The resignation of Randy Michaels as chief executive officer of Tribune Co. culminates a tumultuous year in the history of the Chicago media company -- especially for its flagship news/talk radio station, WGN-AM (720). Here’s how the story unfolded on this blog:
- A rude Pig Virus infects WGN Radio (Nov. 4)
- Now hear this? WGN’s ‘crazy collision’ of bloggers (Nov. 11)
- Time to give thanks for some awfully big turkeys (Nov. 26)
- Angry Kathy & Judy fans get in the holiday spirit (Dec. 17)
- WGN to hosts: Hold your nose over political stinker (Dec. 29)
- WGN Radio rolls out welcome mat for Johnny B. (Jan 18)
- WGN Radio drops Bob Sirott as “Noon Show’ host (Jan. 22)
- If Allison Payne came clean, what’s WGN trying to hide? (Jan. 25)
- All bets are off after belt-tightening at WGN Radio (Jan. 26)
- CBS 2’s ‘Monsters’ fumble Sam Zell interview (Feb. 8)
- They did the crimes. So why is WGN punishing us? (Feb. 22)
- Is it ‘Now’ or never for Bill Leff on WGN’s lineup? (Feb. 23)
- Who’s on first? In radio, it depends on who keeps score (March 1)
- Memo puts WGN news staffers at a loss for words (March 10)
- Trib CEO shoots the messenger -- but misses the point (March 12)
- Behind closed doors, angry Tribune CEO confronts staff (March 15)
- It’s criminal: WGN expands ‘Sports Central’ into oblivion (March 26)
- Kaplan leave ‘Sports Central’ with classy farewell (April 6)
- Afternoons adrift as WGN rearranges deck chairs (April 8)
- John Williams enjoying ‘best of both worlds’ -- for now (April 24)
- Radio dealmaker takes over Tribune Co. stations (May 4)
- ‘Springer’ veteran teams with Tribune to test talk shows (May 6)
- The real danger of being surrounded by sychophants (May 10)
- WGN program boss: “It’s possible to screw things up’ (May 14)
- Poker party ‘desecrates’ Tribune Tower shrine (June 3)
- WGN bosses prefer to keep their stars in the dark (June 9)
- WGN’s Laski covering Blago? It’s a criminal offense (June 10)
- Who’d want to join WGN’s big happy family anyway? (June 15)
- Kathy & Judy fight back: ‘We did not lie to our listeners’ (June 24)
- WGN pulls the plug on 10-year veteran Steve Cochran (June 25)
- Spike O’Dell “heartbroken” over the damage at WGN (June 28)
- Cochran goes off on WGN: “Worst kind of management’ (July 1)
- Don’t look now, but WGN is shuffling the deck -- again (July 14)
- The education of Greg Jarrett: Chicago’s lost cause (Aug. 2)
- WGN listeners leave ‘new talent hanging out to dry’ (Sept. 3)
- The trials and tribulations of Randy Michaels & Co. (Sept. 27)
- New York Times exposes Tribune Co. ‘bankrupt culture’ (Oct. 6)
- Time for Tribune to clear the air on foul management (Oct. 13)
- Ex-Tribune editor recalls ‘pressure’ from Sam Zell (Oct. 14)
- Lee Abrams goes down (Oct. 15)
- Editor calls damage to Tribune reputation ‘shameful’ (Oct. 18)
- Read all about it: The party’s over, Randy (Oct. 19)
- Hell no, he won’t go: Randy says he’s ‘still working’ (Oct.19)
- Over and out: Tribune Co. cancels Randy Michaels (Oct. 22)
