Ron Magers

Ron Magers (born August 27, 1944) is a former American news anchor. Magers worked for WLS-TV, the ABC owned-and-operated station in Chicago, Illinois, where he co-anchored the top-rated 5:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. broadcasts with Cheryl Burton and Kathy Brock, respectively. Magers is the brother of Paul Magers, a former television anchor and reporter for KCBS-TV, the CBS owned-and-operated station in Los Angeles.

Ron Magers
Magers (left) and Cheryl Burton (right) broadcasting the ABC 7 Chicago's 5 p.m. weekday news, circa 2011.
Born (1944-08-27) August 27, 1944
San Bernardino, California, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
Occupation(s)News Anchor – ABC 7 Chicago (1998–2016)
WMAQ-TV (1981–1998)
Years active1965–2016
RelativesPaul Magers

Early life and career

Born in San Bernardino, California, Magers grew up in Cordova, Alaska and Ellensburg, Washington. Magers gained early broadcasting experience as a high school student in Toppenish, Washington, when he began to host radio shows as a part-time job. He began his professional career in television in 1965, when he joined KEZI-TV in Eugene, Oregon as a reporter and news contributor. He later produced and anchored the 11 p.m. newscast at KGW-TV in Portland, Ore. (1967–68). From 1968-74, Magers worked as a reporter and anchor at KPIX-TV in San Francisco, Calif. He also hosted a Group W 30 minute weekly the nationally[1] syndicated program in 1971 titled, "Ron Magers Electric Impressions".[2][3][4][5][6]

Minneapolis – Saint Paul

After moving to Minnesota, Magers was hired as the principal anchor for KSTP-TV, the ABC (formerly NBC) affiliate in Minneapolis – Saint Paul from 1974 to 1981.[7] He was later joined by co-anchor Cyndy Brucato. This popular anchor team led the top-rated Twin Cities newscasts at that time.

Chicago

From 1981 to 1997, Magers co-anchored the 5, 6, and 10 p.m. newscasts of WMAQ-TV. Magers and then co-anchor Carol Marin made national headlines in early May 1997 when they left Channel 5. The decision to leave was in protest of the station's hiring of Jerry Springer as commentator for the 10:00 p.m. newscasts.[8] WMAQ management allowed both anchors an early release from their contracts.[9] Both thought that the addition of Springer would have given the broadcast an unnecessary tabloid feel. Springer only made two commentaries before he too left his position as contributor.

Magers joined WLS in 1998 as a 5:00 p.m. anchor alongside Diann Burns. He became co-anchor of the 10:00 p.m. newscasts in 2002, after the retirement of long-time anchor John Drury. Magers has appeared in a feature segment and was a commentator on The Roe Conn Show on WLS (AM) since 1997, with a gap of several months in 2009/10 because of the bankruptcy of WLS's parent company.[10] He was rehired following the station's sale.[11] On May 25, 2016 Magers retired from ABC with a final late evening newscast with tributes from staff and colleagues. ABC7 anchor Alan Krashesky succeeded Magers at 5:00 p.m. alongside Cheryl Burton and alongside Kathy Brock at 6:00 and 10:00 p.m.[12][13]

Awards

Magers has won numerous awards including six Chicago Emmy Awards, a Peter Lisagor Award and a National Press Club citation. In addition, he has won an Associated Press award, an Illinois Broadcasters Association award, the Ohio State Award, and an Ethics Award from the Society of Professional Journalists.

References
  1. "Daily Independent Journal from San Rafael, California on October 30, 1971 · Page 39". Newspapers.com.
  2. Meincke, Paul (May 23, 2016). "A look at ABC7 Ron Magers' early, wacky years in TV". ABC7 Chicago.
  3. https://thesanfranciscosound.blogspot.com/2010/02/quicksilver-messenger-service_7244.html October 4–5, 1970: Winterland, Post Street At Steiner Street, San Francisco, CA. QUICKSILVER MESSENGER SERVICE with The Grateful Dead, New Riders Of The Purple Sage, Jefferson Airplane, Hot Tuna "San Francisco Sound Meeting - Three Bands for Three Dollars" Both shows were broadcast on October 20, 1970 (and rebroadcast on December 2, 1970) by KQED-TV San Francisco with a quadraphonic simulcast by KQED-FM San Francisco and KSAN-FM San Francisco.
  5. "Ratings" (PDF). americanradiohistory.com. Retrieved 2020-05-08.
  6. "Ratings" (PDF). americanradiohistory.com. Retrieved 2020-05-08.
  7. Amy Carlson Gustafson (March 10, 2008). "Remember Ron Magers? Jim Guy? Here are more updates on folks from local newscasts". TwinCities.com. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
  8. Rich Samuels. "The End of an Era at WMAQ-TV..." Retrieved January 3, 2011.
  9. "Interview with Ron Magers". Retrieved January 3, 2011.
  10. Robert Feder (December 21, 2009). "Woe is Roe: No room for Ron Magers at WLS Radio". WBEZ. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
  11. Robert Feder (February 8, 2010). "Back to you, Ron: WLS Radio restores Magers' role". WBEZ. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
  12. "#ThanksRon - Ron Magers' Final 10pm Newscast (WLS)". YouTube. 2016-05-26. Archived from the original on 2021-12-22. Retrieved 2020-05-08.
  13. Feder, Robert. "It's official: Anchorman Ron Magers to retire from ABC 7". Robert Feder.
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