Member Profile
Dean Richards
- Primary Outlet:
- WGN-TV
- Additional Outlets:
- Cable Channel News Nation, 200+ Nexstar Media Stations, WGN Radio.
- Website:
- http://wgntv.com/deanslist
- Facebook:
- www.facebook.com/DeanRichardsWGN
- X (formerly Twitter):
- @deanrichards
- Biography:
- Dean Richards is WGN-TV’s Emmy Award-winning entertainment reporter and critic. His work is seen and heard on several Tribune Media-owned properties and he was cited in a New York Times front-page article as “Tribune Company’s Man of Many Hats.” Dean joined WGN-TV as a staff announcer in 1991. In 1998, he appeared as a guest reviewer and was brought onboard as a regular contributor soon after. His entertainment reports and reviews are seen on “WGN Morning News,” “WGN Midday News,” “WGN Evening News” and “WGN News at Nine,” where he interviews national and local celebrities, reports on showbiz and reviews the latest movies. He has also hosted and co-produced specials such as the award-winning “Bozo, Gar & Ray: WGN TV Classics,” the Oscar preview special “The Envelope Please” and “Stories of Hope: Facing Breast Cancer.” In May, 2016 Richards was inducted into the Chicago Television Academy’s prestigious “Silver Circle” Hall of Fame. On WGN Radio (720 AM), “Dean Richards’ Sunday Morning” covers Chicago’s entertainment and lifestyle scene including movies, theater, food and dining, Sundays from 9am-1pm. Dean’s entertainment reports and reviews can also be heard on “The Steve Cochran Show” weekdays at 8:10am and also on the “Bill & Wendy Show”, Thursdays at 11:35am. Since joining WGN Radio in 1994, Richards has won over 30 local and national awards for programming and production, including the prestigious Peter Lisagor Award for Outstanding Journalism, the Associated Press Best Feature of the Year, the Illinois Broadcasters Association, UPI, Chicago A.I.R. Awards, and Promax International Promotion and Marketing Awards. In May of 2016 Dean’s name was added on a bronze plaque to the WGN Radio Walk of Fame outside their Michigan Avenue studio honoring broadcasters who have made significant contributions to this legendary radio station. Dean has also contributed to national cable channel WGN America and Tribune Publishing’s, Chicago Tribune and Redeye. On the charity front, Dean’s annual radio and television specials on the fight against breast cancer have also garnered many national and local awards and citations from breast cancer organizations, including the “Y-ME” National Breast Cancer Organization’s “Outstanding Media” Award, for their contributions to the fight against the disease. On and off the air, Dean has been a tireless worker related to HIV/AIDS issues, hosting charitable functions for decades including “AIDS Run & Walk Chicago” and “Dance for Life Chicago.” He has lent support to numerous organizations including Howard Brown Health Center, Horizons Community Services (now Center on Halsted), Open Hand Chicago, and was awarded a citation by Stop AIDS Chicago for his contributions to the fight against AIDS. The AIDS Foundation of Chicago also recognized him in their annual “Faces of AIDS” publication for bringing HIV/AIDS issues to mainstream media and, in 2006, cited him with a special commendation for his work in the field. For over 25 years, Richards was part of the annual Jerry Lewis Labor Day Telethon for the Muscular Dystrophy Association, many of those years as the primary local host. Dean has also hosted numerous events for Alzheimer’s awareness, hunger, homeless, and domestic violence organizations. A native of Chicago, Dean worked his way through a string of suburban Chicago radio stations after completing his Broadcast Communications/Marketing degree at Columbia College. A veteran of the Chicago’s broadcasting radio scene since 1975, he has worked at WNUA, WCLR, WIND, WCFL, and WFYR and WPWR. He also hosted a nationally-syndicated morning radio program for the ABC Radio Network, while also acting as its Operations Manager. (5/16)