"Dean Richards' Sunday Morning" covers Chicago's entertainment and lifestyle scene including movies, theater, food, and dining, Sundays from 9am-1pm on WGN Radio 720. Dean's movie reviews are also heard Thursday afternoons on "The Garry Meier Show." Since joining WGN Radio in 1994, Dean has won over 30 local and national awards for programming and production, including the prestigious Peter Lisagor award for Outstanding Journalism, the Associated Press Best Feature of the Year, UPI, Chicago A.I.R. awards, and Promax International Promotion and Marketing awards. His annual breast cancer specials have also won multiple Illinois Broadcasters Association Silver Dome Awards for "Best Local Public Affairs Program."
Dean is WGN-TV's Emmy award winning entertainment reporter and critic. His work has been seen and heard on several Tribune-owned properties; he was cited in a New York Times front-page article as "Tribune Company's Man of Many Hats."
Dean joined WGN-TV as a staff announcer in 1991. In 1998, he appeared as a guest reviewer and was brought onboard as a regular contributor soon after. His entertainment reports and reviews are seen on "WGN Morning News," "WGN Midday News," "WGN Evening News" and "WGN News at Nine," where he interviews national and local celebrities, reports on showbiz, and reviews the latest movies and theater. Dean also hosts the "WGN Sunday Night Movie" and has hosted and co-produced specials such as the award-winning "Bozo, Gar & Ray: WGN TV Classics," the Oscar preview special "The Envelope Please," and "Stories of Hope: Facing Breast Cancer." He's been involved with the "Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon" for the Muscular Dystrophy Association since 1980 and is WGN-TV's long-time host of the marathon broadcast.
Dean's celebrity interviews also appear in his "Dean's List" column Sundays in the "Arts & Entertainment" section of the Chicago Tribune.
On and off the air, Dean has been a tireless worker related to HIV/AIDS issues, hosting many charitable functions including "Dance for Life Chicago" since 1991 and "AIDS Run & Walk Chicago." He has lent support to numerous organizations including Howard Brown Health Center, Horizons Community Center, and Open Hand Chicago, and was awarded a citation by Stop AIDS Chicago for contributions in the fight against AIDS. The AIDS Foundation of Chicago recognized Dean in their annual "Faces of AIDS" publication for bringing HIV/AIDS issues to mainstream media. In 2006, AFC cited him with a special commendation for his work in the field. Richards has also hosted numerous events for hunger, homeless, and domestic violence organizations. In 1997, he was awarded "Y-ME" National Breast Cancer Organization's Outstanding Media award.
A native of Chicago, Dean worked his way through a string of suburban Chicago radio stations after completing his Broadcast Communications/Marketing degree at Columbia College. A veteran of the Chicago radio scene since 1975, Dean has worked at WNUA, WCLR, WIND, WCFL and WFYR. He also hosted a nationally syndicated morning radio program for the ABC Radio Network, while also acting as its Operations Manager.
Dean is WGN-TV's Emmy award winning entertainment reporter and critic. His work has been seen and heard on several Tribune-owned properties; he was cited in a New York Times front-page article as "Tribune Company's Man of Many Hats."
Dean joined WGN-TV as a staff announcer in 1991. In 1998, he appeared as a guest reviewer and was brought onboard as a regular contributor soon after. His entertainment reports and reviews are seen on "WGN Morning News," "WGN Midday News," "WGN Evening News" and "WGN News at Nine," where he interviews national and local celebrities, reports on showbiz, and reviews the latest movies and theater. Dean also hosts the "WGN Sunday Night Movie" and has hosted and co-produced specials such as the award-winning "Bozo, Gar & Ray: WGN TV Classics," the Oscar preview special "The Envelope Please," and "Stories of Hope: Facing Breast Cancer." He's been involved with the "Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon" for the Muscular Dystrophy Association since 1980 and is WGN-TV's long-time host of the marathon broadcast.Dean's celebrity interviews also appear in his "Dean's List" column Sundays in the "Arts & Entertainment" section of the Chicago Tribune.
On and off the air, Dean has been a tireless worker related to HIV/AIDS issues, hosting many charitable functions including "Dance for Life Chicago" since 1991 and "AIDS Run & Walk Chicago." He has lent support to numerous organizations including Howard Brown Health Center, Horizons Community Center, and Open Hand Chicago, and was awarded a citation by Stop AIDS Chicago for contributions in the fight against AIDS. The AIDS Foundation of Chicago recognized Dean in their annual "Faces of AIDS" publication for bringing HIV/AIDS issues to mainstream media. In 2006, AFC cited him with a special commendation for his work in the field. Richards has also hosted numerous events for hunger, homeless, and domestic violence organizations. In 1997, he was awarded "Y-ME" National Breast Cancer Organization's Outstanding Media award.
A native of Chicago, Dean worked his way through a string of suburban Chicago radio stations after completing his Broadcast Communications/Marketing degree at Columbia College. A veteran of the Chicago radio scene since 1975, Dean has worked at WNUA, WCLR, WIND, WCFL and WFYR. He also hosted a nationally syndicated morning radio program for the ABC Radio Network, while also acting as its Operations Manager.
