Posted by chicagomedia.org on September 25, 2008 at 11:47:24:
In Reply to: New WGN-TV GM announced posted by chicagomedia.org on September 25, 2008 at 11:45:56:
Wilke loses interim tag as WGN general manager
Marty Wilke, who has run Chicago's WGN-Ch. 9 on an interim basis since July, was named vice president and general manager Wednesday of the Tribune Co. station, effective immediately.
"Marty's earned this promotion," Ed Wilson, president of Tribune Broadcasting, said in a statement. "She's the right person to lead the station. Her talent, energy, creativity and dedication to WGN-TV's viewers and advertisers are without question."
Errol Gerber, Channel 9's local sales manager since 2003, succeeds Wilke as sales director, a post she had held for six years.
A Downers Grove native, Wilke, 44, joined WGN in 1996 for a brief stint after a decade with several ad agencies. She moved to NBC-owned WMAQ-Ch. 5 but returned to WGN in 2001 as local sales manager. Since she took the reins from Tom Ehlmann, who left Channel 9 this summer to run NBC-owned KXAS-TV in Dallas, WGN has followed through on plans to add a 5:30 p.m. newscast and expand its midday news to 90 minutes.
"Our 5:30 p.m. newscast is off to a great start, and everyone is working hard to keep WGN-TV the leader in local news, information and entertainment programming," Wilke said in the announcement. "This station has a rich history of service to the community, and I'm proud to lead it."
Tribune Co. also owns the Chicago Tribune.
(rosenthal/trib)