• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to secondary sidebar
MENUMENU
  • About
  • Send News Tips

Media Moves

Covering Latinos in the Media Industry

MENUMENU
  • Home
  • About
  • Send News Tips
  • People
  • TV & Radio
  • Programming
  • Print
  • Digital
  • Job Board
  • Archives
Hugo Balta

Hugo Balta out at WTTW Chicago

February 16, 2021 by Veronica Villafañe 2 Comments

Hugo Balta, news director at public television station WTTW-Channel 11, EP of the weeknight newscast “Chicago Tonight” and host of the weekly “Chicago Tonight: Latino Voices” is no longer employed by the company after just one year on the job.

Balta, who joined WTTW in February 2020, was placed on administrative leave last week.

Sources told Chicago columnist Robert Feder that Balta “was under review for tweeting what were described as overtly political opinions and posting some odd Instagram videos of himself.”

That leave is now permanent, Balta tells Media Moves.

“My personal character and professional integrity is under attack,” he said via email Tuesday night. He says he decided to leave the company.

According to Feder, three “Chicago Tonight” news anchors — Phil Ponce, Brandis Friedman and Paris Schutz — raised concerns about Balta’s Instagram posts in a letter to Sandra Cordova Micek, president and CEO of WTTW.

Feder reports other employees also complained about Balta expressing political views and support for liberal candidates and causes on Twitter and Facebook posts, which were subsequently taken down.

Balta sent Media Moves the following statement, published in its entirety, regarding his departure.

“Throughout my career, I have vocalized my commitment to a mission of transparency over the antiquated practices of objectivity. I give everything in my power to combat inadequacy in representation and systemic racism which often cripple newsrooms.

After a year of high-impact news coverage and a clear focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion, the intolerance I’ve encountered over the last seven days saddens me and has inevitably led to my separation from WTTW.

I can only hope that at such a critical time due to COVID-19, racial reckoning following the death of George Floyd, and divisive presidential election – I have been able to lead the news team in shedding light on the inequities plaguing Chicago’s diverse communities and bring much-needed fair and accurate coverage by a local newsroom.

I am extremely proud of the progress of the WTTW News Team, and together, we have made a greater effort to engage and listen to community members and leaders. We owe a great deal of thanks to the public who help shape our coverage in a more meaningful way than we could ever do on our own.

I will issue a full statement addressing the entirety of the situation. Still, I want to express my gratitude to the colleagues at WTTW News who exhibited their commitment to excellence in journalism. Above all, I am forever grateful to my family for the investments they have made since the beginning of this journey, including moving across the country, and for their unconditional support at this moment to speak our truth, in lieu of the severance offered for my silence.”

Related

Filed Under: People Tagged With: Hugo Balta

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Bound 2 Happen says

    February 17, 2021 at 5:32 PM

    WTTW would have saved tens of miles by asking just any Latino outlet before hiring him. Those grievances depicted above, have fallen short when it comes to HB. But don’t worry, those same Latino outlets will save him. Again. #empowered

    Reply
  2. Name! says

    February 28, 2021 at 7:26 PM

    EXECELENTE that this happened to Hugo!!!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Veronica Villafañe, Editor & Publisher

Emmy award-winning journalist and former president of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ). Currently a reporter for Voice of America, she has worked as an on-air reporter, anchor, writer and producer for Spanish and English-language TV, print and online media, including Univision, Telemundo, Fox 11 News in L.A. and the San Jose Mercury News.

Hispanic media and entertainment contributor to Forbes.

Full bio here

Related

Maggie Rodriguez

Former CBS network anchor Maggie Rodríguez returns to morning TV

February 18, 2021

Iris Rodriguez

Iris Rodríguez promoted to news director at Telemundo 40

February 17, 2021

Hugo Balta

Hugo Balta out at WTTW Chicago

February 16, 2021

Pitaya Entertainment

Former UMG, Fonovisa and Univision execs launch Latino podcast company Pitaya

February 16, 2021

Alejandra Medina

NTN24 names Alejandra Medina network anchor

February 11, 2021

Secondary Sidebar

Media Moves is a mission-driven digital publication aimed at raising the visibility of Latinos in the media. Since its inception in 2007, the site has covered thousands of stories. To keep moving forward, we need your help. That’s why we launched a crowdfunding campaign.

Learn more about why Media Moves needs your support here.

You can contribute to the campaign clicking the button below.

SUPPORT MEDIA MOVES

Related

Get the week’s stories in your inbox. The Media Moves Wrap newsletter is sent Friday mornings.
SUBSCRIBE

Related

FOLLOW US

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
Copyright © 2021 Media Moves · All Rights Reserved | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy