{"id":12277,"date":"2016-09-06T15:00:15","date_gmt":"2016-09-06T20:00:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.robertfeder.com\/?p=12277"},"modified":"2016-09-06T17:22:36","modified_gmt":"2016-09-06T22:22:36","slug":"trailblazing-anchor-linda-yu-to-retire-from-abc-7","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/robertfeder.dailyherald.com\/2016\/09\/06\/trailblazing-anchor-linda-yu-to-retire-from-abc-7\/","title":{"rendered":"Trailblazing anchor Linda Yu to retire from ABC 7"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Linda<\/a>

<\/a> Linda Yu<\/p><\/div>\n

Linda Yu, who\u2019s been a trailblazer and role model in Chicago television news for 37 years, will retire in late November as news anchor of WLS-Channel 7\u2019s<\/a> top-rated 4 p.m. Monday-through-Friday newscast, the ABC-owned station announced Tuesday.<\/p>\n

Yu, 69, will anchor her final broadcast on November 23, with Judy Hsu succeeding her alongside Rob Elgas, and Tanja Babich succeeding Hsu as morning news anchor alongside Terrell Brown.<\/p>\n

\u201cSince Linda Yu began anchoring the 4 p.m. news in 1984 it has been the No. 1 newscast for 32 years -- an astonishing winning streak,\u201d John Idler, president and general manager of ABC 7, said in a statement. \u201cLinda is a class act who leaves a remarkable legacy at ABC 7. She will be truly missed by everyone at ABC 7 and her many loyal viewers throughout Chicago.\u201d<\/p>\n

Yu telegraphed her plans last March when she reduced her workload by stepping down <\/a>from the 7 p.m. weekday newscast produced by ABC 7 and airing on Weigel Broadcasting WCIU-Channel 26.<\/a> Cheryl Burton succeeded Yu alongside Hosea Sanders at that time.<\/p>\n

A native of Xian, China, and a graduate of the University of Southern California, Yu came to Chicago in 1979 as a 32-year-old weekend anchor at WMAQ-Channel 5,<\/a> eventually moving up to the 10 p.m. weekday newscast. After five years at the NBC-owned station, she jumped to ABC 7. Yu celebrated 30 years at ABC 7 in 2014.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow blessed am I to have had such a wonderful career in Chicago!\u201d Yu said in a statement. \u201cI\u2019m so lucky to be part of the ABC 7 team that built the No. 1 station for three decades. Now I\u2019m really looking forward to new adventures, including writing my next book, and seeing my children more often in California. Although it will be difficult saying goodbye to my colleagues and home away from home at ABC 7, it\u2019s reassuring that someone as talented as Judy Hsu will continue to lead the way with Rob Elgas on our 4 p.m. news.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jennifer Graves, vice president and news director of ABC 7, said in a statement: \u201cLinda Yu is a trailblazer who opened doors for others as the first Asian American to anchor and report news in Chicago. She set the bar high with her skillful anchoring and unflappable breaking news coverage. Linda has a special ability to connect with viewers on screen and off, one of the many reasons she has so many fans in this city.\u201d<\/p>\n

Yu recently published her first book, a memoir titled Living and Working in America, 15 Lessons<\/em>\u00a0and written in Chinese as a guide to help young Chinese woman in the global workplace. Her second book, also in Chinese, is expected to feature stories of prominent Asian woman entrepreneurs and political and cultural figures in the United States.<\/p>\n

Winner of five Chicago Emmy Awards, Yu was a 2005 inductee in the Silver Circle of the Chicago\/Midwest chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.<\/p>\n

Here is the text of Yu\u2019s message to her colleagues:<\/strong><\/p>\n

To my ABC 7 Family;<\/em>
\n\u00a0<\/em>
\nThe end of November, Thanksgiving time, is when I will move on.\u00a0 (Notice, I didn\u2019t say \u201cretire\u201d . . . since I can\u2019t imagine retirement!)<\/em>
\n\u00a0<\/em>
\nBut Thanksgiving seems the perfect time, because I have always felt there is so much to be thankful for.<\/em><\/p>\n

