Walter Jacobson

In 1963, Jacobson left the Chicago American to join WBBM-TV as a news writer, and was promoted to be a full-time reporter in 1968. He became WBBM's political editor in 1970. In 1971, Jacobson was fired by WBBM-TV, and he moved over to WMAQ for two years. In March 1973, he returned to WBBM as an investigative reporter and anchor, co-anchoring the 10 p.m. news for much of the next 16 years with Bill Kurtis. Kurtis and Jacobson formed a legendary anchor team in Chicago and from the mid-1970s to early 1980s the team enjoyed unprecedented ratings dominance. Kurtis left for three years in 1982 to go to CBS News in New York, and WBBM fell out of first place four years later. Jacobson left for WFLD in 1993 after a dispute with WBBM's management. The station slipped into last place two years later.

Jacobson generated significant controversy while at WBBM from his "Walter Jacobson's Perspective" commentaries, which were delivered live from his own office during the station's 10 p.m. newscasts. The commentaries often criticized government waste and political hypocrisy. In May 1983, Jacobson famously criticized Chicago's mayor at the time, Harold Washington, alleging that Washington used city workers to paint and redecorate his apartment. Washington responded that city personnel were only used for security-related modifications. Months later, Washington called out Jacobson at a television academy luncheon, saying, "Walter, you're the bottom of the barrel."

While at WBBM, Jacobson also became known for his temper. In March 1977, he was suspended with pay for two days for being what his news director labeled a "disruptive element" in the newsroom. "I think arguments are healthy, and I certainly don't think I've been abusive," Jacobson told the Chicago Tribune at the time.[3] In April 1986, Jacobson got into a shouting match with Ken Boles, a WBBM executive news producer, in a bank near WBBM's studios. Boles was fired several weeks later.[4] In February 1988, another shouting match occurred in the middle of the newsroom between Jacobson and an assignment desk editor, regarding the previous evening's newscast.[5] In February 1992, Jacobson was reported to have thrown a book at a newsroom staffer's head, causing both him and the staffer to be summoned to the office of the station's general manager. Jacobson later explained to the Tribune that the incident merely was his producer tossing a book over a divider, and Jacobson then "tossing it back."[6] In February 1994—after jumping to WFLD—Jacobson exclaimed, "Oh, fuck you!" to an off-camera director during a live newscast. "I just snapped for an instant," he told the Chicago Sun-Times. "I muttered a swear word under my breath. I exploded. I'm human."[7]

In September 1973, Jacobson was approached by Chicago liberals about running for mayor against Richard J. Daley, but he turned them down. He was solo anchor of the 5pm news for 10 years (from 1976 to 1986), co-anchor of afternoon newscasts from 1986 until September 1991, and co-anchor of the 10pm newscast for 16 years, until he was replaced by Linda MacLennan in 1989.

In 1992, Jacobson scored an exclusive interview with serial killer John Wayne Gacy—an interview that he called "the biggest scoop of my career." Two years later, Jacobson won a lottery to be one of 12 journalists and onlookers to watch Gacy's execution.

On November 13, 2009, Jacobson reunited for one evening with his co-anchor of 20 years earlier, Bill Kurtis, to anchor the WBBM 10 PM news in Chicago while the usual anchor, Rob Johnson, was attending a friend's wedding.[8]

On July 29, 2010, it was announced that Jacobson and Bill Kurtis would anchor the 6 p.m. newscast beginning September 1, 2010.[9]

Jacobson and Kurtis stepped down as news anchors at WBBM in February 2013 when their contracts were not renewed.[10][11]

Jacobson joined WFLD in 1993 as the station's principal male news anchor, co-anchoring the station's signature 9 p.m. newscast with Robin Robinson. At WFLD, Jacobson was the most popular of the station's news personalities, such as Robin Robinson, Tamron Hall, Byron Harlan, Nancy Pender and Corey McPherrin. Largely because of his influence, WFLD's newscasts have less of a tabloid feel than other FOX stations. However, they are much flashier than the other newscasts in Chicago, especially compared to WBBM during Jacobson's time there.

During much of his career, Walter hosted his own commentary segment entitled "Walter Jacobson in Perspective". The basic concept revolved around Walter's rants, which usually contained either biting social commentary or attacks on great injustices around the Midwest. Walter was never afraid to 'overstep' his boundaries. At times, he would often go after corrupt City of Chicago officials, or lash out at city workers and police officers that did little or no work. Also, Walter would use his segment to take up for the unempowered, helping fix various city based problems in poor neighborhoods, and helping numerous blue-collar workers.

Although Walter achieved success for himself and the city of Chicago, he was often heavily criticized by various traditional and conservative critics. Walter dedicated one of his segments to share hate mail he received over his career. Although most of the letters contained powerful and vulgar tones, which criticized Walter for what many saw as ignorance about gun control, one letter complimented Walter for his hard work, and Walter thanked the writer.

Jacobson often used his air time to tell Chicagoans humorous, though not necessarily newsworthy, anecdotes. He once used at least ten minutes of air time to explain how as a child he lost his baseball glove at Wrigley Field, and how it was recently found and returned to him.

In November 1993, during the key ratings sweeps period, Jacobson showed up on the news wearing a T-shirt, according to a December 19, 1993, article in the Chicago Sun-Times.

During a commentary in January 1995, Jacobson divulged the home telephone number of Illinois Supreme Court Justice James D. Heiple and urged viewers to use the phone number to tell Heiple what they thought of his ruling in the controversial Baby Richard baby custody case. "I wanted people to call him up and bother him until he did the right thing," Jacobson explained. Local newspaper columnists universally denounced the stunt, and a local bar association referred to the act as "journalistic stalking." Jacobson later conceded that he had gone "over the line."[12]

In September 2004, Jacobson was demoted from his role as WFLD-TV's principal male news anchor when the station chose to install Mark Suppelsa in Jacobson's place as WFLD's 9 p.m. news anchor. Jacobson remained at the station, however, hosting a Sunday morning public-affairs talk show and providing his "Perspective" commentaries during the station's 9 p.m. newscasts.

In February 2006, following Vice-President Dick Cheney's well-publicized hunting mishap, in which he accidentally shot a fellow hunter, Jacobson criticized Cheney for not speaking publicly about the incident. Walter proclaimed in his commentary, "I'm after you, Dick Cheney!" and later "You can't hide in the White House forever, I'll be waiting outside", while flaunting his portable coffee cup at a good moment to show that he would be comfortable and relaxed with a warm drink while outside the White House.

In April 2006, Jacobson announced that he would be leaving WFLD in order to retire, although his departure ultimately was the result of the station choosing not to renew his contract.[13] During every 9pm broadcast before April 30, WFLD aired a special segment to honor Walter and his memorable contributions and accomplishments throughout his career.

In September 2013, Jacobson began working as a commentator at WLS-AM radio in Chicago, airing his "Perspective" commentaries every morning at 9:56 a.m. during John Kass' show.[14] The job is the first time Jacobson ever has worked in radio.