Troy Christensen
Troy Christensen, who began as a weather intern at WLS-Channel 7 while a student at Naperville Central High School, returned to the ABC-owned station this weekend as an on-air meteorologist.
Just in from KFOR-TV, the NBC affiliate in Oklahoma City, Christensen debuted on the 6 and 8 a.m. Saturday newscasts anchored by Stacy Baca. News director Jennifer Graves confirmed his hiring for the Saturday morning position. Continue reading
They are the denizens of the dawn patrol. The sultans of sunrise. The top of the morning.
Here’s a look at Chicago’s most popular radio personalities in morning drive. Click on the arrows to advance the photos:
The sale of NextMedia Group's 33 radio stations nationwide — including 11 in the Chicago suburban area — was hailed Thursday as a victory for local broadcasting.
Dean Goodman, whose newly formed Digity LCC is acquiring the group for an undisclosed price, said he plans to continue NextMedia's strategy of providing live and local programming on all of its stations. "Our similar operational approach will super-serve local communities with compelling on-air products and innovative digital strategies," he said in a statement. Continue reading
Mike McConnell
Mike McConnell, whose three-year run as midday personality on WGN AM 720 ended with the regime change at the Tribune Broadcasting news/talk station, is finally leaving the building.
Since August, McConnell had been live-streaming and podcasting for WGN's website — a major step down from the 50,000-watt stage he'd previously commanded.
Sources said McConnell's agent has agreed to a tentative settlement with the station on the remaining two years of his $500,000-a-year contract. If everything works out as planned, McConnell presumably would be free to return to radio in Cincinnati, where he successfully spent most of the last 30 years. Continue reading
Arsenio Hall
Is Arsenio Hall’s comeback already on the skids?
One month after its auspicious debut as a nationally syndicated late-night talker, “The Arsenio Hall Show” is showing signs of trouble in the ratings and behind the scenes.
For Tribune Broadcasting, which is a partner in producing the show, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Since its launch Sept. 9, it’s been airing at 10 p.m. Monday through Friday on Chicago flagship WGN-Channel 9 and on the company’s other stations across the country. Continue reading
If news anchors and reporters at WFLD-Channel 32 start looking a little less “camera ready” on the air, here’s why: They’ll soon be putting on their own makeup.
In the latest cost-cutting move, the Fox-owned station has dropped its professional makeup artist. Debbie Davis was told this week that she's out after nearly 20 years on the job. Continue reading
Regine Schlesinger
Forty years in radio news is a milestone. Forty years at the same station is a miracle.
Regine Schlesinger marked both last week at all-news WBBM AM 780/WCFS FM 105.9, where she's still at the top of her game as a news anchor and reporter. Continue reading
Bruce DuMont
Thirty years after he founded the Museum of Broadcast Communications, