Wgn Layoffs Reveal Nine On-Air Cuts and Wider Newsroom Reductions Amid Merger Pressure
The latest Wgn Layoffs have seen a significant group of on-air personnel dismissed Monday, with named anchors, reporters, a meteorologist and a political analyst among those let go. The moves come as the station’s parent company moves forward with a high-stakes acquisition that has prompted broad cost-cutting across the organization.
Wgn Layoffs: Who was cut and the immediate newsroom impact
The round of cuts included multiple recognizable on-air figures. The personnel identified as let go are entertainment critic and reporter Dean Richards; sports anchor Chris Boden; news anchors Ray Cortopassi, Sean Lewis and Judy Wang; reporters Julian Crews and Bronagh Tumulty; meteorologist Mike Janssen; and political analyst Paul Lisnek. One account listed nine on-air personnel cut, while another characterized the move as eight reporters and anchors, reflecting a discrepancy in early tallies.
More staff could be laid off Tuesday. The timing of some dismissals was abrupt: Ray Cortopassi was laid off in the middle of his shift, leaving Micah Materre to anchor solo Monday night. Sean Lewis, identified as a weekend morning anchor and a nearly 20-year veteran of the station, was informed of his dismissal Monday afternoon after filing what became his final report for the noon broadcast.
Details on the on-air departures and career notes
Several of the on-air personnel cut had long tenure or profiles tied to the station’s broader history. Dean Richards joined the station in 1991 as a staff announcer and became a regular contributor in 1998. Julian Crews has covered the city and state since 1996. Chris Boden’s sports coverage spans more than 30 years across multiple local TV and radio outlets. Judy Wang began at a now-defunct local channel in 1995 before joining the station in 2009. The layoffs therefore impacted some talents who were nationally known from the station’s earlier status as a superstation.
Behind-the-scenes reductions and cumulative newsroom cuts
The on-air dismissals follow earlier behind-the-scenes cuts. Recent reductions included copywriters, and additional staffing moves in recent months included six newswriters and three technical directors last month and four floor directors in October. These changes reflect a broader pattern of newsroom trimming that has extended beyond the on-air roster.
Financial calculus: merger debt, varying price tags and regulatory hurdles
Executives have framed the cuts as part of cost control tied to a major acquisition. The parent company is pursuing a purchase of Tegna, with one figure cited for that deal at $6. 2 billion and another at $6. 8 billion in separate accounts. The acquisition would expand the company’s reach substantially, with one description noting coverage of roughly 80% of U. S. TV households if completed. The transaction has regulatory implications that include a requirement for the Federal Communications Commission to lift a 39% ownership cap in order to proceed. A federal regulator was described as having signaled readiness to approve the merger in recent weeks.
The company has emphasized its broader strategy in a prepared statement: "Nexstar does not comment on personnel issues, but the company is taking steps necessary to compete effectively in this period of unprecedented change. " The company also continues to carry debt from a prior $4. 1 billion purchase in 2019, a factor observers have linked to the need for cost reductions ahead of the new acquisition.
Station context, ratings and reader-facing notices
The station remains described as very profitable despite shifting viewing habits. Ratings notes characterizing the station’s performance emphasize strong morning numbers, dominance over a local competitor in a key late-evening slot, and competitiveness at the 10 p. m. hour. Its popular morning-news show has been emulated by other stations.
Alongside the personnel announcements, the webpage presenting these developments included an appeal for voluntary donations from readers to keep news accessible, and displayed links for Terms of Use, Privacy Notice, Cookie Policy, Terms of Sale and an AI policy.
What happens next and the current uncertainty
The cuts are framed as an apparent effort to reduce costs in anticipation of heavier debt tied to the Tegna purchase. With differing tallies of the number of on-air staff affected and the explicit note that more staff could be cut Tuesday, these developments remain in flux. Recent updates indicate details may evolve as the company and regulators move forward on the acquisition and as internal staffing decisions continue.
