Posted by chicagomedia.org on May 26, 2009 at 14:29:42:
Chicago talk radio sounding more and more like WMAN
With Kathy O'Malley and Judy Markey shooed off the air as of last Friday, WGN AM 720 has only one woman -- overnight co-host Johnnie Putman -- in its otherwise all male weekday lineup.
Conservative talk station WIND AM 560 has an all white male lineup of hosts and liberal talker WCPT AM 820 has just one woman -- mid-morning host Stephanie Miller -- in its all-syndicated daily lineup.
WLS AM 890's weekday schedule includes only one female co-host -- Roma Wade, who really serves more as a sidekick to her dominating husband Don Wade.
African-American oriented WVON AM 1690 has three women in its weekday lineup, Perri Small co-hosts morning drive, Santita Jackson takes over mid mornings, and Bev Smith presides at the microphone from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Alison Cuddy hosts "Eight Forty-Eight" at WBEZ FM 91.5 two days a week and the public radio station also features synidcated "Fresh Air" host Terri Gross weekday afternoons; Kathy Hart co-hosts the morning drive show on WTMX FM 101.9.
So for the most part, local talk radio is a boy's club, particularly with the loss of Markey and O'Malley (Jerry Agar subbed for them today). Women tend to be in supporting rather than starring roles -- giving us the news, traffic and weather but not as equal partners.
What's up with that?
(Eric Zorn, Chicago Tribune)