CSN Chicago Senior Director of Communications
CSNChicago.com Contributor<\/p>\n
Want to know more about your favorite Chicago media celebrities? Ive always wanted to work at the Mix, and this is not how I saw things coming, so here I sit. To their dismay, however, he was unable to make any comments about the situation as Hubbard had requested for them not to do so. McGurren posted a video earlier this month on her Facebook page, explaining she was fine after listeners wondered where she was after being absent from the show for weeks. "Eric & Kathy," dubbed the "most successful morning team in Chicago radio history," had been on the air since 1996 and were inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 2016. She says what she wants, does what she wants, is very funny and I still think deep down she is a pretty nice lady. She is the gift that keeps giving. Are you 60 or older? I don't want to donate money (I already do that). In the end, it wasnt until she moved back home to Chicago a few years later, that she was hired at The Mix. Her EEOC complaint also said Ferguson would frequently and inappropriately touch many younger female employees, or sometimes younger female listeners, at company events in Chicago or abroad in Mexico during company retreats., McGurren said she frequently complained to management about Fergusons terrible behavior. According to a Nov. 24, 2020, email included as part of an exhibit in the amended lawsuit, she wrote to human resources: Ive been mentally and verbally abused, harassed, put into tears, yelled at, belittled, ignored, mocked and my job has been threatened multiple times., [Second woman alleges inappropriate behavior by Eric Ferguson of The Mix radio], McGurrens EEOC complaint alleges the station placed her on a short leave around Thanksgiving 2020, claiming it would investigate her complaints about Ferguson, but instead used the time to begin the process of rebranding to remove my name from the show.. No reason was cited for the breakup, but reports persisted of friction between Ferguson and McGurren. We get hundreds of people coming. The station eventually removed the video from social media after the post generated a negative reaction from the morning shows fans.. Marci Braun continues as program director of US99 and regional brand manager of the country format for Audacy. I want to do more than that. 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. 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. ], Our plans for the future of Eric in the Morning definitely included Melissa, Jeff England, vice president and market manager at Hubbard Chicago which owns and operates the Mix said in the statement. His music will forever be timeless to me. This year, organizers expect that number to be surpassed. Besides allegations of a hostile work environment, defamation and infliction of emotional distress, McGurren contended she was intentionally paid less than men in similar or comparable positions., Attorneys for Ferguson did not immediately respond to requests for comment Tuesday. On Tuesday, former. While so many people tend to move to Chicago from far away, she is not one of those people. Ferguson has not otherwise responded to requests for comment. I've gone to some games myself and have thoroughly enjoyed all that goes on, be it the tailgating, the camaraderie, etc. src="https://www.facebook.com/tr?id=674090812743125&ev=PageView&noscript=1"/>, CSN Chicago Senior Director of CommunicationsCSNChicago.com Contributor. I know this is exactly where Im supposed to be, and I couldnt be happier to make this new move in my career.. Melissa McGurren, former morning co-host on WTMX 101.9-FM,. Tell us CSNChicago.com readers want to hear about it!<\/p>\n
McGurren:<\/strong> I have StyleFile events that start every spring and last all summer. He so harassed her about the setup that in June 2020 she went back into the studio with him, even though I felt very unsafe doing so, her complaint alleges. There's no doubt you've attained a solid fan base over the years thanks in part to your great sense of humor and ability to put your male counterparts in their place if needed! All kidding aside, who knows what path the future holds, but when something "feels right", I just go with it. Melissa started her radio career in the Hoosier State in Hammond and Merrillville before becoming the sidekick/traffic reporter at THE MIX. We talk about a lot of things non-sports related so I'm fine in that aspect. Free Learn for Life Webinar: Entrepreneurship Fundamentals. Freelance writer who loves dogs and anything related to Japanese culture. The woman, Kristen Mori of Ohio, wrote that management turned a blind eye towards (his) inappropriate and offensive conduct because of the revenue generated by his show. Actress: The Young and the Restless. Click to read Racket News, a Substack publication with hundreds of thousands of readers. