WLS, the ABC O&O in Chicago, has quietly switched over to new weather graphics that are the first pieces of a new overall graphics package redesign for the station and a jumping-off point for its sister stations. The new ABC Owned Television Stations package is the product of three years of development with consulting firm SmithGeiger, which conducted extensive research for the redesign effort.
News veterans Doug Whitmire and Nneka Nwosu Faison have been appointed assistant news director for ABC-owned WLS Chicago. In their new roles, Doug Whitmire will oversee news gathering, day-of newscasts and operations. Faison will oversee digital, including ABC 7’s new streaming newscasts, specials and storytelling. WLS President and General Manager John Idler said: “The collaboration […]
Exclusives
At ABC O&O WLS Chicago, Virginia Matos was promoted to daypart executive producer, overseeing its linear newscasts at 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. “Virginia Matos is an ABC 7 success story,” said Jennifer Graves, WLS vice president of news. “It’s gratifying that someone who started here as an intern, worked hard and rose through the […]
Still reeling from a massive decline in ratings, the firing of sports anchor Mark Giangreco, the cancellation of Windy City Live and the layoffs of more than a dozen staffers, ABC-owned WLS Chicago just lost its No. 2 news executive. Sarah Dunlap Burke resigned Friday after seven years as assistant news director at ABC 7. She is expected to be named vice president and news director of WCBS New York, where she once worked as executive producer.
ABC O&O WLS Chicago has appointed Ramona Meadors weekend morning news producer. Her first day will be Monday, Aug. 23, and she will be producing the station’s 5 a.m. and 8 a.m. news block on Saturday and Sunday. Meadors joins from WXIA Atlanta, where she was a news producer. Prior to that, she produced a […]
Tamron Hall’s syndicated daytime talk show is moving to ABC-owned WLS Chicago, where it will air in place of Windy City Live at 1 p.m. Monday through Friday, starting Sept. 6. Soon to kick off its third season, the New York-based Tamron Hall has been airing on Weigel Broadcasting’s WCIU and The U since 2019.
ABC O&O WLS Chicago has hired Poinesha Barnes as a special projects producer. Her first day at the station is Monday, Aug. 9. According to Jennifer Graves, WLS vice president of news, “Poinesha has an impressive track record producing winning newscasts and specials. She also brings great enthusiasm, leadership and a wealth of ideas to […]
WLS Airing Special On Chicago’s LGBTQ+ Community
ABC O&O WLS Chicago has appointed Tyra Whitney weekend morning news producer. Her first day is Monday, June 7. Prior to joining WLS, Whitney was supervising producer at NewsNation in Chicago for a year. In that role, she’s produced one hour of the three-hour nightly primetime newscasts. Before joining NewsNation, Whitney worked at WRIC Richmond, […]
Technology Executive Director Opening
New jobs posted to TVNewsCheck’s Media Job Center include an opening for an Executive Director, Technology at WLS, the ABC O&O in Chicago.
ABC-owned WLS Chicago has added two new members to its Windy City Live team — Jina Chung Mackin, who will be senior producer, and Anthony Conway, who will booker/producer. Mackin will oversee show producers on a daily basis as well as play a lead role in developing and crafting content. Mackin has a strong background in […]
WLS Renews Sports Anchor Mark Giangreco
WLS Ups Matt Knutson To Content Director
Matt Knutson, executive producer of Windy City Live, has been promoted to director of content innovation. He’ll supervise all local programming at ABC’s Chicago O&O.
WLS Adds Consumer Reporter Samantha Chatman
Samantha Chatman is joining ABC-owned WLS Chicago’s ABC 7 Eyewitness News covering consumer issues for the station’s weekday morning newscasts. Chatman, who grew up in Chicago, will begin her new job on Sept. 30. Most recently Chatman has been an Emmy Award-winning consumer investigator for KXAS Dallas, where she has reported for the NBC 5 […]
WLS, WCVB, Northeastern U. Research News
A cutting-edge study, Video News Research Project, will test the use of new forms of animation, graphics, and data visualization in video storytelling. Year-long, paid fellowship positions will be created as part of the project, one position at each of these stations in Chicago and Boston.
WLS Promotes Virginia Matos To 4:30 P.M. Producer
ABC-owned WLS Chicago (DMA 3) has promoted Virginia Matos to news producer of ABC 7 Eyewitness News at 4:30 p.m. Matos first came to WLS as an intern for Janet Davies and 190 North. She then was hired as a desk assistant, while still in school at Columbia College. In 2002, she left for WTVO […]
Neil Woulfe Joining WLS As Morning EP
Neil Woulfe will join ABC O&O WLS Chicago’s Eyewitness News as morning daypart executive producer on Dec. 3. Most recently, Woulfe was senior executive producer at WOIO Cleveland, Ohio. Prior to that, he was the morning daypart manager at WMAQ Chicago from 2013 to 2016. He also worked at WFLD Chicago for 16 years as […]
