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Charles Thomas leaves WVON

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* WVON press release from yesterday…

Veteran journalist Charles Thomas stepped down as co-host of the popular morning drive talk show The WVON Morning Show with Maze Jackson featuring Charles Thomas over the weekend.

Thomas joined the morning show 13 months ago with the intent of only staying a few weeks after retiring from ABC-7 following a 45-year career in journalism. Thomas tendered his resignation to Midway Broadcasting Corporation’s Chairman, Melody Spann Cooper. Spann Cooper states, “I thanked Charles for his tremendous commitment and contribution to the station and the community. We were honored to have him for such a short stay and look forward to assisting him in his future endeavors of building his brand in the Black media landscape. We know there are big things on the horizon for him.”

Thomas’ departure is the first of several major personality changes that will be taking place before the end of the year.

* Politico…

Esteemed journalist Charles Thomas has stepped down as co-host of WVON’s Morning Show. The move comes a few days after POLITICO published the ties his co-host Maze Jackson had to Republican candidates.

* Robert Feder…

Thomas, who joined WVON in April 2017 after he retired as political reporter from ABC-owned WLS-Channel 7, cited the difficult hours of morning drive for suddenly walking away from the 6 to 9 a.m. weekday gig. He would not comment on the Politico story or say whether it figured into his decision to leave.

“I’m getting my life back,” he told me Monday. “When I retired [from ABC 7], I did not envision getting up at 3 o’clock in the morning every day and then having to go to bed every night at 7 or 8 o’clock. So it’s a good thing for me.” […]

WVON is looking to add a new morning co-host “in the very near future,” according to program director Todd Ronczkowski.

* Maze Jackson defended himself on Facebook the other day. Excerpt…

This story is a one-sided attempt to paint me as a Republican and to attempt to compromise who I am and my intentions. So instead playing their game I’ll share with my audience. Let’s FACT CHECK:

Chauncey Colquitt does not have a job and never had the job of booking guests for WVON. As many community and PR people do, Chauncey HAS scheduled HIS clients on the show. Additionally he is a 30 year friend and fraternity brother. He has worked with and for me on campaigns for 20 plus years. He is family…I would help him until it hurt me.

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Jul 31, 18 @ 10:16 am

Comments

===I would help him until it hurt me.===

Looks like it just did.

Comment by 47th Ward Tuesday, Jul 31, 18 @ 10:19 am
–He (Thomas) would not comment on the Politico story or say whether it figured into his decision to leave.–

Charles was a reporter for 45 years. I’m guessing he’d know how to interpret that.

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Jul 31, 18 @ 10:26 am
It’s selling Maze short to call him a Republican. A better term is opportunist. The dude couldn’t care less about anything other than his paycheck, and he’s found shilling for Republicans to be quite profitable of late.

Comment by PJ Tuesday, Jul 31, 18 @ 10:28 am
Hard to dig out of this ditch Charles.

Comment by Precinct Captain Tuesday, Jul 31, 18 @ 10:28 am
Charles Thomas is above Maze in every possible way. Hope he either lands a great opportunity somewhere or enjoys retirement. He deserves at least some rest after carrying that show on his back.

Comment by Zeep Bow Tuesday, Jul 31, 18 @ 10:31 am
Why does Politico think it’s so bad to be a Republican?

Comment by cdog Tuesday, Jul 31, 18 @ 10:31 am
Unless you heard otherwise, I don’t think it is because of Maze’s work, which Charles knew all about.

More likely he didn’t like the schedule and was told that he would be let go or asked to take a big pay cut (he probably wasn’t making that much to start with) because of rough economics of the radio industry.

Comment by Grand Avenue Tuesday, Jul 31, 18 @ 10:36 am
Im just thinking back to last year and the on air confrontation between Maze and Kwame Raoul. More props to Kwame in light of the revelations.

Charles Thomas is the best and godspeed to him in his retirement.

Comment by low level Tuesday, Jul 31, 18 @ 10:40 am
Is Mancow still available?

