She is very proud of the young man her son is becoming, she loves that he is funny and helpful and that he is thoughtful. McGurren was one of three female former station employees to raise allegations about Ferguson in court filings after DeNicolo filed her lawsuits. But two weeks later, McGurrens lawyer filed a motion for voluntary dismissal of the appeal. Drew Walker, an 18-year veteran of US99 who most recently has been hosting mornings, returns to middays from 9 a.m. to noon. Shes a lot more local than most people assume. McGurren now hosts mornings on Audacy country station WUSN-FM 99.5. Jan 27, 2022 Help create big change for the pets and people in our community. Thank you so much. In a declaration attached to McGurrens defamation suit, Ashrafi said the station was a hostile, humiliating atmosphere for female employees. It sounds to us like shes your every day proud mom, but let us not forget he is so many of these things because of who she is. WTMX promoted Chris Petlak from afternoons to mornings, effective Jan. 24. Melissa McGurren, who was a mainstay of Hubbard Radio hot adult-contemporary WTMX 101.9-FM for 22 years, has been hired by Audacy country WUSN 99.5-FM to lead a brand-new morning show. In response to McGurrens earlier claims, VP/Market Manager Jeff England said in an email to staff that the company thoroughly investigated this matter previously. What really has fans upset is that no one has addressed her disappearance from the show. A federal judge this week dismissed a defamation lawsuit filed by a former co-host of one of Chicagos top morning drive radio shows over alleged harassment by star Eric Ferguson. The accusations of sexual harassment and abuse of power levied against Eric Ferguson continue to pile up as a fourth accuser has come forward, while the station he hosts mornings at, Hubbard hot AC 101.9 The Mix WTMX Chicago, is hit with a $10 million lawsuit from a former co-host of Fergusons. 1 talking about this. Hubbard also asked Judge Franklin Valderrram to consider Judge Guzmans rationale and toss DeNicolos complaint for the same reasons. Representatives for Hubbard and Ferguson did not respond to requests for comment. I love Chicago and country music and Ive never been more confident in an opportunity or my team. Guzman denied a motion to reconsider the case in April and denied McGurrens motion to amend her complaint on June 30. McGurren, who worked for the WTMX-FM for 22 years, alleged in the suit that the station defamed her in choosing not to side with her in her complaints of sexual harassment by Ferguson. McGurren, who claimed the company defamed her when it responded to her harassment charges against former Mix co-host Eric Ferguson, filed an amended appeal July 29 in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh District. On Thursday, she alleged that WTMX-FM (The Mix) management perpetuated a culture of discrimination to protect cash cows such as its morning host Eric Ferguson "at any cost." DeNicolo was laid off from the station in May 2020 after a nearly 20-year career. In the latest Nielsen Audio survey, US99 tied for 15th in mornings with a 2.0 percent share and cumulative weekly audience of 250,800. Last December Hubbard filed to have DeNicolos suit dismissed and to strike some of the allegations in her second amended complaint. Ferguson, 55, has denied the allegations but was sidelined from his popular morning show in October 2021, weeks after the Tribune first reported that DeNicolo had sued him earlier that year. -. McGurren, the pride of Portage, Indiana, who rose from traffic reporter to co-host of Eric Ferguson's morning show at The Mix, has been off the air since she and the station parted company late last year. We take these allegations seriously and we are confident in the results of multiple investigations we have initiated, England said when announcing to staff that Ferguson would not be hosting mornings in October. Overall the station ranked 13th with a 2.6 share and weekly cume of 710,900. Marci Braun continues as program director of US99 and regional brand manager of the country format for Audacy. McGurren spent most of . Shes been with WTMX 101.9 The Mix, for a long time, and suddenly shes gone. McGurren first made her accusations in a complaint to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, shortly after leaving the station in December 2020. Last week U.S. District Court. A separate lawsuit she filed against Ferguson remains active. McGurren also accused Ferguson of grossly abusing his power and that his behavior created a hostile work environment. In the court filings made public Tuesday, McGurren said that during her 22-year career at The Mix she rose from traffic reporter to show co-host with Ferguson and Brian "Whip" Paruch, who she. Weitere Informationen ber die Verwendung Ihrer personenbezogenen Daten finden Sie in unserer Datenschutzerklrung und unserer Cookie-Richtlinie. She loves that they listen to her, that they reach out to her, and that they want to connect with her through their own stories. You have permission to edit this