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| WFLD-TV Parts Ways With Executive Producer Mike Leiderman |
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| Written by Larz | |||
| Wednesday, 01 February 2012 19:14 | |||
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Since the start of this year, major changes have been happening at WFLD-TV. The latest change has taken place late today within the offices of FOX Chicago, as the station has suddenly parted ways with Mike Leiderman, the Executive Producer of FOX Chicago News at 9:00pm, and a veteran of Chicago television, both in front of and behind the camera.
There has not yet been any official word on the split, but inside sources have said it has indeed happened and Mike Leiderman is out. Leiderman had been hired as Executive Producer in March 2011 by the former News Director Carol Fowler and was put in charge of the editorial content and direction of the station's important late night newscast. He also was said to have been the hand-picked choice of 9:00pm news anchor Bob Sirott. The two had worked together at WTTW-TV's "Chicago Tonight" where Sirott was a host and Leiderman was Executive Producer. It had been hoped that the addition of Leiderman would help end the last-place ratings woes for WFLD-TV's 9:00pm newscast. That was not to be the case, however. While there is no way to pin the poor performance of the newscast solely on Leiderman, especially considering the ratings isues were there before him, as well as for the rest of the day's newscasts which he had nothing to do with, it appears that Leiderman & the new Executive news team at the station did not see eye-to-eye on how to fix the problems. The two sides have parted ways amicably, effective immediately. Since the start of January, it appears that FOX is getting serious about improving the terrible ratings situation at their Chicago station, especially when it comes to their last-place newscasts. The first major change came at the start of the month with the hiring of Phyllis Schwartz as News Director, replacing the controversial Carol Fowler. Less than two weeks ago, Schwartz brought on Christopher Myers to take over as Assistant News Director, filling a six-month old vacancy. It would seem that Schwartz and Myers are taking no time in flexing their muscles and doing what they feel needs to be done to change WFLD-TV's fortunes. Phil Landeros, who was also hired in March 2011, but as the Executive Producer for the weekend newscasts, will take over as Interim Executive Producer of the 9:00pm weeknight newscasts. Mike Leiderman's name should be a familiar one to local media watchers. He has been in front of the camera and behind the scenes at many local television outlets for well over thirty-five years. Those stations include: WMAQ-TV, FOX SportsNet Chicago, Comcast SportsNet Chicago, WTTW-TV, and quite a few others as a freelance content producer for his own company, Leiderman Productions Ltd. Even though he may be gone from WFLD-TV, Mike Leiderman will stay busy, as he continues to have his own production company and other projects. Leiderman will be producing the upcoming 24th Annual "Comcast SportsNet Sports Awards" on Comcast SportsNet Chicago. He also will continue to be a sought-after public speaker for The Jewish Federations of North America, which he has been doing for nearly 30 years, as well as with many other organizations. 
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