WGN-TV Layoffs 2026: Nine Veteran Anchors and Reporters Cut in Sweeping Nexstar Downsizing
Chicago's iconic WGN-Ch. 9 was rocked on Monday, February 23, when parent company Nexstar Media Group laid off nine on-air anchors and reporters in one of the most significant single-day cuts in the station's modern history. The mass layoffs sent shockwaves through one of Chicago's most recognized newsrooms and sparked a swift backlash from the industry's leading union.
Who Was Laid Off at WGN — Full List
WGN cut nine on-air personnel Monday, including entertainment critic and reporter Dean Richards and sports anchor Chris Boden. Others let go were news anchors Ray Cortopassi, Sean Lewis and Judy Wang, reporters Julian Crews and Bronagh Tumulty, meteorologist Mike Janssen, and political analyst Paul Lisnek. Sources say Cortopassi was laid off in the middle of his shift, leaving Micah Materre to work solo on the anchor desk Monday night.
Sean Lewis — The Emotional Story Behind the Biggest Name Cut
Sean Lewis, a nearly two-decade veteran at WGN-TV who has anchored the weekend morning broadcast since 2010, got the bad news Monday afternoon. A union steward at WGN, Lewis was sitting in on a meeting in that role where a colleague was being laid off. When that meeting was over, his bosses asked him to stay — adding his name to the list.
Lewis made history by becoming Chicago's first out gay news anchor. The Emmy Award-winning journalist was inducted into the Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame in 2024, cementing his legacy as a pioneering voice in journalism.
"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 said. "I can't wait to see what the next chapter of my story is, but I'm not moving. This is my city."
Months of Cuts — This Was Not the First Wave
The layoffs follow additional reductions in recent months, including six newswriters and three technical directors last month and four floor directors in October, according to newsroom sources. Station management told those affected that the reductions were necessary due to budgetary constraints. Nexstar declined to comment on specific personnel matters but said in a statement it is "taking steps necessary to compete effectively in this period of unprecedented change."
The Nexstar-Tegna Merger Is Driving the Cuts
The WGN layoffs come as Nexstar prepares to get its unprecedented merger with Tegna through regulators. The company has been laying the groundwork for why the merger should get the green light, which would go against current ownership caps placed on local TV stations.
The deal would give Nexstar 80 percent coverage of the United States, far above the 39 percent cap the law currently allows. Four Black Democratic lawmakers in the House released a statement Monday stating the Nexstar-Tegna deal would raise cable and satellite bills by $135 million, hollow out newsrooms, and have a disproportionate effect on Black and minority viewers.
SAG-AFTRA Condemns the WGN Layoffs
SAG-AFTRA, the union representing broadcast journalists at WGN, issued a statement Tuesday condemning the sweeping layoffs, which also took place at KTLA in Los Angeles and other Nexstar TV stations across the country. "By laying off journalists across the country, Nexstar is eroding the resources and talent that local communities rely on for trusted news," SAG-AFTRA President Sean Astin said. "These actions highlight the risks of media consolidation and underscore the urgent need for regulators and the company to prioritize the public interest and the professionals who serve it."
What Happens to WGN News Going Forward
According to sources, Dina Bair will anchor solo at noon, Lourdes Duarte will do the same at 4 p.m., Ben Bradley will join Duarte at 5 and Micah Materre will join Bradley at 6. Materre also will anchor solo from 9 to 10:30. The popular morning-news crew is expected to stay intact.
The massive downsizing is casting a pall over the newsroom, according to insiders, who say Dallas-based owner Nexstar Media is reducing 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," said a newsroom source. "It's been a pretty rough day." WGN-TV has been broadcasting from Chicago since 1948, originally launched by the Chicago Tribune from Tribune Tower.
