Wgn Layoffs: On-Air Names Revealed as Station Cuts Eight to Nine On-Air Staffers in Latest Round
The latest round of Wgn layoffs has removed multiple on-air reporters, anchors and analysts, forcing immediate schedule changes and stoking uncertainty as the parent company pursues a major acquisition. The Wgn layoffs named high-profile contributors and long-tenured staffers, and the cuts come amid broader newsroom reductions and an ongoing merger review that company leadership has framed as a period of unusual change.
Wgn Layoffs: who was let go
One account lists nine on-air personnel cut Monday, while another lists eight; both accounts identify the following names among those let go: 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. The reports note that more layoffs are possible.
Specific circumstances reported for two staffers underscore the abruptness of the cuts: Ray Cortopassi was laid off in the middle of his shift, leaving Micah Materre to work solo on the anchor desk that night. Sean Lewis, described as a nearly 20-year station veteran, was informed of his dismissal Monday afternoon after filing what became his final report for the noon broadcast.
Anchor schedule shake-up after the Wgn layoffs
The on-air departures prompted an immediate reshuffle of the anchor lineup. The planned anchor schedule changes include Patrick Elwood anchoring solo at noon; Lourdes Duarte anchoring solo at 4 p. m.; Ben Bradley joining Duarte at 5; Micah Materre joining Bradley at 6; and Materre anchoring solo from 9 to 10: 30 p. m. The popular morning-news crew is expected to remain intact.
Behind-the-scenes reductions and staff histories
The on-air cuts follow prior behind-the-scenes reductions that touched copywriters and other newsroom roles. Additional recent reductions cited include six newswriters and three technical directors last month, and four floor directors in October. One veteran TV reporter noted that this many cuts at once was unprecedented for a Chicago station.
Several of the talents released had long tenures and citywide or national profiles: 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 has covered sports for more than 30 years across roughly a half-dozen Chicago TV and radio stations; Judy Wang began at the defunct CLTV in 1995 before joining the station in 2009. The presence of nationally known voices dates to the station’s days as a superstation when programming was beamed cable and satellite across the country.
Why management cites industry change and a pending merger
A Nexstar spokesperson issued a statement that said, "Nexstar does not comment on personnel issues, but the company is taking steps necessary to compete effectively in this period of unprecedented change. " The staffing reductions are presented as an effort to reduce costs ahead of significant debt obligations tied to the company’s planned acquisition of Tegna.
Accounts differ slightly on the Tegna deal’s terms: one depiction notes an August announcement that Nexstar would acquire Tegna for $6. 2 billion, a transaction described as creating a broadcast group that would reach about 80% of U. S. TV households and that would require the Federal Communications Commission to lift a 39% ownership cap. Another depiction lists the proposed acquisition at $6. 8 billion and frames the deal as further expanding the nation’s largest local TV station group; that account also notes the FCC chairman signaled he is prepared to approve the merger. Both depictions point to the same commercial pressure: the company is carrying debt from prior transactions, including a $4. 1 billion purchase of Tribune Media completed in 2019, which included its acquisition of the Chicago station in that deal.
Ratings, reputation and what’s next
The station remains described as profitable and still competitive in key dayparts: ratings performance is strong in the morning, dominant at 9 p. m. versus a local competitor, and competitive at 10. Its morning-news format is cited as influential and emulated by other stations. For now, newsroom leaders and the affected employees face the immediate work of filling anchor slots and adjusting coverage plans while the broader corporate merger and cost pressures continue to play out. Recent updates indicate details may evolve as management finalizes further decisions.
