Longtime Chicago Sun-Times television/radio columnist Robert Feder announced today he is leaving the paper within the “next few weeks.” He’s covered the local broadcast scene since 1980.
In his column today, Feder says he’s taking a buyout as part of an agreement between the paper and his union. His departure leaves the Chicago Tribune‘s Phil Rosenthal as the last of the Windy City’s big newspaper TV columnists.
“The more I thought about it,” Feder writes of his decision, “the more I came to see it as a great opportunity…I’ll be able to take a break, step back and think about what else I want to do…
“One reason I stayed as long as I have in this job is that it was such a perfect fit. I’d been fascinated by the inner workings of the media for as long as I can remember. While other kids grew up worshiping rock stars or athletes, my idol was Walter Cronkite, the great CBS News anchorman…
“But times change, and covering the minutiae of the broadcast business isn’t as much fun as it used to be…I’d rather leave too early than stay too late.
“Working here has been more than an honor and a privilege. It’s been a dream come true.”