Comment by City Zen Tuesday, Jul 31, 18 @ 10:57 am
Here is my take on this;

You work 45 years in a industry of 24/7 news and that news includes politics… retire… and your reward for that is to wake at 3 am, host a morning show, stay up on events, and go to bed at 7 or 8 at night…

… they’re lucky he did that for 13 months let alone 13 Days.

The rest?

The rest is Maze. Maze is Maze. Thomas wasn’t fooled or bothered.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jul 31, 18 @ 10:59 am
Wake up at three for a 6 a.m. show — did you move to St. Louis,Charles?
Perhaps you missed the Maze hustle which has dotted every step?
Guessin’ playin’ disco might get better #s
Perhaps GovJunk could find another gig —afternoon shift.

Comment by Annonin' Tuesday, Jul 31, 18 @ 11:04 am
Annonin’, I’m sure your response is based on your long career in the radio business, so you know that it’s not a gig where you punch in and sit down in front of the microphone.
You probably also know all about show prep, which I imagine a professional like Charles took very seriously.

Comment by Father Ted Tuesday, Jul 31, 18 @ 11:16 am
I would “check” out the Maze angle…

Maze: You’ll never check me, brother.
Raoul: I just did.
Maze: You’ve never checked me.
Raoul: I just did.
Maze: Go ahead. [Cross talk]
Raoul: If you want to have that type of conversation, Maze, there’s another place where we can have that type of conversation.

Comment by Texas Red Tuesday, Jul 31, 18 @ 11:17 am
===Wake up at three for a 6 a.m. show — did you move to St. Louis,Charles?===

Its called show prep. You don’t wake up and then go on air. You need some time to go over the overnight news and get caught up.

Comment by wndycty Tuesday, Jul 31, 18 @ 11:20 am
It’s one thing for Maze or other show hosts to shill for Democrats, but shilling for Republicans is an intolerable outrage.

Comment by jim Tuesday, Jul 31, 18 @ 11:21 am
Thomas should start his own podcast get his own guests. Would be 10 times better show

Comment by Regular democrat Tuesday, Jul 31, 18 @ 11:28 am
Good for Thomas, jettisoning the garbage.

Comment by How about this one? Tuesday, Jul 31, 18 @ 11:31 am
Thomas is one of the true good guys in the media, glad he’s leaving with his pride and dignity intact. Not sure how he ever ended until in this circus sideshow but glad he said “enough.”

As someone else said, would love to see him start his own podcast, if not get his own show. Until then, enjoy your retirement!

Comment by DaleyMail Tuesday, Jul 31, 18 @ 11:45 am
Maze’s first quarterly ratings were 0. This quarter they are 0.3. Around 33,000 PER WEEK. A little more than 6000 people a day. Real powerhouse Maze. Slightly better than two soup cans and a string.

Comment by Radiohead Tuesday, Jul 31, 18 @ 11:50 am
–Why does Politico think it’s so bad to be a Republican?–

Another victim heard from. Where do you see that?

Can you comprehend that a lifelong journalist might not wish to be so closely associated with propagandists for a partisan camp?

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Jul 31, 18 @ 12:50 pm
Good for Charles Thomas. Get as far away from Maze as possible.

Comment by Shytown Tuesday, Jul 31, 18 @ 3:26 pm
Kudos to Charles for sticking it out as long as he did. His intelligence, experience and professionalism will be missed. Like others have mentioned, I hope a podcast is in the very near future.

Comment by Happy Go Lucky Tuesday, Jul 31, 18 @ 4:20 pm
Charles Thomas is a true journalist. Why he ever associated with Maze is beyond me. O the power of Rauner and his money.

Comment by Mazed and confused Tuesday, Jul 31, 18 @ 5:34 pm
Follow the Maserati Panamera

Comment by Madigoon Tuesday, Jul 31, 18 @ 8:32 pm
-Follow the Maserati Panamera-

Hard to do, because there ain’t no such thing.

Comment by Arthur Andersen Tuesday, Jul 31, 18 @ 9:54 pm