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. Chris Petlak, who co-hosted afternoons on The Mix, was named in January to succeed Ferguson as morning host alongside regular contributors Nikki Chuminatto, Brian Paruch and Violeta Podrumedic and executive producer John Swanson. . The complaint says McGurren knew this host had complained on their behalf to Kachinske and Greg Solk, who served as Hubbard senior vice president of programming before leaving the company in 2016. ", McGurren became the third woman to accuse Ferguson following former producer Cynthia DeNicolo and former sales employee Kristen Mori, who said Ferguson groped her at a holiday party and station management "turned a blind eye. Plus -- I'm looking for a charity that I can really be involved in that deals with animals. Her coworker, Whip, calls her the secret weapon on their show. According to the Chicago Tribune, which broke the story of the lawsuit, the "unwelcome sexual relationship" plagued the start of DeNicolo's career in radio and that she was fired 16 years after she stopped giving sexual favors. She says what she wants, does what she wants, is very funny and I still think deep down she is a pretty nice lady. Thanks for reading! Those comments were an attempt to paint McGurren in a false light, she alleged in a document related to the arbitration process, and were made with the intent of continuing to cover-up Fergusons serial harassment and the stations tacit approval of the alleged conduct. Understandably, the whole situation would have been stressful and frustrating for the former co-host. Free Professional Website Design & SEO for Veteran-Owned Businesses, Serve Your Community in a Uniformed Service. This is bizarre., Melissa McGurren co-hosted Eric Ferguson's morning show at WTMX-FM 101.9 before leaving the Chicago radio station in December 2020. Rachel Williamson, regional president and market manager of Audacy Chicago, said the team of McGurren and Huff "will bring energy, positivity, chemistry, and a lot of fun to this fresh and dynamic local show to serve Chicagos country listeners. I don't know what the future holds for me. I love it. New Tradition Chorus "Blast From the Past" with songs of '70s and '80s. Her writing has allowed her to visit NYC for Fashion Week events since 2015, and she's worked with clients in almost every field, from dentistry to law and family to entertainment. I want to bust the bad guys!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n McGurren LINKS:<\/strong><\/p>\n Official WTMX Eric and Kathy Show home page<\/p>\n Melissa McGurren on Faceboo<\/p>\n", mps => {"author":"Jeff Nuich","league":"","sport":"","sponsor":""}, chrome_data => "{\"league\":\"\",\"sport\":\"\",\"sponsor\":\"\"}", image => {"uri":"public:\/\/archive\/assets_article\/chicago\/2012\/02\/22\/678794.jpg","alt":"678794.jpg","title":"5 Questions with Melissa McGurren"}, fb_url => "https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/dialog\/share?app_id=330072974228200&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nbcsports.com%2Fchicago%2F5-questions-melissa-mcgurren&display=popup", tw_url => "https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=5%20Questions%20with%20%20Melissa%20McGurren&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nbcsports.com%2Fchicago%2F5-questions-melissa-mcgurren&original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nbcsports.com%2Fchicago%2F5-questions-melissa-mcgurren", mailto => "mailto:?subject=5%20Questions%20with%20%20Melissa%20McGurren&body=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nbcsports.com%2Fchicago%2F5-questions-melissa-mcgurren", meta => {"file":"\/mnt\/gfs\/rsnunited\/sites\/default\/files\/archive\/article\/chicago\/5-questions-melissa-mcgurren.json","assets":["public:\/\/archive\/assets_article\/chicago\/2012\/02\/22\/678794.jpg"]}, orig_image => {"uri":"public:\/\/2016\/04\/11\/678794.jpg","alt":"678794.jpg","title":"5 Questions with Melissa McGurren"}. Kathy Hart, Fergusons longtime morning show co-host, departed WTMX in 2017 without explanation. When Melissa McGurren left her job co-hosting Eric Ferguson's popular morning radio show in December, she said "the truth will come out" about her unexplained departure from the station known. What a fun thing to be able to grow up and make that happen for yourself. I know I worry too much about saying the wrong thing to people or hurting their feelings.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 5) CSNChicago.com:<\/strong> Name your Top 3 favorite songs\/artists that would NEVER be played on The Mix?<\/p>\n McGurren:<\/strong> Ok, first up, give me some old Dixie Chicks and I'm pretty much in heaven. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune). This weeks guest a standout cast member of the enormously popular Eric and Kathy Show on 101.9 FM THE MIX shes a Northwest Indiana native whose love of media and personal drive to make it in the crazy world of radio broadcasting landed her at just about the best place one can hope to be at in the biz plus, she's pretty damn funny too here are 5 Questions with MELISSA McGURREN! Equal Employment and Opportunity Commission was an opinion and therefore did not constitute defamation. His conduct rose to such a level to render her place of work unbearable, forcing her to leave a job she loved and excelled in, the arbitration document said. McGurren provided several examples of Fergusons alleged harassment in the arbitration document. Melissa McGurren co-hosted a morning show with Eric Ferguson at WTMX-FM 101.9 before leaving the Chicago radio