Felcia Middlebrook, WBBM Newsradio 780, will retire May 29. In an open letter to colleagues and listeners Middlebrook said she is not retiring, but rewiring.
Middlebrook has been on the air at the station for nearly 36 years. In the letter, posted on the station website, she said she is “dropping the mic” from doing daily radio news in favor of transitioning to long form storytelling on a multi-media platform.
Ron Gleason, Director of News and Programming for Entercom Chicago, called Middlebrook a pioneer to become the first woman in the country to anchor morning drive in an all news format.
“Back then, no one could have imagined she would help chronicle the lives of six different Chicago mayors, six presidents, seven Illinois governors and 10 senators from our state. From council wars to the war on terror, and now through a global pandemic, Felicia’s journalistic skills and soothing voice have provided a calming presence even during the most tragic of times. And when things were a bit more normal, she always found time for a quick on-air chuckle or poignant thought-for-the-day.”
“My career at Newsradio 780 has been the joy and honor of my life, the fulfillment of a dream, a wonderful remarkable journey for which I am deeply grateful,” said Middlebrook.
