WTTW anchor Paris Schutz to leave station in April

The big picture: His departure comes after the station made significant adjustments to "Chicago Tonight," including bouncing to different time slots and dropping weekly airtime from four hours to one in recent years.

What they're saying: "We are grateful for [Schutz's] many years of exceptional work and commitment to independent journalism, and we are looking forward to seeing him continue to grow as a respected journalist in Chicago," WTTW president and CEO Sandra Cordova Micek said in the memo to staff, which was obtained by Axios.

• "Nearly 20 years ago I walked into WTTW as a college intern and instantly fell in love with 'Chicago Tonight,' a program unlike any other in television. My run here almost feels like fantasy, to go from intern to producer to reporter to anchor in my hometown, for a station that has been part of my life since the day I was born," Schutz said in a statement.
• "I want to express my deepest gratitude to everyone at WTTW for always supporting and nurturing my career. Wherever I roam, WTTW will always be home."

The intrigue: Schutz is also a talented singer, songwriter and pianist so Axios asked him if his next adventure will be musical or journalistic.

• He responded that he's staying in journalism, but declined to say if he's staying in town. Plus, "I always hope to have musical adventures," Schutz said.

What's next: Micek's memo says co-anchor Brandis Friedman will continue to host "Chicago Tonight," and reporter Amanda Vinicky will host "Week in Review."