Posted by chicagomedia.org on July 30, 2008 at 12:29:10:
In Reply to: Pat Cassidy out at WBBM-AM 780 posted by chicagomedia.org on July 30, 2008 at 12:25:46:
Pat Cassidy, who’s been a morning star on Chicago radio for more than 30 years, resigned Wednesday as one of the top anchors at all-news WBBM-AM (780).
He is expected to jump to Citadel Broadcasting news/talk WLS-AM (890), where he presumably would re-invent himself as a talk show host in a time slot to be determined.
The move was confirmed by Rod Zimmerman, senior vice president and market manager of CBS Radio Chicago and general manager of Newsradio 780.
“Pat told me he wants to do a talk show, and we wish him well,” Zimmerman said. “He’s done a great job for us for eight years.”
Cassidy’s last day on the air coincided with the expiration of his contract. After several months of talks with CBS, he turned down a renewal offer.
Keith Johnson will fill in Thursday and Friday. Starting Monday, retired morning news anchor John Hultman will take Cassidy’s place until a permanent replacement is hired.
At Newsradio 780, Cassidy scored consistently high ratings alongside morning news co-anchor Felicia Middlebrooks. In the latest Arbitron quarterly survey, they ranked second in mornings overall with a 6.3 precent audience share.
Cassidy, 57, a Chicago native who began his career at the former WEXI in northwest suburban Arlington Heights, joined Newsradio 780 in 2000 after 25 years at the former WMAQ.
In a 2002 interview with the Sun-Times, Cassidy attributed his professional longevity to “a combination of hard work, ‘doing unto others,’ and a little bit of luck.”
(Feder)