Dean Richards
Entertainment Reporter & Critic
 Dean Richards is WGN-TV's entertainment reporter and critic. His work is heard, seen and read on several Tribune-owned properties; he was cited in a New York Times front-page article as "Tribune Company's Man of Many Hats."
In 1998, Richards appeared as a guest reviewer on WGN-TV and was brought onboard as a regular contributor soon after. Today, Richards' entertainment reports and reviews are seen on "WGN Morning News", "WGN News at Noon" and "WGN News at Nine", where he interviews national and local celebrities, reports on showbiz, and reviews the latest movies and theater. Richards has also been a WGN-TV staff announcer since 1991 and hosted and co-produced specials such as the award-winning "Bozo, Gar & Ray: WGN TV Classics" and "Stories of Hope: Facing Breast Cancer." Since 1980, he's been involved with the "Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon" for the Muscular Dystrophy Association and currently is the main local host of the marathon broadcast.
On NewsTalk 720 WGN Radio, "Dean Richards' Sunday Morning" covers Chicago's entertainment and lifestyle scene including movies, theater, food, and dining, Sundays from 9am-noon. He is also the primary fill-in host for WGN Radio's other top-rated personalities, in addition to voicing and overseeing the production of commercials and public affairs announcements. Since joining WGN Radio in 1994, Richards has won over 30 local and national awards for programming and production, including the prestigious Peter Lisagor Award for Outstanding Journalism, the Associated Press Best Feature of the Year, Illinois Broadcasters Association, UPI, Chicago A.I.R. Awards, and Promax International Promotion and Marketing awards.
Richards also contributes to the Chicago Tribune's "Red Eye" newspaper writing entertainment features.
On and off the air, Richards has been a tireless worker related to HIV/AIDS issues, hosting many charitable functions including "AIDS Run & Walk Chicago" and "Dance For Life Chicago." Richards has lent support to numerous groups such as Howard Brown Health Center, Horizons Community Center, and Open Hand Chicago, and was awarded a citation by Stop AIDS Chicago for contributions in the fight against AIDS. The AIDS Foundation of Chicago recognized Richards in their annual "Faces of AIDS" publication for bringing HIV/AIDS issues to mainstream media. He has also hosted numerous events for hunger, homeless and domestic violence organizations. In 1997, he was awarded "Y-ME" National Breast Cancer Organization's Outstanding Media Award for the year.
A native of Chicago, Richards worked his way through a string of suburban radio stations after completing his Broadcast Communications/Marketing degree at Columbia College Chicago. Since 1975, a veteran of the Chicago radio scene, Richards has worked at WFYR, WCFL, WCLR, and WNUA. He has also hosted a nationally syndicated morning radio program for the ABC Radio Network, heard on 250 radio stations, while also acting as its Operations Manager.
Copyright © 2008, WGN-TV
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