Click Here for details.
Save Save Save Save
Published in the Sun-Times on January 23, 2025
BY DAVID ROEDER For the Sun-Times
The nonprofit owner of the Chicago Sun- Times is calling for staff reductions that will fall heavily on the publication's newsroom employees.
The cutbacks could be the deepest Chicago Public Media has ordered since it absorbed the Sun-Times in 2022. The noncash acquisition by the owner of public radio station WBEZ was an innovative attempt to preserve local journalism under a nonprofit umbrella, but the combined operations have been unable to stop financial bleeding.
Melissa Bell, CEO of Chicago Public Media, disclosed the planned cuts Wednesday in announcements to donors and employees. She said staff will be offered incentives to voluntarily exit via buyouts. The offer will be made to Sun-Times staff and to non-newsroom workers at WBEZ.
The move could save the company from $3 million to $5 million in annual expenses, possibly representing the departure of 20 to 30 people.
"Our hope is that this action and other efforts will reduce our costs so that we can avoid more significant cost-cutting measures down the road," Bell said in a letter to donors.
"This is a proactive decision that allows us to align our organization's size with our goals while strengthening our most valuable and impactful initiatives and ensuring our financial sustainability," Bell said. "While we've made strides in adapting to the rapidly changing media landscape, these efforts haven't yet translated into the sustainable revenue we need."
Her letter did not detail expected savings from the buyouts. A company spokeswoman said no specific individuals or reporting functions are being targeted.
Bell said in an interview that the voluntary cuts could start in mid-March. She said, "I came here only four months ago because I was intrigued and excited about the project" to unite the Sun-Times and WBEZ. The cutbacks are "one more step we need to take to set it up for its future success."
Jennifer Kho, executive editor of the Sun- Times, said the reductions follow from plans to combine the Sun-Times and WBEZ newsrooms. She said there is no executive editor role in the reorganization, which is still being finalized, and that her role with the company is to be determined.
Kho said the Sun-Times newsroom will bear the brunt of the reductions because it is the largest unit within the organization.
"I think this is our best chance of continuing to inform our audience. It's about longterm sustainability," she said. "I feel that the strategy overall has worked. Our audience overall is growing."
The Sun-Times has an editorial staff of 104 people, while WBEZ has 64 people working in its newsroom, Chicago Public Media said. The total number of employees, including non-editorial workers at both divisions, is 278.
The Sun-Times' combination with WBEZ in 2022 was a noncash purchase, but it included a $61 million philanthropic infusion from leading foundations. The money is intended to support operations through 2026.
It covers a $12 million annual operating deficit at the Sun-Times, the company said. The approaching end of that grant period has forced Chicago Public Media to look harder at cost cuts while stepping up calls for donations.
The Sun-Times has increased its pitches for support from online readers, who currently enjoy access to online content without hitting a paywall. Other readers who pay for subscriptions to the traditional print paper may be asked to increase their contributions.
Both editorial staffs include unionized members. Most Sun-Times newsroom employees are members of the Chicago News Guild.
A co-chair of its bargaining unit, Sun- Times reporter Nader Issa, said in a statement: "Our union is frustrated that our organization's management did not secure more revenue in the past three years to avoid staffing cuts and secure our sustainability. While we understand this move is meant to cut long-term costs, it's harder to swallow knowing the exorbitant executive salaries and bonuses we've seen CPM shell out in the past few years. We hope everyone at the organization will share in the pain on our path to sustainability."
To achieve goals from buyouts, companies typically offer enhanced terms for severance and continuation of health insurance to induce workers to quit. Bell said terms of the buyout offer will be announced after the company gets feedback via an employee survey.
In recent months, Chicago Public Media workers have criticized pay levels for top executives. They have voiced bitterness about the salary paid to former CEO Matt Moog, who left in 2024. Tax filings show Moog was paid $722,861 for 2023, his last full year of employment. Moog resigned after union complaints that an unidentified executive subjected workers to hostile conditions.
Bell said it has paid salaries in line with recommendations from outside consultants and has no immediate plans to reduce executive pay or ask for furloughs.
Those typically are temporary measures, while the buyouts represent ongoing cost savings, Bell said. She said cuts were not sought from the WBEZ newsroom because it sustained significant layoffs a year ago.
All media organizations have wrestled with declines in traditional revenue sources from advertising and subscriptions. But in Chicago Public Media's case, the situation could be worsened if President Donald Trump cuts back support for public broadcasting, which some supporters have threatened.
