NEW YORK PRESS CLUB STATEMENT ON THE END OF WCBS NEWSRADIO 880

 

The New York Press Club is saddened to hear of the imminent closing of WCBS 880 News, once known by millions of New Yorkers as “Newsradio 88.”

In the nation’s largest city, New Yorkers have long depended on all-news radio as an immediate and trusted source of information in moments that mattered, from blizzards to blackouts, political campaigns and controversies, to the tickertape parades in the Canyon of Heroes.  WCBS was also there to report the horrors of the September 11th terrorist attacks, Superstorm Sandy, and the Covid pandemic, among many other historic events.

“New York City and the area at-large has lost a gem of a news radio station,” said New York Press Club President David Cruz.  “As someone who worked there for several years, WCBS was a place where journalists brought integrity and curiosity to their work. The station’s legacy will live on.”

While New Yorkers can take comfort that other stations like WINS, WNYC, WOR and WABC will continue to offer local, real-time audio news coverage, the community will deeply feel the silence of the news team that brought listeners “More than just the headlines,” as the flagship affiliate of the CBS Radio network.

The Press Club recognizes that these are challenging times for the media industry.  We thank all those at WCBS 880 who have supported the Club through the years.  We are also grateful as listeners for the contributions of WCBS 880 anchors, reporters, editors, writers, assistants, and managers who kept New York informed when it was needed the most.  We will miss their collective voice chronicling this city.