Metheny axes 3 programs, News Director at WGN


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Posted by chicagomedia.org on April 30, 2009 at 07:07:07:

In Reply to: Re: News Director leaving WGN posted by MichelynB on April 29, 2009 at 19:25:38:

WGN-AM axes 3 programs, tries youth angle

RADIO | Dale, Moller, Goldfayn are out

April 30, 2009

LEWIS LAZARE | Sun-Times Media & Marketing columnist

Can a 39-year-old, highly opinionated French aristocrat/ advertising executive and a self-described news junkie help the stodgy news-talk WGN-AM (720) reach a younger demographic?

Kevin Metheny apparently thinks so. Named program director at the Tribune Broadcasting station last December, Metheny is starting to put his mark on Tribune Broadcasting's WGN, and specialty programs aren't part of that mark.

Late last week, Metheny abruptly axed three programs that were part of WGN's weekend lineup, along with the three freelance hosts who fronted the three shows. Gone are Steve Dale and his Sunday evening "Pet Central" show, as well as Bill Moller and his Saturday afternoon "Your Money" program and Alex Goldfayn and his Saturday evening tech-related program. Metheny did not return a call seeking comment.

But, in a wittily worded memo Metheny e-mailed to WGN staff Wednesday, he introduced three free-lance additions to replace the axed hosts. Perhaps the most intriguing hire is Simon Badinter, a native Parisian and the son of French Sen. Robert Badinter and Elisabeth Badinter, a feminist writer. Described as a highly opinionated advertising executive who loves life, Badinter will host a show called "Simon Rendezvous," which Metheny indicated would be unlike any other WGN program or anything on Chicago radio.

Also coming on board at WGN is Shawn Wasson, 27, founder of www.thenews junkie.com. He described Wasson as a "rising star in spoken word radio" and "an authentic young gun."

The most familiar new WGN recruit is Jerry Agar, dumped from news/talk WLS-AM (890) last fall to make room for Mancow Muller. Metheny described Agar as "a guy who can craft an interesting argument on anything from high political drama to whether or not you should immediately bite right through the hard candy coating on a Tootsie Roll Pop to get to the chewy center."

Metheny's revamping of the WGN weekend lineup appears to be aimed at attracting a somewhat younger listenership. One source also noted that Metheny might bring these hosts in for weekend shows to groom them for bigger roles in the weekday lineup.

One more person who won't factor in WGN-AM's future is News Director Wes Bleed, who was let go Wednesday after more than 25 years with the station.

In another memo to staff, Metheny and WGN General Manager Tom Langmyer suggested Bleed's exit is part of a process of making difficult decisions and exploring atypical solutions as WGN evolves.


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