Phyllis Schwartz Replaces Carol Fowler As Vice President and News Director At WFLD

By Merrill Knox 

Phyllis Schwartz, a former news director at Chicago ABC O&O WLS, has been named vice president and news director at WFLD, the Chicago Fox O&O. Her appointment is effective immediately.

Schwartz replaces Carol Fowler, who is “leaving the station to pursue other opportunities,” a Fox statement reads. Although Fowler’s departure was rumored last spring, WFLD general manager Mike Renda told TVSpy in June, “Carol and I are here for the long haul.”

“FOX Chicago appreciates all of Carol’s hard work and dedication during her time with the station,” a Fox spokesperson told TVSpy.

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Schwartz spent 13 years at WLS, including five as the station’s news director. She has a long history in local television, with stints as vice president of news and creative services at Chicago NBC O&O WMAQ and as president and general manager at San Diego NBC O&O KNSD. Her last job in television was as executive vice president of news, promotion and original content for the NBC Universal local stations, a position she held from 2007 to 2009.

Most recently, she was the president of Phyllis Schwartz Solutions, a consulting and programming development company.

Schwartz said in a statement that she is “thrilled to be coming back to the city I consider to have the best competitive local news scene in the country.”

“I look forward to working with the FOX Chicago news team for the upcoming news cycle, which will include the 2012 election season and the G8/NATO meetings being held in Chicago this spring,” she said.

 

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