Audited financial statements show Chicago Public Media has received around $1.4 million in annual backing from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
Asked if a paywall will be reimposed at suntimes.com, Bell said executives "will be having discussions about that" and other ideas for raising revenue.
Stacks of the Chicago Sun-Times newspaper. The Sun-Times has an editorial staff of 104 people, while WBEZ has 64 people working in its newsroom, Chicago Public Media said, Pat Nabong/Sun-Times File
View all Illinois public notices 24 hours a day - publicnoticeillinois.com
Member Log-In + Contact Us + Events + PressLines + Job Bank + Advertising Toolbox + Upload Pages
+Regular Member Newspapers
Subscribe to RSS headline updates from: Powered by FeedBurner
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 6, 2025 Contact Information: Kara Kienzler, associate executive director - communications Illinois Association of School Boards (IASB) Ph: (217) 528-9688
SPRINGFIELD — November 15 of each year is designated as School Board Members Day. The day of recognition is an occasion to build community awareness about the important role school board members play in a representative democracy by providing a local voice for community education decisions. In 2007, the Illinois House of Representatives declared November 15 as School Board Members Day in the State of Illinois. The resolution states the annual recognition is “a way to honor those citizens who devote so much of their time and energy for the education of our children.” “School board members serve as our local, volunteer education advocates striving for quality learning opportunities for every student. They take on this immense responsibility not for a paycheck, but because they are committed to their communities and the belief that every child deserves a quality education,” said IASB Executive Director Kimberly A. Small, J.D. “Our school board members wear many hats; beyond their educational leadership, they are policy-makers, contract negotiators, and budgeteers. They are also our neighbors, our friends, and our schools’ biggest fans. On November 15 –– School Board Members Day — it is our chance to say, ‘Thank You.’” IASB encourages school districts, communities, businesses, and others to thank local school board members and recognize them for their dedication to providing successful education opportunities for all students. Resources and images to recognize school board members on November 15 are available at www.iasb.com/thankaboardmember.
###
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 6, 2025 Media Contact Illinois Principals Association Alison Maley, government and public relations director PH: 217-299-3122 alison@ilprincipals.org
SPRINGFIELD – In a direct response to the growing school leadership shortage across Illinois, the Illinois Principals Association, through its Ed Leaders Network (ELN), has teamed up with Aurora University to launch an exciting and streamlined Alternative Principal Endorsement Program. This endorsement pathway enables educators who already have five years of experience and hold a master’s degree in education to earn their Principal Endorsement in just one year – without completing an additional graduate degree. Approved by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) and aligned with National Educational Leadership Preparation (NELP) standards, the program blends an immersive one-year internship with micro‑credentials tailored to school leadership practice. Eligible educators can earn licensure‑approved endorsement within one calendar year. This program is significantly less expensive than a full master’s degree and delivered on a fully remote platform. Participants in the program have appreciated the flexibility and experience the program provides as they enter or continue their school leadership journey. “Having already completed my master's degree, I knew I wanted to add the Principals Endorsement to my license, but I did not want to enroll in another full master's program. I was able to pull from previous leadership experience as I worked through the micro-credentials while still gaining valuable experience during my internship activities. The program is challenging but rewarding as it offers a way to reflect on previous experiences while building new skills as an educational leader."
- Jon Pieper, division head for Career & Technical Education, Physical Education, Drivers Education, and Health Education at Elk Grove High School
“The Alternative Principal Endorsement program was a great fit because everything was online, and I could work at my own pace. The flexibility allowed me to balance professional responsibilities while advancing my leadership skills. I would highly recommend this program to aspiring leaders.”