Thirty-seven years on the air, in a city that I love and that has embraced me in so many ways.\u00a0 From the icy winter days when I was a reporter and concerned viewers called in to suggest I needed more protection from the elements; to the special reports that may have made life a bit safer for children; to anchoring during breaking news and a viewer telling me that \u201cwhen things go wrong, you make me feel safe.\u201d Who wouldn\u2019t be grateful for a career like that?<\/em>
\n\u00a0<\/em>
\nThose good things happened to me because of all of you. You wrote, produced and edited the stories and shows that allowed me to have this long career . . . at a station and news operation that has been number one for more than three decades.<\/em>
\n\u00a0<\/em>
\nTo a management that has supported me every day, through two pregnancies, my post-accident wheel chair months, and assorted life crisis: thank you.\u00a0 <\/em>
\n\u00a0<\/em>
\nTo a news room staff that put together shows so well that the audience thinks anchoring is easy: thank you.<\/em>
\n\u00a0<\/em>
\nTo news photographers . . . it\u2019s been awhile since I was a street reporter . . . but your talented and energetic work always made our stories sing: thank you.<\/em>
\n\u00a0<\/em>
\nTo the studio crews who have bent over backwards to be sure things went smoothly during shows and I didn\u2019t fall on my face: thank you.<\/em>
\n\u00a0<\/em>
\nTo our make-up staff . . . I always tell people I never felt pretty until I met you: thank you.<\/em>
\n\u00a0<\/em>
\nYou will all try to make this new step in my life all about me.\u00a0 But please know that, for me, it will always be about ALL OF YOU . . . Thank you.<\/em>
\n\u00a0<\/em>
\nLove, Linda<\/em><\/p>\n

Here is the text of Graves\u2019 memo to employees:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Back to school season is a time of transitions and today I have several to announce.<\/em><\/p>\n

After 37 years on television in Chicago, Linda Yu has decided to retire from broadcasting.\u00a0 The adjectives to describe Linda\u2019s career are endless. \u00a0Trailblazing, remarkable and \u00a0winning are just a few.\u00a0 She\u2019s been a calm and steady hand on our anchor desk for decades, leading the 4pm news to its number 1 slot for the 32 years she\u2019s been one of its anchors.\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0And to top it off, Linda\u2019s done it all while staying focused on family and community and serving as a role model and mentor for many.\u00a0 Her contributions in this market are vast and to say she will be missed is a true understatement.\u00a0 Linda\u2019s last day on our air will be November 23.\u00a0 Linda\u2019s summed up her feelings in a note she\u2019d like me to share with all of you.\u00a0 It\u2019s attached to this memo.\u00a0 We\u2019ll celebrate Linda both on air and off in the weeks to come.<\/em><\/p>\n

judy Hsu will join Rob Elgas, Cheryl Scott and Jim Rose on the 4pm news starting November 24.\u00a0 Judy has been a big part of the Eyewitness News team for the past 15 years, anchoring the morning newscast.\u00a0 She\u2019s a natural fit for our 4pm news team, having grown up in Chicago and having a keen sense of content to which our viewers respond.\u00a0 I\u2019m sure Judy will tell you she\u2019s looking forward to smashing that alarm clock and joining our afternoon lineup.\u00a0 Judy will continue to anchor the 11am with Terrell Brown and Tracy Butler.\u00a0 In addition, starting Monday, September 12, Judy will work dayside and contribute stories to the 4pm news.<\/em><\/p>\n

And one final transition:\u00a0 starting Monday, September 12, Tanja Babich will anchor the early morning news with Terrell Brown, Tracy Butler and Roz Varon. \u00a0Tanja is one of our newest team members, having joined ABC 7 in January 2014.\u00a0 She\u2019s done a terrific job contributing to the early morning newscast and I\u2019m confident her energy paired with Terrell\u2019s will be a winning combination in the morning.\u00a0 She\u2019s made Chicago her home and is looking forward to this new challenge.<\/em><\/p>\n

You\u2019ll find our news release outlining these changes attached to this memo.<\/em><\/p>\n

Please join me in congratulating Linda, Judy and Tanja!<\/em><\/p>\n

\"Tanja<\/a>

Tanja Babich, Linda Yu and Judy Hsu<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Linda Yu, who\u2019s been a trailblazer and role model in Chicago television news for 37 years, will retire in late November as news anchor of WLS-Channel 7\u2019s top-rated 4 p.m. Monday-through-Friday newscast, the ABC-owned station announced Tuesday. Yu, 69, will anchor her final broadcast on November 23, with Judy Hsu succeeding her alongside Rob Elgas,... Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/robertfeder.dailyherald.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12277"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/robertfeder.dailyherald.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/robertfeder.dailyherald.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/robertfeder.dailyherald.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/robertfeder.dailyherald.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12277"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/robertfeder.dailyherald.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12277\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12283,"href":"https:\/\/robertfeder.dailyherald.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12277\/revisions\/12283"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/robertfeder.dailyherald.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12277"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/robertfeder.dailyherald.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12277"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/robertfeder.dailyherald.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12277"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}