WGN Promotes Dan Ponce To Morning News

Effective Sept. 3, Tribune’s CW affiliate WGN Chicago (DMA 3) has promoted reporter Dan Ponce to co-anchor of the 4 and 5 a.m. newscasts of WGN Morning News alongside co-anchor Erin McElroy.

Ponce joined WGN News in September 2010 as a general assignment reporter. Prior to WGN, Ponce spent three years as a general assignment reporter at WLS Chicago.

He earned his master’s degree from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University and his bachelor’s degree from Indiana University. Ponce speaks Spanish and is a member of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists.

In addition, WGN reporter Marcus Leshock will be a regular contributor to the Early Morning New each day from 4 to 6 a.m. Previously, he was a feature reporter on WGN Evening News.  Demetrius Ivory recently joined WGN News as a meteorologist and WGN Morning News weather anchor on weekdays from 4-6am. 

Starting Sept. 3, WGN Morning News is expanding an extra hour from 9 to 10 a.m.  The added hour will feature anchors Larry Potash, Robin Baumgarten, weatherman Paul Konrad and sports anchor Pat Tomasulo. Reporter Cortney Hall will deliver news headlines in the 9 a.m. hour. Mike Toomey will be rounding out the cast, providing additional humor.

Effective immediately, Terry Barthel is promoted to supervising news producer of the 9 a.m. expansion hour. Previously Barthel was special projects producer developing segments for Around Town as well as other parts of the Morning News.

Other news changes include Amy Rutledge, who is joining WGN as a full-time feature reporter for the 5 p.m. newscast. She has been with CLTV and WGN for several years.

Finally, Frank Holland will move to the afternoons as a reporter and back-up anchor.