The Donlon Report
Presented byJoe Donlon
Production
Production locationsWGN-TV Studios, Chicago
Running time60 minutes
Production companyNexstar Media Group
Original release
NetworkNewsNation
ReleaseMarch 1, 2021 (2021-03-01) –
March 25, 2022 (2022-03-25)

The Donlon Report was a nightly American television news program on NewsNation, which premiered on March 1, 2021. The one-hour-long program was hosted by Joe Donlon, and aired at 6 p.m. ET.[1]

The cable network WGN America was rebranded to NewsNation by its corporate parent Nexstar Media Group on the same day and expand to five hours of live news programming.[2]

The expansion in programming was a move to compete against other U.S. Cable News programs.[3] The Donlon Report went against largely opinion-based programs in that timeslot: The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer on CNN, The Beat with Ari Melber on MSNBC and Special Report with Bret Baier on Fox News.[4]

The show replaced reruns of Last Man Standing.

On March 15, 2022, Donlon decided to leave NewsNation. His last show on The Donlon Report aired on March 25, 2022.[5] On March 28, 2022, NewsNation Rush Hour will replace The Donlon Report at 6 PM ET, and it currently airs from 5–7 PM ET.[6]

Format

NewsNation has stated the show took an “in-depth look at the news events of the day” mixed with interviews from experts who added "insight and perspective.”[7] Unlike Donlon's anchoring of the previous three hour news block now titled NewsNation Prime, Donlon commented on the news,[8] and used the first portion of every program as a brief monologue on the top story covered.[9] Unlike the other NewsNation newscasts, Donlon did not necessarily seek to provide balance on each night but strived to incorporate different viewpoints over a longer period.[10] NewsNation has been using its 5,500 local journalists at Nexstar Media Group stations across the country to provide content since the primetime broadcast premiered in September 2020.

Host

Joe Donlon moved from the show's primetime broadcast to his own show. Before NewsNation, Donlon was the main anchor at Chicago's WGN-TV for three years.[11] He spent 21 years at KGW in Portland, Oregon before moving to Chicago.[12] Donlon has been criticized for his soft interviewing and alleged insufficient challenges to false claims.[8] After NewsNation, Donlon became the lead male anchor for Chicago CBS-owned station WBBM-TV, rejoining Jennifer Lyons, the former news director at NewsNation now with the same role at WBBM, and Albert Ramon, chief meteorologist who formerly served that role on NewsNation.

References

  1. ^ "WGN America will change its name to NewsNation, moving to compete with CNN, Fox, MSNBC". Los Angeles Times. January 25, 2021. Retrieved January 25, 2021.
  2. ^ Keveney, Bill. "Upstart CNN competitor expands: WGN America rebrands as NewsNation, beefs up primetime news block". USA TODAY. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  3. ^ Littleton, Cynthia (January 25, 2021). "Nexstar's WGN America to Rebrand as NewsNation, Expand Nightly Newscasts". Variety. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  4. ^ "Facing ratings pressure, Fox News replaces news with opinion at 7 p.m." Los Angeles Times. January 11, 2021. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  5. ^ "Robservations: Joe Donlon quits NewsNation; Marquee adds Cliff Floyd, Cameron Maybin to Cubs coverage – Robert Feder". www.robertfeder.com. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
  6. ^ "NewsNation Further Expands News Programming". Nexstar Media Group, Inc. March 14, 2022. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
  7. ^ "Nexstar Media's Cable Network, WGN America, to Rebrand as NewsNation and Expand News Programming to Five Hours on Weeknights Beginning March 1". Nexstar Media Group, Inc. January 25, 2021. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  8. ^ a b Robertson, Katie (March 7, 2021). "Journalists Rebel at NewsNation, a Newcomer in Cable News". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved March 9, 2021.
  9. ^ @TheDonlonReport (March 3, 2021). "While you're waiting for tonight's show,..." (Tweet). Archived from the original on March 3, 2021. Retrieved May 8, 2023 – via Twitter.
  10. ^ "What's coming up on 'The Donlon Report'". myfox8.com. March 4, 2021. Retrieved March 9, 2021.
  11. ^ "Rebranded 'NewsNation' moving Joe Donlon to solo news hour at 6 p.m. – Robert Feder". www.robertfeder.com. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  12. ^ "Joe Donlon". NewsNation Now. June 2, 2020. Retrieved January 26, 2021.

External links


Evening news and talk TV programs in the United States
NewsNation and WGN America original programming
Nexstar Media Group
Categories