Dear Listeners,



We are writing to share that after 28 years at WBEZ 91.5FM Chicago, our very own Tony Sarabia, host of The Morning Shift, has announced his decision to sign off from WBEZ at the end of the year. Tony will be moving to rural Iowa to pursue new opportunities outside of radio, and his last show on The Morning Shift will be Friday, Dec. 21.

Here at WBEZ we are thrilled for Tony to pursue his next chapter, though it’s bittersweet for us as his colleagues and for Chicago at large. For nearly three decades, our listeners have come to know Tony’s voice, his warmth and his unique ability to skillfully lead conversations that connect with people from all backgrounds and walks of life.

For the last six years, Tony has been the host of The Morning Shift, our live talk show that airs weekdays at 9 a.m. What you may not know is that Tony started as an intern at WBEZ in 1990 for the former program, The Mara Tapp Show, later moving over to the news department. He was WBEZ’s first midday anchor, and has also been the local host of Morning Edition, a Reporter, Arts Editor, and music host of Radio M.

Tony has also received numerous awards for his journalism, including the Edward R. Murrow Award, three Lisagor Awards, a Casey Medal for Meritorious Journalism, and an Associate Press award for his documentary, Unlocking the Closet: Stories of Coming Out Later in Life. He has a bachelor’s degree in radio/journalism from Columbia College.

You’ll continue to hear Tony on The Morning Shift until his final show on Dec. 21. He said he plans to invite back some of his favorite guests, as well as conduct interviews with guests he has always wanted to meet. In the coming months, we will begin a search for a new host of The Morning Shift. Additionally, Jennifer White will continue as the Friday host of The Morning Shift as well as host of the Making podcast series. She is also eager to pursue several other creative opportunities at WBEZ including a new project in its earliest stages of development that we’re hoping to share with audiences in 2019.

We will miss Tony deeply and we’re grateful for all he’s contributed to WBEZ, to public radio, and to our community. Should you have questions, or want to send Tony your best wishes, please don’t hesitate to contact us at programming@wbez.org.

Your fellow public radio listener,

Steve Edwards

Vice President, Chief Content Officer for WBEZ 91.5FM Chicago