John Williams ready for mornings

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: Williams ready for morning challenges : December 5, 2008 : BY LEWIS LAZARE Sun-Times Columnist : Maybe it doesn't rank up there with tapping Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as the Republican vice presidential nominee, but a lot of people in the know in the Chicago radio biz didn't see John Williams coming. By almost all accounts, WGN-AM (720) General Manager Tom Langmyer's decision to install mid-afternoon host John Williams in the all-important morning drive slot (starting Dec. 15) at Tribune Co.'s news/talk radio outlet was a surprise. : Putting aside the unexpectedness of the choice, however, the bigger issue is: Will Williams prove to be the right choice? Among other things, Langmyer liked the way Williams in recent years has "dedicated himself to developing separate and unique content across many platforms." : But the fact remains the new morning drive host must hold on to -- and presumably expand -- WGN's sizable morning audience. Some radio execs in the market think Langmyer may have gone with the safe choice, rather than the better choice -- afternoon drive host Steve Cochran. "Williams is very bland, but he's not gonna get the station in trouble or push the envelope too far," predicted one local broadcast exec. : In the meantime, we posed five questions to the city's newest morning drive luminary: : Sun-Times: Did you campaign for the job, or was it simply handed to you? : John Williams: It seems like a good, logical choice to me. I love the show I'm doing now from 1 to 4 p.m. I was not anxious to leave that slot, but my "pitch" to management was: What do you think is best for WGN radio? : : S-T: What do you consider the strongest asset you bring to your new job? : JW: Interviewing. I've got a good ear. I can move the conversation along, and I'll ask tough questions when tough questions need to be asked. : : S-T: What about your on-air persona still needs the most work? : JW: I get along with just about everyone. But people can be resistant to change. My challenge will be to convey to our morning listeners that I am someone who really does want to know what they think. : : S-T: What kind of audience do you envision connecting with in your new morning drive slot? : JW: Busy working families. That means providing reliable elements -- news, business, traffic, weather, sports -- and talking about what these mean. : : S-T: What is your favorite thing to do when you aren't doing radio? : JW: I will miss my morning basketball games.

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