Mark Suppelsa
Encyclopedia
Mark Eugene Suppelsa is a journalist, who presently works as an anchor an reporter for WGN-TV
in Chicago, Illinois. Suppelsa currently serves as the co-anchor of the "WGN Evening News" from 5-6 p.m. with Lourdes Duarte and the station's long-running primetime newscast "WGN News at Nine" with Micah Materre. He was also the news anchor on WTMX
-FM's "Eric and Kathy Morning Show".
in 1972, and then moved to Frankfort, Illinois
in 1978. He graduated from Lincoln-Way High School in New Lenox, Illinois
in 1980, according to an article in the Chicago Tribune
that appeared on September 26, 1993. Suppelsa graduated from Marquette University
with a degree in journalism in 1984. He also had worked as a disc jockey for the campus radio station and had written for the school paper.
"I enjoyed the story," Suppelsa told the Chicago Tribune in an article that ran on June 29, 1997. "And something just hooked me. The deadlines, the writing, the video, the shooting it, the editing it. It all just swept me away."
During Suppelsa's final year of college, he worked over the holidays at WAOW-TV
in Wausau, Wisconsin
.
in Green Bay, Wisconsin
, where he became an anchor after six months on the job. In 1987, Suppelsa took a job at KSTP-TV
in Minneapolis-Saint Paul, where he worked as an anchor and a reporter.
In July 1993, Suppelsa joined WMAQ-TV
in Chicago as a weekend anchor and reporter. He later became a late afternoon and early evening news anchor. In May 1997, Suppelsa memorably sparred with talk-show host Jerry Springer
during WMAQ's 10 p.m. newscast, shortly after Springer resigned after a brief, controversial run as a commentator.
In March 2003, Suppelsa quit WMAQ-TV to join WFLD-TV in Chicago as a reporter, fill-in anchor and investigative reporter. In September 2004, WFLD promoted Suppelsa to be the co-anchor of WFLD's Fox News Chicago at Nine in Chicago
, at the same time demoting Walter Jacobson
from the co-anchor position.
On March 10, 2008, Suppelsa chose not to renew his contract with WFLD-TV. Suppelsa reportedly turned down a contract offer from Channel 32 that would have cut his salary by about 15 percent. Once the 90-day "right to match" clause in Suppelsa's old contract expired, he became free to announce a new job in TV. He signed a contract deal with WGN-TV
to anchor the 9 pm news replacing Steve Sanders (who now anchors the midday newscast from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.). Sanders replaced Tom Negovan
who became a full-time general assignment reporter and back-up anchor for all WGN newscasts.
Suppelsa also formerly worked as a morning news anchor on the Eric and Kathy Show on WTMX
-FM radio in Chicago. This part of his career ended in October 2010.
with their two children. Suppelsa also is a vegetarian, according to an article in the Chicago Sun-Times on September 7, 2004.
Suppelsa is a Facebook
user and is usually logged on during broadcasts. He has been known to update his status and chat with fans and friends while on the air.
WGN-TV
WGN-TV, virtual channel 9 , is the CW-affiliated television station in Chicago, Illinois built, signed on, and owned by the Tribune Company. WGN-TV's studios and offices are located at 2501 W...
in Chicago, Illinois. Suppelsa currently serves as the co-anchor of the "WGN Evening News" from 5-6 p.m. with Lourdes Duarte and the station's long-running primetime newscast "WGN News at Nine" with Micah Materre. He was also the news anchor on WTMX
WTMX
WTMX is an adult top 40 radio station licensed to Skokie, IL in the Chicago market. It is owned by Hubbard Broadcasting.-History:...
-FM's "Eric and Kathy Morning Show".
Early life and education
Born in Milwaukee, Suppelsa moved with his family to Libertyville, IllinoisLibertyville, Illinois
Libertyville is an affluent northern suburb of Chicago in Lake County, Illinois, United States. It is located west of Lake Michigan on the Des Plaines River. The 2000 census population was 20,742; the 2005 estimate was 21,760...
in 1972, and then moved to Frankfort, Illinois
Frankfort, Illinois
Frankfort is a village in Will and Cook Counties, Illinois, United States. The population was 17,782 at the 2010 census. According to Forbes.com, in 2007 the village ranked as the 36th fastest growing suburb in the United States. - Previous spelling :...
in 1978. He graduated from Lincoln-Way High School in New Lenox, Illinois
New Lenox, Illinois
New Lenox is a village in Will County, Illinois, United States. The village population is estimated to be 24,938 as of 2006. The Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning forecasts New Lenox will have a population of 90,652 in 2030.-Geography:...
in 1980, according to an article in the Chicago Tribune
Chicago Tribune
The Chicago Tribune is a major daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, and the flagship publication of the Tribune Company. Formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper" , it remains the most read daily newspaper of the Chicago metropolitan area and the Great Lakes region and is...
that appeared on September 26, 1993. Suppelsa graduated from Marquette University
Marquette University
Marquette University is a private, coeducational, Jesuit, Roman Catholic university located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1881, the school is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities...
with a degree in journalism in 1984. He also had worked as a disc jockey for the campus radio station and had written for the school paper.
"I enjoyed the story," Suppelsa told the Chicago Tribune in an article that ran on June 29, 1997. "And something just hooked me. The deadlines, the writing, the video, the shooting it, the editing it. It all just swept me away."
