Meet The Team

Ron Magers

Ron Magers, alongside Kathy Brock, co-anchors the #1 rated and most watched newscast in Chicago, the ABC 7 News at 10:00 p.m. He also co-anchors the ABC 7 News at 5 p.m., alongside Cheryl Burton, which is the top rated newscast in its time period. Well-known and widely respected across the nation for his live coverage and reporting, he joined ABC 7 Chicago in 1998 as co-anchor of the 5 p.m. news and joined the 10 p.m. team in 2002.

In addition, Magers' insightful and entertaining perspective on what's happening around town and around the world can be heard weekdays from 3:00-3:20 p.m. during the Roe Conn show on WLS Radio (890).

Before he came to ABC 7, Magers anchored the 5, 6, and 10 p.m. newscasts on Chicago's WMAQ-TV, where he also contributed to breaking news stories (1981-97). Prior to his position at WMAQ, he was the principal news anchor at KSTP-TV in Minneapolis, Minn. (1974-81).

From 1968-74, Magers worked as a reporter and anchor at KPIX-TV in San Francisco, Calif. Before that, he produced and anchored the 11 p.m. newscast at KGW-TV in Portland, Ore. (1967-68).

Magers began his television career in 1965, when he joined KEZI-TV in Eugene, Ore., as a reporter and news contributor. He gained early broadcasting experience as a high school student in Toppenish, Wash., when he began to host radio shows as a part-time job. He continued to host at various radio stations throughout his college career.

Love for live television and talent as a broadcaster has translated into numerous awards for Magers, including six Chicago Emmy Awards, a Peter Lisagor Award and a National Press Club citation. In addition, he has won an Associated Press award, an Illinois Broadcasters Association award, the Ohio State Award, and an Ethics Award from the Society of Professional Journalists.

Magers is a member of the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. He supports Heartland Alliance, Baseball Cancer Charities, Northwestern University Settlement House, Bears Care, Howard Brown Health Care, Greater Chicago Food Depository, among others.

His hobbies include golf, boating as well as breeding and racing Thoroughbred horses.

Born in San Bernadino, Calif., Magers grew up in Alaska and Washington State.

He is married, lives in Chicago, and has three grown daughters.

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