Longtime WGN Radio news anchor Steve Bertrand is retiring on November 13, capping a 40-year career at the Chicago station. Hired in 1985 and celebrating his 40th anniversary this past June, Bertrand has been a trusted voice for generations of listeners and colleagues, renowned for his crisp news reporting and lighthearted on-air banter.
“From his start at WGN Radio in 1985 during the Wally Phillips era to anchoring news on the Lisa Dent Show today, Steve has upheld the highest standards of journalistic integrity over 40 remarkable years, blending it with his signature playful banter that will be deeply missed by colleagues and listeners alike,” said WGN Radio Vice President and General Manager Mary Sandberg Boyle.
Bertrand joined as an intern before securing a full-time role and advancing to the anchor desk in 1992. Throughout his career, he collaborated with Chicago broadcasting icons such as Wally Phillips, Roy Leonard, Spike O’Dell, Kathy O’Malley, and Judy Markey. Alongside O’Malley and Markey, he played a key role in developing the engaging conversational style of “The Girlfriends.”
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| Steve Bertrand |
WGN Radio host John Williams highlighted Bertrand’s lasting influence. “Our loss is Steve’s—and his family’s—gain. But we’re really going to miss him. He’s been the steady, warm, and insightful voice of Chicago radio for so many years. If he won’t be on our shows anymore, I hope he’ll call in. Chicago could use more Steve Bertrands,”
Williams said.Bertrand also spent six years on the road with the Chicago Bears while WGN served as the team’s flagship station, producing coverage and conducting locker-room interviews with Coach Mike Ditka. Over four decades, he covered pivotal events like the death of Mayor Harold Washington, the 1990 Plainfield tornado, the Oklahoma City bombing, the 9/11 attacks, and Al Gore’s decision on election night 2000 not to concede. He’s also nationally known for his author interviews.