station in December 2020. The shows popularity seems limitless right now. We get hundreds of people coming. Left in the dark, many fans took to social media to find answers. Ferguson then forced McGurren to walk to her car, turn around, and walk back to the station so she could start her day over again., The document continued: Ferguson ordered the Mixs social media team to film McGurren while she was making this walk of shame, and to post the video to social media. She collaborated with the NFL, CDC, and Heads Up Football Program in 2012 and 2013. "The key to the success of this entertainment based, lifestyle driven show has been its ability to keep the content edgy enough to engage adults but with enough tongue in cheek humor to sail right over the heads of kids," the website states. ANY Frank Sinatra song is fantastic! At the age of 8, Melissa was already writing and creating radio shows on cassette tapes to play for her mom. I cant believe Justin Fields and I are moving to Chicago at the same time, especially considering he throws a much tighter spiral than me, Huff was quoted as saying. ", EARLIER: 'Eric In The Morning' Host Coerced Sexual Favors: Ex-WTMX Staffer. Was/is that particular aspect of your job difficult for you or do you feel that it is just an absolute requirement in order to further connect to your audience? Eric in the Morning assistant producer Cynthia DeNicolowho also occasionally worked as a babysitter for Ferguson and his then-wifealso has sued the station, claiming Ferguson used his star power to coerce her into sex acts when she first began working for the station, and, for years after she began refusing his come-ons, taunted her in front of co-workers. She claimed Hubbard falsely branded her as a liar in a staff memo after she reported Ferguson for abusive. I want to bust the bad guys! CHICAGO After three women have accused radio host Eric Ferguson of fostering a sexist and hostile work environment, a former 101.9 FM "The Mix" employee is speaking out. racket.news. Typically, cohosts will announce if youve been on maternity leave, if you are taking personal time, traveling, whatever. BIO: Moving to Chicago wasn't a far trip for Melissa McGurren, who grew up in Portage, Ind. McGurren also spoke many times with a former radio host who worked alongside Ferguson at WTMX about Fergusons inappropriate behavior and the hostile working environment Fergusons conduct created between 2006 and 2017, according to the complaint, which does not identify the former host. In her EEOC complaint, McGurren said the discrimination against her dates to 2005 and she complained dozens of times from 2010 to 2018 to Mary Ellen Kachinske, the stations program director at the time. In the end, it was announced that the morning show would be continuing under a different nameEric in the Morning with Melissa & Whip. Radio Ink. Englands internal email is an informational communication to Plaintiffs former coworkers and defendants current employees, Guzman wrote. She does not have COVID-19, nor does she have any other health conditions. Jennifer Aguilar, who was born and raised in La Villita, takes the helm of the local chamber of commerce, which not only advocates for businesses but runs the Mexican Independence Day parade. In response, Jeff England, vice president and market manager of Hubbard Radio Chicago, sent an email to staff published here that read in part: "This is not a new development, and weve thoroughly investigated this matter previously. Latest Job Openings In And Around Chicago, 5 New Properties On The Market In And Around The Chicago Area, Mike'd Up: How A Chicagoan's Ditka-Inspired Bachelor Party Went Viral. I cant even believe this, I am where I am right now. As the aforementioned primary sidekick to E & K, do you have any aspirations to one day soon have your own radio show? Melissa McGurren, co-host of Eric Fergusons morning show, said Wednesday the truth will come out about her departure from WTMX-FM 101.9 after more than two decades with the contemporary music station. His ruling included three reasons why he was accepting the motion to dismiss by Hubbard. I definitely know more now that we talk about it on the show, but I don't really follow it. Following the statement, it was made known that the morning show would be continuing in its original format with Eric Ferguson, Melissa McGurren, Cynthia DeNicolo, Brian Paruch, and John Swanson. At the age of 8, Melissa was already writing and creating radio shows on cassette tapes to play for her mom. McGurrens abrupt departure from the airwaves stunned her fans. While he described the events as very strange and unpredictable, he admitted that he had felt energized and rejuvenated following her official departure. Hes been around for a while, hes. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she wrote, she worked in a space with a window separating her from Ferguson, because of her asthma and other medical issues. We provide the most recent, unbiased accounts of the news that matters to you. WUSN-FM (US99)/Chicago morning co-host Melissa McGurren has filed a defamation lawsuit against her former employer, crosstown Hubbard Radio, reports the Chicago Tribune.