Retiring Chicago anchor Ron Magers says he was surprised when rival CW affiliate WGN used something he said in an interview to promote itself.
The quote: “They do just a great job over there. They’ve created themselves as this kind of hybrid, where there is news, but it’s an awfully entertaining package as well,” was said by Magers during the podcast Lossano & Friends last week.
Tribune-owned WGN used the quote in a print ad for itself in Sunday’s Chicago Tribune.
Chicago media writer Robert Feder reports while Magers, who works for ABC-owned station WLS, doesn’t dispute the accuracy of what was said, he “was stunned to see it in as ad.”
Asked about the ad, Greg Easterly, president and general manager of WGN, said in a statement Sunday: “What a nice compliment from a legendary newsman looking back at an award-winning career.”
“I suppose their argument is it was said publicly, and I’m a public figure, so they have a right to use it,” Magers told Feder. “But for me personally, it’s way over the line. And I’m disappointed.”
“For me this is instructive about how the business has changed,” said Magers. “There was a time when you could say something nice about a competitor and you might get a note that says ‘Thanks.’ Now suddenly everything needs to be flogged and hammered in ads and social media. So I guess the answer is next time I’ll tell you the rest of what I think about them.”