| Name | Ron Magers |
|---|---|
| Caption | Ron Magers (left) and Cheryl Burton (right), ABC 7 Chicago's 5 p.m. weekday anchors. |
| Birth date | August 27, 1944 |
| Birth place | San Bernardino, California |
| Occupation | News Anchor at ABC 7 Chicago |
| Relatives | Paul Magers |
| Years active | 1965 – present |
Magers gained early broadcasting experience as a high school student in Toppenish, Washington, when he began to host radio shows as a part-time job.
He began his professional career in television in 1965, when he joined KEZI-TV in Eugene, Oregon as a reporter and news contributor. He later produced and anchored the 11 p.m. newscast at KGW-TV in Portland, Ore. (1967-68). From 1968-74, Magers worked as a reporter and anchor at KPIX-TV in San Francisco, Calif.. He also hosted a Group W 30 minute weekly syndicated program in 1971 titled, "Ron Magers Electric Impressions".
After moving to Minnesota, Magers was hired as the principal anchor for KSTP-TV, the ABC (formerly NBC) affiliate in Minneapolis – Saint Paul from 1974 to 1981. He was later joined by co-anchor Cyndy Brucato. This popular anchor team led the top-rated Twin Cities newscasts at that time, an era which has been unparalleled at the station.
From 1981 to 1997, Magers co-anchored the 5, 6, and 10 p.m. newscasts of WMAQ-TV. Magers and then co-anchor Carol Marin made national headlines in early May 1997 when they left Channel 5. The decision to leave was in protest of the station's hiring of Jerry Springer as commentator for the 10:00 p.m. newscasts. WMAQ management allowed both anchors an early release from their contracts. Both thought that the addition of Springer would have given the broadcast an unnecessary tabloid feel. Springer only made a few commentaries before he too left his position as contributor.
Magers joined WLS in 1998 as a 5:00 p.m. anchor. He became co-anchor of the 10:00 p.m. newscasts in 2002, after the retirement of long-time anchor John Drury. From 1997 to 2009, Magers appeared in a feature segment and was a commentator on The Roe Conn Show on WLS (AM). Due to Citadel Broadcasting filing for bankruptcy, Magers had to be let go. Under new management at WLS (AM), he was reinstated to his original role several months later.
Category:American television journalists Category:American people of Portuguese descent Category:Living people Category:Chicago, Illinois television anchors Category:San Francisco, California television anchors
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