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." The UChicago Men's Soccer team has won the Div3 National Championship for the first time ever! A report that highlighted the economic impact of Sueos Music Festival found that more than 900 jobs were created thanks to the two-day event. Christy Gutowski and Tracy Swartz of the Chicago Tribune first reported on DeNicolossuit against Ferguson in September and have continued to advance the story. McGurren, you'll recall, was co-host of Ferguson's morning show when she left in 2020 after 22 years at The Mix. The judge also found that Hubbard did not cross the line because its statement expressed an opinion regarding McGurrens claim to the EEOC. 10 Things You Didnt Know about Melissa McGurren, Critics Don't Love Melissa McCarthy's New Show With Husband Ben Falcone, 10 Things You Didn't Know about Melissa Lingafelt, Five Things You Didnt Know about Johnathon Schaech, Avatar 3 Will Introduce a New Type of Navi, Cool Photo of Alan Rickman In High School in London, 1964, 20 Things You Didnt Know About Meek Mill, Five Things You didnt Know about Alyson Tabbitha, 10 Things You Didnt Know about Cailee Spaeny, Tom Cruise Doesnt Want Anyone To Run With Him On Screen, Young and the Restless Most Memorable Moments of 2019, 10 Things You Didnt Know about Siobhan McSweeney, What We Learned From The Trailer for COPSHOP, Five Movies Coming Out in 2021 That We Cant Wait To See. Get the best water damage restoration in Chicago right now! They introduce themselves when we're out and they attend our functions. Ok, so that's super cheesy," she says, but it's completely true. She apologized for her absence from the show and assured fans that her family is healthy in a video posted to social media Dec. 3. Blackhawks star Patrick Sharp, for example, regularly appears on the show as do other athletes from time to time. Her agent was unavailable for comment. There are at least 11 that I would pick, but if I can only pick one Chelsea Handler. I know I worry too much about saying the wrong thing to people or hurting their feelings. And we are confident of our client's underlying claims against Hubbard and look forward to our hearing in arbitration.". Was\/is that particular aspect of your job difficult for you or do you feel that it is just an absolute requirement in order to further connect to your audience?<\/p>\n McGurren:<\/strong> When I first started, I didn't mind talking about some aspects of my life. Melissa McGurren, who spent 22 years with WTMX-101.9-FM and co-hosted the Eric in the Morning with Ferguson, in 2020 filed suit against WTMX owner Hubbard Radio Chicago, claiming an email sent to her former coworkers implied she was lying about alleged abusive behavior by Ferguson. The new love of her life is her son Porter, who was born in December 2010. A wonderful woman. I actually feel like I'm friends with them as much as they are with me.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 3) CSNChicago.com:<\/strong> You've stated that you don't know that much about sports not sure if I can believe that. Simple question: do you ever get nervous when an athlete is on the show in fear of your self-proclaimed lack of sports knowledge?<\/p>\n McGurren:<\/strong> Well you can believe it. She also described a pattern of abuse against women at the station by Ferguson. McGurren is the third female former employee of The Mix to come forward to say Ferguson engaged in inappropriate conduct. Her lawsuit claims station vice president Jeff England defamed her when he sent a message to staff in 2020 stating the station had investigated her claims and did not agree with [McGurrens] characterization of events a statement that McGurren said implied she was a liar, and which she claimed impugned her integrity. A report that highlighted the economic impact of Sueos Music Festival found that more than 900 jobs were created thanks to the two-day event. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and in later court filings, McGurren said Ferguson subjected her to an unbearable hostile work environment with the knowledge of their bosses. Tiffany and her husband are the proud parents of four children in her free time. She is a huge fan of different genres of music that would never be played on her own station. Besides, David Grohl is dreamy. No One Injured When Amtrak Engine Runs Off Chicago Union Station Track, Chicago School Mom Uses Pepper Spray To Start Classroom Fight: Police, Senior Prank Gone Wrong In Niles + Chicago Cabaret Week Returns. Listen on the show for upcoming events starting soon! You have entered an incorrect email address! This was when I was on another morning show. McGurren and Austin Huff a podcaster and longtime producer who hails from. How could we improve it? A surprise to everyone, it was announced that Kathy had been fired from Eric & Kathy by The Mix radio station. As McGurrens claims began to generate media coverage earlier this month, Hubbard Radio sent a note to employees of The Mix stating the company had thoroughlyinvestigated this matter previously. DeNicolo, a former assistant producer of Eric in the Morning, alleged Ferguson coerced sexual favors from her in 2004, then retaliated against her for years after she put a stop to it, according to her lawsuit, filed by attorney Carmen Caruso.