Women in Chicago radio call out 'toxic and sexist' culture in male-dominated industry

[mucifer]

First Kathy Hart disappeared from “Eric & Kathy,” the morning radio show on WTMX-FM that bore her name for two decades. Then another co-host, Melissa McGurren, departed three years later, without explanation.

As these women’s voices vanished from The Mix, Eric Ferguson remained, continuing as host of his popular show until a furor over allegations of inappropriate behavior forced the Radio Hall of Famer from the airwaves last month. The controversy has fueled discussion about the way women who work in Chicago radio are treated, with all four women who spoke out about Ferguson alleging management of 101.9-FM protected him because of his high ratings.

Struck by the number of high-profile women departing radio jobs, the Tribune interviewed three dozen women in Chicago radio over the past 10 months, finding both enthusiasm for their work and widespread frustration with what many described as a male-dominated business. Ten women said they left their jobs because they were not happy with the way they were treated, while other female voices were reduced or silenced because of cost-cutting efforts by radio companies — including during the pandemic

.

First, Mary Dixon was shut out of WXRT-FM 93.1′s annual broadcast of the Cubs home opener, even though she had been part of the station’s lineup for years. Then her morning newscasts were reduced by half, a move accompanied by a pay cut of nearly 40%.Finally, in 2019, she was escorted to her shared office and offered a box for her stuff. She was being laid off.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-women-in-chicago-radio--20211104-7bsx67de5ba6ljiz3r4obrtcti-story.html

I have listening to WXRT since high school (tho not as much now). I was shocked to hear about Mary Dixon. I gotta say I'm naive. The program had an air of liberalism with their DJs some who have been on since the 80s. I know Mary left the newsroom to go to WBEZ our NPR station that actually now DOES have a lot of diversity in their staff Their local programming is very liberal dealing with equity on a daily basis in their news stories and commentary/interviews. I'm sure she got a pay cut and hope she is in a better place.

I'm glad The Tribune did this article. If you have a subscription it's well worth reading the whole thing. It just made me very sad and opened my eyes. I guess as a nurse in a pretty much all female field, I'm sheltered from some crap.

[ProfessorGAC]

1. Equally Surprised

Especially about XRT.
The whole concept is low-key & ratings are music driven, not personality driven. (Although I like a few of their long time hosts a lot, notably Terri Hemmert.)
Surprised that there would be workplace issues like this, plus demotions of long standing women hosts.
It's true that radio is male dominated. When a station has a pleasant sounding professional woman on air for a while, why rock the boat.
AOR radio isn't going to make hundreds of millions, no matter what. So, why this behavior?

[Carlitos Brigante]

2. Damn! I'd totally missed this story. I remember when I first moved to CHI one of

my coworkers would always listen to “Eric & Kathy” on the way in. From the little bit I heard, it wasn't for me. I found them annoyingly corny. I had no idea this gay was another one of these assholes.

WTTW is the shit! Pretty much only channel I like to watch, since I don't have cable.