Kathy Chaney

Multimedia Chicago journalist Kathy Chaney, most recently a producer/reporter at Chicago Public Media WBEZ FM 91.5, has been named managing editor of Ebony magazine.

Monday marked her first day on the job with the monthly African-American lifestyle magazine and website published by Chicago-based Johnson Publishing. “I’m very excited to part of the legendary JPC family,” Chaney said.

As managing editor she fills the vacancy left by Wendy Wilson, who exited last April. Chaney reports to Ebony editor-in-chief Kierna Mayo.

Chaney’s departure from WBEZ leaves the public radio station with only four African-American employees among its full-time newsroom staff.

Chaney, who attended Loyola University Chicago and Western Illinois University, joined WBEZ in 2014 after working as senior executive producer at Midway Broadcasting urban news/talk WVON AM 1690 and managing editor of the Chicago Defender.

She previously wrote for the Chicago Tribune, Thomson Reuters, Associated Press and Crain’s Chicago Business, among others.