Dallas firm’s possession.
Among its largest initiatives was changing the previous WGN America into NewsNationwhich has advanced right into a 24/7 cable information community, a rankings laggard nonetheless carving out its personal area of interest behind the massive three — Fox News, MS NOW and CNN.
In August, Nexstar reached a deal to purchase rival TV station proprietor Tegna for $6.8 billion, a pending megamerger that may require the Federal Communication Commission to raise a 39% nationwide TV viewers possession cap to win approval.
The following month, Nexstar introduced the choice to tug “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” from its ABC-affiliated stations over feedback the late-night host made relating to the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The transfer was seen by some business analysts as an try and curry favor with FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, who had threatened potential license revocation for associates that continued to hold Kimmel.
Nexstar reinstated the present 9 days later amid widespread backlash from viewers, Hollywood and free speech advocates.
Last week, Carr indicated he was able to approve the Nexstar-Tegna merger.
Launched by the Chicago Tribune, WGN-Ch. 9 hit the airwaves in 1948 from Tribune Tower. For years, the station was finest identified for the (*8*)“Bozo’s Circus,” basic reruns and Chicago-centric programming. These days, WGN stakes its turf by broadcasting a big schedule of native information every week, together with a six-hour day by day morning information block.
Lewis, a Kenosha native born right into a information household, grew up watching WGN by aiming the TV antenna in the direction of Chicago. The metropolis and the station grew to become his house throughout a long term in the air.
“I have loved WGN since I watched it as a kid growing up, and I lived a dream for 19 years, being able to tell Chicago’s stories,” Lewis mentioned. “I can’t wait to see what the next chapter of my story is, but I’m not moving. This is my city.”
The abrupt layoffs of the on-air information workers despatched some reporters packing in “the middle of their shifts” Monday, in line with one supply. The broader downsizing, they worry, might result in a diminution of the general information product at WGN-TV.
Station administration made it clear Monday the discount in drive was attributable to budgetary constraints, Lewis mentioned. The lack of “institutional knowledge of this city and its news” might show much more expensive to WGN, he mentioned.
After being laid off for the primary time in his lengthy profession, Lewis mentioned one remorse tops the record of his unplanned exits.
“I do wish that I was able to say goodbye to the wonderful viewers,” Lewis mentioned.
rchannick@chicagotribune.com
