Hugo Balta has started a new job as associate editor for The Chicago Reporter, an investigative journalism publication that covers issues of race and poverty.
In his new role, he’ll direct day-to-day news coverage and develop coverage plans with the editor and publisher. He’ll also develop content and collaborate with writers and reporters.
Balta was most recently news director at Chicago’s PBS station WTTW-Channel 11, EP of the weeknight newscast “Chicago Tonight” and host of the weekly “Chicago Tonight: Latino Voices.”
He exited the company in February after being placed on administrative leave. At the time, sources told Chicago columnist Robert Feder the company was reviewing tweets and Facebook posts that raised concerns from other employees about Balta expressing political views.
After his departure, Balta told Media Moves via email he decided to leave the company because his “personal character and professional integrity is under attack.”
Balta has previously held various news manager positions, including MSNBC, ESPN, WCBS and Telemundo New York.
This guy is a Wreck in Steroids.
Yet, either very lucky or just a prodigal son from the disaster our industry has been in for a while.
Political and biased tweets and then re hired ?
Since we all know the side he has pandered toward for years, our take is that the Brass got chickened out due “the minority” factor.
Or perhaps the guy is just good at what he does and political views are dime a dozen these days!
C’mon guys, Hugo is no different than most other news managers. The difference is that there is no website dedicated to white anglo newscasters or we’d know all the dirty secrets of newsrooms across America.