During Suppelsa's final year of college, he worked over the holidays at WAOW-TV
WAOW-TV
WAOW is the ABC-affiliated television station for North Central Wisconsin's Northern Highland area licensed to Wausau. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on VHF channel 9 from a transmitter on Rib Mountain. The station can also be seen on Charter channel 6 and in high definition on...
in Wausau, Wisconsin
Wausau, Wisconsin
Wausau is a city in and the county seat of Marathon County, Wisconsin, United States. The Wisconsin River divides the city. The city is adjacent to the town of Wausau.According to the 2000 census, Wausau had a population of 38,426 people...
.
Professional career
Suppelsa's first job out of college was at WFRV-TVWFRV-TV
WFRV-TV is a CBS-affiliated television station licensed to Green Bay, Wisconsin, and serving Green Bay, the Fox Valley, and Northeastern Wisconsin. The station broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 39 from a transmitter north of the Brown County town of Morrison...
in Green Bay, Wisconsin
Green Bay, Wisconsin
Green Bay is a city in and the county seat of Brown County in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, located at the head of Green Bay, a sub-basin of Lake Michigan, at the mouth of the Fox River. It has an elevation of above sea level and is located north of Milwaukee. As of the 2010 United States Census,...
, where he became an anchor after six months on the job. In 1987, Suppelsa took a job at KSTP-TV
KSTP-TV
KSTP-TV, channel 5, is the ABC affiliate for the Twin Cities. Its transmitter is located at the Shoreview Telefarm. It is the flagship station of Hubbard Broadcasting, which also owns several other broadcasting properties across the United States....
in Minneapolis-Saint Paul, where he worked as an anchor and a reporter.
In July 1993, Suppelsa joined WMAQ-TV
WMAQ-TV
WMAQ-TV, channel 5, is an owned-and-operated television station of the NBC Television Network, located in Chicago, Illinois. WMAQ-TV's main studios and offices are located within the NBC Tower in the Streeterville neighborhood, with an auxiliary street-level studio on the Magnificent Mile at 401...
in Chicago as a weekend anchor and reporter. He later became a late afternoon and early evening news anchor. In May 1997, Suppelsa memorably sparred with talk-show host Jerry Springer
Jerry Springer
Gerald Norman "Jerry" Springer is a British-born American television presenter, best known as host of the tabloid talk show The Jerry Springer Show since its debut in 1991...
during WMAQ's 10 p.m. newscast, shortly after Springer resigned after a brief, controversial run as a commentator.
In March 2003, Suppelsa quit WMAQ-TV to join WFLD-TV in Chicago as a reporter, fill-in anchor and investigative reporter. In September 2004, WFLD promoted Suppelsa to be the co-anchor of WFLD's Fox News Chicago at Nine in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, at the same time demoting Walter Jacobson
Walter Jacobson
Walter David Jacobson is a Chicago television news personality and current anchor of the 6 p.m. news on WBBM-TV. He had been working at WBBM-TV since February 2010 once again doing Walter Jacobson's Perspective twice a week on the 10 O'Clock News prior to being promoted to anchoring the 6 p.m...
from the co-anchor position.
On March 10, 2008, Suppelsa chose not to renew his contract with WFLD-TV. Suppelsa reportedly turned down a contract offer from Channel 32 that would have cut his salary by about 15 percent. Once the 90-day "right to match" clause in Suppelsa's old contract expired, he became free to announce a new job in TV. He signed a contract deal with WGN-TV
WGN-TV
WGN-TV, virtual channel 9 , is the CW-affiliated television station in Chicago, Illinois built, signed on, and owned by the Tribune Company. WGN-TV's studios and offices are located at 2501 W...
to anchor the 9 pm news replacing Steve Sanders (who now anchors the midday newscast from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.). Sanders replaced Tom Negovan
Tom Negovan
Tom Negovan is a news anchor and reporter at Chicago's WGN-TV. During his time as anchor of the WGN-TV News at Noon, the program solidified its position as the top-rated midday newscast in Chicago and was honored with a Silver Dome Award by the Illinois Broadcasters Association. In the summer of...
who became a full-time general assignment reporter and back-up anchor for all WGN newscasts.
Suppelsa also formerly worked as a morning news anchor on the Eric and Kathy Show on WTMX
WTMX
WTMX is an adult top 40 radio station licensed to Skokie, IL in the Chicago market. It is owned by Hubbard Broadcasting.-History:...
-FM radio in Chicago. This part of his career ended in October 2010.
Personal
Suppelsa met his wife, Candus, while working in Minneapolis in 1988, according to a Chicago Tribune article that appeared on June 29, 1997. Today, Mark and Candus live in Evanston, IllinoisEvanston, Illinois
Evanston is a suburban municipality in Cook County, Illinois 12 miles north of downtown Chicago, bordering Chicago to the south, Skokie to the west, and Wilmette to the north, with an estimated population of 74,360 as of 2003. It is one of the North Shore communities that adjoin Lake Michigan...
with their two children. Suppelsa also is a vegetarian, according to an article in the Chicago Sun-Times on September 7, 2004.
Suppelsa is a Facebook
Facebook
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
user and is usually logged on during broadcasts. He has been known to update his status and chat with fans and friends while on the air.