Chuck Goudie marks 40th year at ABC 7 in familiar company

Chuck Goudie

Chuck Goudie thought he’d be in Walt Disney World this week with his family to celebrate his 40th year at ABC-owned WLS-Channel 7. At least that was the plan.

Instead the renowned chief investigative reporter for Chicago’s top-rated station is confined to his west suburban Hinsdale home where he’s been broadcasting I-Team reports live up to four times a day from a workstation in his living room.

What makes his professional milestone even more noteworthy is that Goudie is back to working in close proximity to his wife, whom he met his first day on the job April 14, 1980. Chuck was just in from WSOC, the ABC affiliate in Charlotte, North Carolina, and Teri Tausk was an ABC 7 news producer. They’ve been married since 1982.

“COVID-19 has put us back on the same floor space — 30 feet apart,” he said. “Life in the Goudie house right now is a constant flow of ‘he said, she said.’”

Teri Goudie

Teri Goudie, who left ABC 7 in 1985 after the first of their five children was born, now runs Goudie Media Services, a strategic communications agency, and a spinoff company, The Headliners. She’s working from home too now.

“Teri’s communication consulting firm is going high-speed during the coronavirus pandemic. She is on speed dial for top CEO's who are innovating their way through the crisis,” Chuck Goudie said. “I am 30 feet away . . . monitoring fast-moving world events, working remotely with three producers who make up the I-Team.

“We have always kept our work projects separate. And even now. When I have a sensitive, investigative phone call I go into the backyard. When she has a sensitive client call, I also go into the backyard. That’s what makes a two-career marriage, in these times, work.”

When they’re both off the clock, the Goudies have been spending time watching favorite movies together again. The first night’s pick? “Broadcast News,” of course.

A Detroit native and graduate of Michigan State University, Chuck Goudie joined ABC 7 as a general assignment reporter in 1980 and was promoted to chief investigative reporter in 1990.

“Every time I think I know what Chuck Goudie is capable of, he exceeds expectations,” said John Idler, president and general manager of ABC 7.  “Securing the plane seat next to Rod Blagojevich after his release from prison is one example of being wowed by his reporting.  He consistently raises the bar to another level.

“We congratulate Chuck on 40 years of outstanding contributions to our station and Chicago news viewers.”

In 2018 Chuck Goudie was inducted in the Silver Circle of the Chicago/Midwest chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. Whom did he choose to introduce him and present the award? Wife Teri, of course.