- Dr. Maribel Guerrero, director of language acquisition, Naperville CUSD 203
Dr. Ed Howerton, director of graduate education programs at Aurora University and former district administrator, shared: "Our program leans heavily into a ‘learning by doing’ framework that is extremely self-driven. It provides flexibility for professionals and ownership in the learning process. Many of our completers have moved into administrative roles sooner than if they had gone through a master’s degree program, and filling leadership voids in our schools is key to promoting student success.” Dr. Jason Leahy, executive director of the Illinois Principals Association, also shared: “When compared to a little over a decade ago, the State of Illinois has experienced an almost 60% reduction in the number of individuals who earn their principal endorsement each year. This alternative pathway provides a rigorous, cost effective, and expedited opportunity for quality educators to demonstrate they possess the skills necessary to be effective school leaders.” Eligible candidates must hold a current Illinois Professional Educator License (PEL), possess a master’s degree in education, have completed five years of teaching or school support experience, are employed in a full‑time, permanent educational position before program start, and complete required evaluation training and principal content exams to qualify for endorsement. Currently, 81 students are enrolled at various stages of the program at Aurora University, including 30 students that began this fall semester. Twenty-four students have completed the program since its inception, with 12 individuals working in leadership positions. Aurora University Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, Aurora University is committed to preparing leaders for the future of education. For a full overview of the program’s structure and registration information, visit the Alternative Principal Endorsement at https://aurora.edu/academics/graduate/principal-endorsement/index.html. Illinois Principals Association The Illinois Principals Association is a leadership organization which serves more than 6,900 educational leaders throughout the state of Illinois and whose mission is to develop, support, and advocate for innovative educational leaders. For more information about the IPA, please visit www.ilprincipals.org. Program Contacts Aurora University – Ed Howerton, director of Graduate Education Programs, ehowerton@aurora.edu, 630-844-5626 Ed Leaders Network / Illinois Principals Association – Arlin Peebles, Ed Leaders Network director, arlin.peebles@ilprincipals.org, 217-241-0598
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 5, 2025 Contact Illinois Bar Foundation Jessie Reeves, director of events & administration Ph: 312-920-4681 jreeves@illinoisbarfoundation.org
CHICAGO, November 5, 2025 - Mark D. Hassakis, a personal injury and workers' compensation attorney at Hassakis & Hassakis, P.C. of Mount Vernon, Illinois, was recently honored with the Illinois Bar Foundation’s Distinguished Award for Excellence on Oct. 17 at the Four Seasons Hotel in Chicago. Mark D. Hassakis has the legal advocacy of Illinois victims in his blood. Born and raised in Mount Vernon, Mark followed in the footsteps of his father, Demetri, a lifelong Mount Vernon attorney, to practice law at Hassakis & Hassakis, P.C, now celebrating 75 years. Mark has dedicated his professional life to helping his fellow Illinois citizens and the community at large. In addition to his exceptional career representing individuals’ needs in the areas of personal injury and workers’ compensation, professional malpractice, and general tort injury cases, Mark is a true leader with unparalleled dedication to giving back to the community. The Illinois Bar Foundation’s Distinguished Award for Excellence, the organization’s highest honor, is awarded annually to individuals whose career and personal life exemplify their ongoing commitment to the law and legal community. “The selection of Mark Hassakis for this year's Distinguished Award of Excellence reflects our belief in the principle that legal excellence and community service go hand in hand. His career demonstrates how individual attorneys can make a lasting impact not just through their practice, but through their commitment to strengthening the legal profession and ensuring access to justice for all Illinois residents.”
Lauren N. Tuckey, Tuckey Law Illinois Bar Foundation President 2025-26
Bar leadership and community impact Mark's commitment to the legal profession extends far beyond his practice. As president of the Illinois State Bar Association (2010-11), he championed juvenile justice reform, established young attorney mentorship programs, and highlighted the vital role lawyers play in strengthening their communities. His passion for juvenile justice led to the establishment of the Illinois Bar Foundation's M. Denny Hassakis Fund, which focuses on improving Illinois' juvenile justice system through public policy changes and programs supporting vulnerable youth. Mark served as president of the Illinois Bar Foundation from 2000 to 2002, during which time he was instrumental in creating the organization's signature fundraising events, including the Gala and Lawyers Rock concert. Mark has held numerous other leadership positions, including chairman of the ISBA Mutual Insurance Company; president of the Jefferson County Bar Association; and board member of the Hellenic Bar Association, the Lawyers' Trust Fund of Illinois, and the Juvenile Justice Initiative. Beyond his legal work, Mark has been a driving force in Mount Vernon and Southern Illinois development. He has spearheaded projects focused on downtown development, historical building restoration, and the support of community parks and arts initiatives. Notable achievements include bringing nationally acclaimed jazz artists to teach area grade school students and commissioning an "Abraham Lincoln as a Lawyer" sculpture for the 5th Appellate Court grounds in Mount Vernon. A proud Northwestern University alumnus, Mark continues to serve as an alumni regent and member of the Northwestern University Leadership Circle since 2012, acting as an ambassador for the university. Mark's extensive community involvement includes leadership roles with the Downtown Development Corporation of Mt. Vernon, Jefferson County Historical Society, Lincoln Park Foundation, Vernon West Rotary Club (Paul Harris Fellow), and numerous other local organizations dedicated to enriching Southern Illinois. Bar Admissions