WGN News Director Jennifer Lyons announced back in August that she was leaving the station to become the Vice President of Communications and External Relations for Catholic Extension.

She was leaving TV news to go do the Lord’s work.

WGN looked for Lyons replacement and was this/close to naming KCPQ (Seattle) News Director Erica Hill as their new ND.

But then Lyons called the station and said that she missed TV news and wanted her old job back.

After some back and forth, the station announced yesterday that they have rehired their old News Director and Lyons is returning to the station.

Insiders say that Lyons really started looking to leave WGN when it was announced that Sinclair was going to be taking them over. Main Anchor Mark Suppelsa also left the station after Sinclair announced they were taking over.

It seems that with Sinclair out of the picture and working outside of news, Lyons was looking to get back in.

Erica Hill was told she was not getting the job and this internal memo from GM Paul Rennie went out to the staff yesterday:

All,

It’s my pleasure to announce that Jennifer Lyons is returning to be the News Director of WGN-TV/CLTV. Jennifer informed me that during her brief time away she came to the realization that her heart remains in local television and being one of Chicago’s Very Own. She will be back in her office Thursday morning. We all look forward to her return.

Thanks to Sandy Pudar and the entire newsroom for always delivering the best in local Chicago News.

Welcome back Jen, we are excited to see you Thursday morning.

Paul