Caffeinated Politics

On this blustery Saturday, when a heavy coat is needed when walking outside, I sit at my desk to write what I hope will be a warm column about Dean Richards. This is one of those pieces that are from a list of topics needing a comment or two, but get left behind, given the outrageous actions emanating from this White House.

Not for the first time, I write that the voices over the radio airwaves, whom we come to consider as friends at home, in the car, and at work, create unique connections. Richards was such a radio personality for me. His work as a professional on WGN Radio and TV almost writes itself, because his presence there was less a broadcast and more a relationship. His departure in February, due to management’s decision to remove several recognizable names, left a quiet ache for listeners and viewers who had woven his voice, humor, and humanity into the rhythm of their morning, and that goes triple so for Sunday morning.

He was best known as an entertainment reporter for over three decades. I would listen to him each Sunday morning as I drove home to Hancock for an afternoon, where I grew up. He was known for his thoughtful celebrity interviews, his film reviews, and the easy warmth he brought to every conversation. His work with Dave Schwan on-air was a riot of smiles and laughs. Lord, I miss that perfect combination. But as his listeners well know, there was far more to Sunday mornings than entertainment offerings. His hours on-air were a blended diet of news, culture, and community. You did not need to live in Chicago to be in that community-blended family of listeners.

Richards joined WGN in the early 1990s, and as folksy as this will sound, I swear it is absolutely true. He had that rare ability to make listeners feel like they were sitting across from him at a kitchen table, sharing stories over coffee. Even when discussing Hollywood, he never lost the grounded, neighborly tone that made him someone I simply adored.

The day when WGN announced sweeping layoffs, including Richards, the news landed hard at this Madison home. I reject the bottom-line idea of the cuts being tied to broader corporate cost‑saving measures. Nexstar, which acquired WGN-TV and radio from Tribune Media in 2019, is now being driven by expansion plans as it seeks to merge with Tegna, Inc. My bottom line when it comes to WGN in particular, or more broadly speaking, is simply common sense. The concentration of ownership of media outlets enables conglomerates to control news narratives, leading to corporate censorship and limiting the range of critical, independent thought. That same foundation is why I oppose the amassing of small newspapers under one parent company.

As a former radio broadcaster, I can say with complete honesty and awareness that the best way to gauge a ‘radio guy’ is by knowing the space they occupy in people’s lives. Dean Richards filled that space with kindness, curiosity, and a genuine love for storytelling. His interviews were never about ego; they were about connection with listeners. He was never loud or bombastic or crude or nasty or revengeful. He was just a nice guy behind the studio microphone.

Yes, I have heard the same lingo for the past few weeks that the Chicago media world evolves. That is a truism. But it need not be so animalistic. When management opts to remove a radio personality grounded in warmth, integrity, and a deep respect for the audience he served, then I say something is wrong in the corporate boardroom.