WGN-TV Lays Off Multiple On-Air Staff
Chicago's WGN-TV, owned by Nexstar, has laid off eight to nine on-air reporters and anchors in a significant cost-cutting measure. The move is part of a broader restructuring amid shifts in the media industry. Such high-profile layoffs can impact local consumer sentiment and are often monitored as an indicator of broader economic health.
- Among the nine on-air staff laid off were veteran reporters and anchors, including entertainment critic Dean Richards, sports anchor Chris Boden, and evening news co-anchor Ray Cortopassi. The loss of such long-tenured journalists is viewed by some as a significant depletion of institutional knowledge about Chicago's communities. - The layoffs are part of a cost-cutting strategy by parent company Nexstar Media Group, which is reportedly managing debt in anticipation of a pending $6.2 billion merger with broadcaster Tegna. If approved, the deal would make Nexstar the largest regional television operator in the United States, controlling over 260 stations. - This event is part of a larger pattern of staff reductions in Chicago media, with recent layoffs also occurring at the Chicago Tribune and Chicago Public Media, the parent of WBEZ and the Chicago Sun-Times. The trend reflects a broader consolidation within the media industry, where the 25 largest chains own a third of all newspapers. - Research from institutions like the University of Notre Dame and the University of Illinois–Chicago has shown a correlation between the decline of local news coverage and negative economic consequences. Studies indicate that after a local newspaper closes, municipal borrowing costs can increase, potentially impacting property taxes and the financing environment for real estate projects. - Nexstar's strategy extends beyond local news; the company also acquired The CW Network and is shifting its programming from costly scripted shows to lower-cost unscripted content and live sports, aiming to make the network profitable by 2025-2026. - The company has been focused on reducing operating and programming costs across its assets to increase cash flow. Prior to the on-air staff reductions, WGN-TV had already eliminated positions for newswriters, technical directors, and floor directors in preceding months. - In addition to acquiring WGN-TV as part of its 2019 purchase of Tribune Media, Nexstar also runs the national cable news network NewsNation, which is based out of the same Chicago studios. The company has been expanding NewsNation's programming with the stated goal of providing a nonpartisan news alternative.
