News squawk
WLS boss quits after carrying out cutbacks, layoffs for new owners
Still reeling from budget cuts, massive layoffs and disappointing ratings, news/talk WLS-AM (890) lost its top boss Tuesday.
In an unexpected move, John Gallagher resigned after more than three years as president and general manager of the Citadel Broadcasting station.
No reason was cited, but sources close to Gallagher said he had been feeling increasing frustration since Citadel took over the station last year from Walt Disney Co.'s ABC Radio.
On orders from Citadel last February, he eliminated more than a dozen jobs and virtually gutted the news department.
More bad news came Monday when Arbitron ratings for the winter quarter were described by WLS insiders as "lackluster."
In a farewell memo, Gallagher praised his "impressive team of broadcasters," adding: "WLS is one of this country's legendary stations, and based on what we've accomplished over the past three years, the station is very well positioned for future success."
Gallagher joined WLS in 2004 from ABC's WJR-AM in Detroit, where he was sales director. He did not announce his next move.
Mike Fowler, president and general manager of Citadel's "True Oldies" WZZN-FM (94.7), will take over management of WLS, effective immediately.
Gallagher had been overseeing both stations until Fowler was hired last January.
DIALING:• • Terry Hardin has resigned after only six months as vice president and general manager of WLEY-FM (107.9), the Spanish Broadcasting System regional Mexican station called "La Ley."
The Chicago radio veteran previously headed Clear Channel Radio's adult contemporary WLIT-FM (93.9) and smooth jazz WNUA-FM (95.5), and former CBS Radio talker WCKG.
News of Hardin's departure came one day after the Arbitron winter book showed substantial ratings growth for "La Ley" among listeners between 18 and 34 and between 25 and 54.
Marko Radlovic, executive vice president and chief operating officer of SBS, described the parting as mutual and amicable. Radlovic will oversee the station for the foreseeable future.
• • Alexx Dupri, former overnight personality at Clear Channel Radio Top 40 WKSC-FM (103.5), has signed on as co-host of "The Trey the Choklit Jok Morning Jumpoff" on Crawford Broadcasting urban contemporary WPWX-FM (92.3).
It's hosted by Shannon "Trey" Brazier.
• • Geno Brien, former morning personality at NextMedia Group west suburban classic hits WERV-FM (95.9), has been hired as weekend/fill-in host at Newsweb Radio's "Nine FM" combo of WDEK-FM (92.5), WKIE-FM (92.7) and WRZA-FM (99.9).
TRACKING:• • Alex Burkholder, who was the award-winning investigative producer and right-hand man for the late John Drury for decades, plans to retire after 45 years in Chicago broadcast journalism.
Effective June 2, he'll step down after 24 years as a writer/ producer at ABC-owned WLS-Channel 7. He spent 21 years before that at Tribune Co.-owned WGN-Channel 9.
Burkholder's legacy continues through his son, John, who is a producer for Fox News Edge, the regional video news service, based in New York.
• • Bob Sirott, news anchor at NBC-owned WMAQ-Channel 5, hosts the 2008 Hugo Television Awards Thursday at the Chicago Cultural Center.
The event, which honors TV commercials and TV production, will present one of its top honors to Gordon Quinn and Jerry Blumenthal's Chicago-based Kartemquin Films.
• • Tribune critic Chris Jones debuts this weekend as a weekly contributor to CBS-owned WBBM-Channel 2.
He'll deliver theater reviews on the 10 a.m. Sunday newscast.
• • Hot off the presses from Chicago Review Press is Sun-Times columnist and syndicated movie critic Richard Roeper's seventh book: Debunked! Conspiracy Theories, Urban Legends and Evil Plots of the 21st Century.
