Chicago TV: More Downsizing At Nexstar's WGN-TV

WGN-Ch. 9 in Chicago suffered another round of layoffs this week, with three creative services employees let go on Wednesday, including longtime producer Debbie Brockman—whose viral October detainment by federal immigration agents drew national attention.

Brockman, a 15-year veteran at the station since 2011, was forced to the ground, handcuffed, and placed in an unmarked van by agents while heading to work from her Lincoln Square home. The U.S. citizen was detained for seven hours before release without charges. The incident, captured on video during heightened immigration enforcement operations in Chicago, sparked public outcry and symbolized clashes over urban enforcement tactics. The Chicago Tribune reports Brockman did not respond to comment requests Thursday, and no lawsuit appears to have been filed despite earlier indications of pursuing legal action.

The Wednesday cuts also affected a recently hired art director, while three other creative services staff were reassigned to a new regional hub in Nashville, according to sources familiar with the matter.

These layoffs follow heavy downsizing at WGN, owned by Dallas-based Nexstar Media. 

Debbie Brockman

On Monday, eight veteran on-air journalists and anchors were cut: Sean Lewis, Ray Cortopassi, Bronagh Tumulty, Judy Wang, Julian Crews, Paul Lisnek, Chris Boden, and Dean Richards. Last week, meteorologist Mike Janssen's contract was not renewed. Similar on-air and creative services reductions occurred this week at other Nexstar stations, including KTLA in Los Angeles, as the company consolidates operations.

WGN has seen repeated staff reductions in recent months: six newswriters and three technical director roles eliminated last month, plus four floor director positions cut in October.

Nexstar spokesperson Gary Weitman declined to comment on the WGN layoffs.

The cuts come amid Nexstar's growth strategy. The company acquired WGN in 2019 via its $4.1 billion purchase of Tribune Media. A pending $6.8 billion (or reported $6.2 billion in some updates) acquisition of rival Tegna is on track to close by the end of the second quarter of 2026, pending FCC approval to lift the national TV audience ownership cap. During Thursday's earnings call, CEO Perry Sook described the deal as accelerating media consolidation to help local broadcasters better compete with big tech and media while sustaining local journalism.

The restructuring has already eliminated nearly two dozen jobs at WGN, with Brockman among the latest affected.