Posted by chicagomedia.org on January 08, 2009 at 09:40:47:
LOOKING BACK...
2008 Highlights
As we start 2009, we asked some of our on-air personalities and producers to look back on their highlights of 2008.
Milt Rosenberg, host of Extension 720 -- "Apart from various memorable programs, the highlight has to be getting the Humanities Medal from the National Endowment for the Humanities and having President Bush hang it around my neck at the White House ceremony. Somebody pointed out that this was the first time that a talk show host was so honored - though, in fact, of the eight honorees four had appeared on Extension 720 in recent years! Another great aspect of the occasion at the White House was the wide-eyed delight that my granddaughter, Ava, had in reaction to the ceremony, the music provided by the Fiske University Jubilee Singers, the great hors d'oeuvres and meeting and talking with Olivia DeHaviland who was there to receive the Arts Medal."
Judy Markey, co-host of Kathy and Judy -- "One of mine was having our dog Willie, diagnosed in 2007 as having only 4 months to live because of nose cancer, still with us, and I love, love, love my time with him."
Beth Swierk, Kathy and Judy's producer -- "Personally, running my first half marathon. Professionally, producing election night and the day Blago was arrested - there's nothing better than producing breaking news."
Johnnie Putman, co-host of Steve and Johnnie -- "I'll ALWAYS remember 2008 because of the unbelievable voter turnout in the Presidential election! Personally, making a listener's day...a listener who is physically challenged has been listening to us for 17 years. In fact, he records on cassette a little feature we do at 4:58 each morning. I was so blown away by his dedication to the show and his shoeboxes of tapes that I asked the staff to send him a token or two of WGN. Spike O'Dell sent a hat, Max Armstrong sent a a tractor, and we sent our Life After Dark CD, some Cubs stuff and everyone's pictures. Well...our listener was so happy he told his caregivers and lo and behold he became a local celebrity. The Peoria newspaper and local TV came out to interview him and he was a happy, happy guy. You never know how you can affect someone in the simplest of ways."
Steve King, co-host of Steve and Johnnie -- "One of the biggest highlights of 2008, for me, was a day in June that Johnnie and I spent up in Milwaukee with the legendary Les Paul. He held onto Johnnie's arm as we walked through the 'Les Paul's House Of Sound' exhibit that opened at Discovery World, in the afternoon, reminiscing about some of his inventions and we were on stage with him at his concert that night at the Pabst Theater. Here's a link to our photo archives and a picture from that night.
Dan Sugrue, Steve and Johnnie's producer -- "That no matter what side of the fence you're on, people (especially younger people) got actively involved in the presidential campaign. Democracy is at its best when people participate and as a member of the so called 'apathy' generation it was nice to prove a lot of young people do care about the world around them."
Jarrett Burton, afternoon producer -- "As unfortunate as the topic was, being involved in the Blagojevich news cycle was a highlight for me. It's exciting being able to work on breaking stories, and providing WGN listeners with up-to-the minute content they won't find on another station."
Rick O'Connor, Steve Cochran's producer -- "The Celtics winning the NBA championship."
Mark Carman, Sports Central producer -- Two things: 1) It was fun to cover both Chicago baseball teams in the playoffs 2) Defeating David Kaplan in office ball.
(WGN's "The Voice")