article. "Melissa and Austin" debuted on WUSN Monday, May 10, running from 6am-9am. By November 2019, I could not stand to be in that hostile work environment another day. Robert Feder, a lifelong Chicagoan, covered the media beat in his hometown from 1980 until his retirement in 2022. A defamation claim by former Ferguson co-host Melissa McGurren was dismissed earlier this year. Melissa McGurren, the pride of Portage, Indiana, who rose from traffic reporter to full-fledged co-host of Eric Ferguson's top-rated morning show, is out after more than two decades at WTMX. "I love Chicago and country music and I've never been more confident in an opportunity or my team. :). Englands internal email is an informational communication to Plaintiffs former coworkers and defendants current employees, Guzman wrote. No reason was cited for the breakup, but reports persisted of friction between Ferguson and McGurren. Shes a radio host, and she has a huge fan base. Officials of the Hubbard Radio hot adult-contemporary station ended speculation today about McGurren's lengthy absenceand announced a parting of the ways. Lefty reliever Brandon Hughes also has been on a later game schedule after a heavy workload last season. The Mix and its corporate owners have been engaged in a coverup that is now exposed as a lie, Caruso told the Tribune. You can find a comprehensive archive of his material here. It is humiliating to watch and dehumanizing to know that nothing can be done because the management at The Mix approved Fergusons misconduct by their silence in not reprimanding him., Ashrafis filing continued: This is one of many examples of microaggressions and suggestive comments women at The Mix are expected to endure (in addition to being underpaid and marginalized). "A thorough investigation would have uncovered that Jennifer Ashrafi brought many of these same issues, that corroborate Melissa's 'characterization of events,' to England in January, 2020, months before Melissa filed her charge" with the EEOC. WTMX afternoon host Chris Petlak succeeded Ferguson as host of the morning show on The Mix in January. (Todd Rosenberg Photography) McGurren was offered a. Feder flashback: So you think you know Chicago television. England's October 5 email prompted McGurren to sue for defamation, alleging that his statement falsely branded her a liar by attacking her credibility and integrity. Typically, cohosts will announce if youve been on maternity leave, if you are taking personal time, traveling, whatever. She described him as a serial abuser of women and said management failed to respond and then forced her out when she demanded that the alleged harassment stop. similar defamation lawsuit filed by Cynthia DeNicolo, Hubbard parted ways with the morning host. PHILADELPHIA, PA - May 6, 2021 - Audacy announced a new morning show for US99 (WUSN-FM) in Chicago, welcoming local media veteran Melissa McGurren and Austin Huff as morning show co-hosts. Terms of her multiyear deal, negotiated by attorney Steve Mandell, were not disclosed. Cheryl Corley, Greg Kot win Headline Club Lifetime Achievement Awards, My childhood dream became the honor of a lifetime, Robservations: Sun-Times moving to Old Post Office; ABC 7 opens weekend anchor slot; Medill tracks local news decline, Robservations: StreetWise raises cover price; Sventoonie takes a break; Friends of Chicago Reporter mark 50. CHICAGO An Illinois District Court judge on Friday dismissed a $10 million defamation lawsuit by former Chicago radio host Melissa McGurren, who had filed suit against her former employer in . 13 talking about this. She too was represented by Mandell. Tell us what's wrong with this post? Terms of her multiyear deal, negotiated by attorney Steve Mandell, were not disclosed. They miss her, they want to see her back, and they are missing what she brings to the mix when shes on the air. The Tribune also reports that McGurren, who co-hosted "Eric in the Morning" on The Mix, described Ferguson in a December complaint to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission as a "serial abuser of women" who had subjected her to an "unbearable hostile work environment." Nazareth won its fourth state trophy since 2019, and more importantly the programs first state title. 10 Things You Didnt Know about The Sticklers, Luann de Lesseps Accuses Russell Simmons of Groping Her, 10 Things You Didnt Know about Mariana Jasel, 10 Things You Didnt Know About Leo Sheng, 10 Things You Didnt Know about Lele Pons, Being a Movie Superhero Doesnt Always Mean Your Kids Will Like It, 10 Things You Didnt Know about Rila Fukushima, 10 Things You Didnt Know about Asya Branch, 10 Things You Didnt Know about Tricia Ana, Guy Builds Insane Star Trek Man Cave Theater, This Clever Never-Ending LEGO Climber Automaton. Mom 1st. MCGURREN also brought an EEOC Charge of. Fans have been worried. His name is actually Brian Paruch, but hes been called Whip for more than a decade. The arbitrator in McGurrens EEOC case ruled in Hubbards favor earlier this year. Suffice it to say that we do not agree with Melissas characterization