WGN-TV Axes Nine High-Profile Anchors Amid Nexstar's Tegna Merger Plans
Chicago's beloved WGN-TV has been rocked by a brutal round of layoffs this week, with at least nine high-profile anchors and reporters losing their jobs. The cuts come as the station's parent company, Nexstar, prepares to take over rival broadcaster Tegna in a multi-billion dollar merger that is reshaping the local news landscape.
Prominent Journalists Among Those Let Go
According to initial reports from The Chicago Tribune on Monday, the layoffs included several mainstays of Chicago broadcasting. WGN Weekend Morning News Anchor Sean Lewis and Entertainment Reporter Dean Richards were among the casualties. Longtime reporter Judy Wang, sports anchor Chris Boden, Evening News anchor Ray Cortipassi, Political Analyst Paul Lisnek, and reporters Julian Crews and Bronagh Tumulty were also let go.
The Daily Mail confirmed on Tuesday that meteorologist Mike Janssen was the ninth high-profile departure. When reached by phone, Janssen reflected fondly on his "15 good years at WGN" but admitted the decision-making process was "over my head." He added, "Sometimes we're just minions, right? Unfortunately, Chicago is missing out."
Additional Cuts and Financial Pressures
These latest layoffs follow other recent reductions at the station. Sources told the Tribune that further news writers were laid off and three technical director positions were eliminated just last month, after four floor director positions were cut in October.
Despite WGN-TV's status as a ratings powerhouse in a struggling local news market, the station must now accommodate the substantial debt Nexstar will assume through the Tegna deal. This comes after Nexstar already paid $4.1 billion for the network in 2019 as part of its acquisition of Chicago-based Tribune Media.
Nexstar's Expanding Media Empire
The Tegna merger, valued at $6.8 billion, will make Nexstar the largest local TV station group in the country. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) boss Brendan Carr indicated last week that he was ready to move forward with the approval process.
A Nexstar spokesperson addressed the layoffs, stating, "Nexstar does not comment on personnel issues, but the company is taking steps necessary to compete effectively in this period of unprecedented change."
Viewer Reaction and Industry Context
Chicagoans who had come to see Janssen as a fixture flooded his Facebook with messages following the Tribune report. One fan wrote, "Wait did I miss something? Are you not on WGN? You are one of the best there!!!" to which Janssen confirmed, "9 on-air folks from News, Weather and Sports were cut. I was one of those purged."
Janssen emphasized that many of those leaving had been at the station even longer than his 15 years, but added, "That doesn't mean I'll be turning off the channel. I'll still be watching."
Nexstar's Recent Controversies and Rebranding
Nexstar made headlines late last year when it temporarily pulled "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" from its ABC-affiliated stations over comments the late-night host made following the assassination of Charlie Kirk. The company reinstated the show nine days later after fierce viewer backlash.
In 2021, Nexstar rebranded the network formerly known as WGN America into NewsNation, a right-leaning cable network that now competes with Fox News, MSNBC, and CNN. This strategic shift reflects the company's broader transformation in the evolving media landscape.
