Just weeks after exiting her morning co-host/newscaster role at Entercom AAA 93.1 WXRT Chicago, Mary Dixon is joining Chicago Public Media as morning news anchor and local host on NPR’s Morning Edition at Public News/Talk 91.5 WBEZ Chicago.
Dixon was cut from WXRT the week before Christmas as part of a schedule revamp that eliminated newscasts at the station. Dixon told the Chicago Tribune at the time that she was offered the late night anchor slot on News 780 WBBM/105.9 WCFS but she passed as it was not a good fit for her family. She first joined WXRT in 1991 and was paired with Lin Brehmer in mornings in 1993-94 and since 1997. She has also worked at WGN-TV and 670 WMAQ in Chicago and was a Chicago based reporter for CNN.
Dixon fills the morning anchor position that had been held by Lisa Labuz. Upon Dixon’s arrival in February, Labuz will make her previously announced move to middays after 20 years in morning drive.
Listeners of WBEZ 91.5 FM, Chicago’s NPR news station, will soon have a new voice to wake up to each weekday morning.
The station announced today that longtime Chicago radio broadcaster Mary Dixon has been named as WBEZ’s new morning anchor and local host of NPR’s Morning Edition. She will be on air on WBEZ weekdays from 5 to 10 a.m., starting this February. This news follows an announcement in November 2019 that Lisa Labuz will transition to midday anchor, weekdays 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., after 20 years in the mornings.
“I am thrilled to join the WBEZ team. As a longtime listener and supporter, I’m excited to work with such talented people who value journalism, diverse voices, and our community,” said Dixon. “I’m honored to succeed Lisa in the Morning Edition chair and hope to build on her work, being that warm, friendly, authoritative voice to wake up with. We’ll be working to keep WBEZ listeners informed and even entertained as they begin their days.”
Dixon started in radio at WIXN-AM/FM in Dixon, Ill., as a disc jockey. Since 1993 she was the morning co-host and news anchor on WXRT, and in addition she has been a newswriter and anchor at WMAQ Radio and a reporter with CNN’s Chicago bureau and WGN-TV.
Dixon holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Northern Illinois University and she earned a master’s degree in public affairs reporting at the University of Illinois – Springfield. She was an anchor and reporter at WROK in Rockford before coming to Chicago.
Dixon’s appointment follows a nationwide search for Labuz’s replacement. In addition to Dixon as morning anchor and Labuz as midday anchor, Melba Lara will continue as the afternoon anchor weekdays from 3 to 7 p.m.
“Mary’s authentic connection to the stories, people and places that drive our region has made her a beloved and trusted morning presence on Chicago airwaves for years,” said Israel Smith, WBEZ’s managing director of programming and audience development. “WBEZ’s audience knows Mary well, and her deep passion and journalistic curiosity about Chicago fits with bringing live news and reporting into Morning Edition each day. Mary joins Lisa and Melba to create one of the most experienced anchor line-ups in Chicago broadcasting.”