of events.. Huff, a native of Nashville, Tennessee, and self-described country music fan, is a graduate of the Missouri School of Journalism at the University of Missouri. McGurren filed her own federal lawsuit against Hubbard shortly afterward. Im honored to wake up with this city every morning, and I cannot wait to have a ton of fun in the process.. Executives from the radio station said at the time they were surprised McGurren declined a contract extension. At least four women have accused Ferguson of misconduct, which led the host of "Eric In the Morning" to leave the station last October. Chicago Tribune editors' top story picks, delivered to your inbox each afternoon. After being missing from "Eric In The Morning" for the past several weeks, Hubbard Hot AC "101.9 The Mix" WTMX Skokie/Chicago has revealed that co-host Melissa McGurren is departing the station after declining a contract extension offered to her. After McGurren left WTMX, in December 2020, she filed a charge of discrimination with the U.S. I know this is exactly where Im supposed to be, and I couldnt be happier to make this new move in my career.. Radio host Eric Ferguson works in the WTMX-FM studio with Melissa McGurren, center, and former co-host Kathy Hart in 2009. . McGurren, who left the show in late 2020 after 22 years, has said in court filings that. Guzman again, disagreed, saying that the statement was an opinion based on its position rather than a statement of facts. Paddock Publications, Inc. is an Employee-Owned Company. Melissa McGurren Drops Attempt To Revive Her Defamation Case Against Hubbard. According to the newspaper, the suit includes a declaration as an exhibit from another former employee, Jennifer Ashrafi, who said she left as the station's afternoon co-host in January, 2020 because she was so "disgusted" by the "misogyny, gender discrimination and hostile work environment that was pervasive" at the station. Melissa McGurren will co-host a new morning show on country station WUSN-FM 99.5 starting Monday. In court filings, McGurren said Ferguson demeaned, harassed and ridiculed her when they worked together. DeNicolo also sued Ferguson, claiming he abused his power to coerce sexual favors from her early in her career and then prevented her from advancing after she rebuffed efforts to restart an unwanted sexual relationship.. 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Hubbard Radios statement that the company thoroughly investigated McGurrens allegations is false, according to McGurrens suit. She also loves artists like the Foo Fighters. All four women alleged management protected him because of his shows high ratings. Hubbard Radio/Chicago VP/Market Manager Jeff England said in a memo to employees on October 5 that the company "thoroughly investigated this matter previously. We look forward to getting them under oath for questioning.. Michael Jackson, for instance, is a huge favorite for her. I really truly am. Radio Ink. In the court filings made public Tuesday, McGurren said that during her 22-year career at The Mix she rose from traffic reporter to show co-host with Ferguson and Brian "Whip" Paruch, who she. Eric Ferguson attends a Rosemont concert in 2015. Ferguson stepped down as host of the popular show in October, amid outcry over McGurrens allegations and claims of sexual assault and workplace harassment made by other female employees of The Mix.. Thanks, you guys. Veteran Chicago radio personality Melissa McGurren's effort to revive her $10 million defamation suit against Hubbard Radio has ended. It all comes just as Ferguson is back from his latest surgery for spinal stenosis, a procedure involving spinal decompression and disc fusion. Starting. She does not have COVID-19, nor does she have any other health conditions. In the latest Nielsen Audio survey, The Mix ranked third overall in mornings with a 7.3 percent share and cumulative weekly audience of 390,600. She is such a proud mom. By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our. Melissa McGurren, former morning co-host on WTMX 101.9-FM, worked at the Hubbard Radio Chicago station that's more popularly known as The Mix for more than two decades before leaving in 2020. Violeta Podrumedic, Brian Whip Paruch, Melissa McGurren and Eric Ferguson. She did promise her followers back in October that she would reveal him sooner or later, but shes yet to do so. The judge also found that Hubbard did not cross the line because its statement expressed an opinion regarding McGurrens claim to the EEOC. Melissa McGurren, the pride of Portage, Indiana, who rose from traffic reporter to full-fledged co-host of Eric Fergusons top-rated morning show, is out after more than two decades at WTMX 101.9-FM. Starting Monday, she will host "Melissa and Austin" from 6 to 9 a.m. weekdays with co-host Austin Huff, a radio producer and podcaster just in from St. Louis. MELISSA MCGURREN, who co-hosted "Eric in the Morning" during a 22-year stretch at the station, sued FERGUSON alleging a pattern of sexual misconduct.
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