WLS cuts programming job

Tracy Slutzkin, longtime producer and programming administrator at WLS AM 890, is out as assistant program director and executive producer at the Cumulus Media news/talk station.

Confirming the elimination of her position last week, the station said her responsibilities have been absorbed by operations manager and program director Peter Bolger.

WLS AM 890

WLS AM 890

With the station’s ratings at an all-time low and only two of the shows on its weekday lineup strictly local (Big John Howell in mornings and Steve Dahl in afternoons), the company no longer could justify two full-time programming positions, according to insiders.

Slutzkin did not respond to a request for comment.

In two stints spanning 19 years at WLS, Slutzkin rose from intern to program director. A graduate of Northwestern University, Slutzkin began on the assignment desk at ABC-owned WLS-Channel 7. She joined the radio station as an intern and worked as producer of the morning show hosted by the late Don Wade and his wife, Roma.

After four years as a planning editor and field producer at Fox-owned WFLD-Channel 32, Slutzkin rejoined WLS in 2006 as assistant program director and executive producer. She was promoted to program director in 2010. With the hiring of Bolger in 2013, she shifted back to her earlier role.

In the latest Nielsen Audio survey, WLS tied for 28th with a 1.2 percent share and cumulative weekly audience of 357,300.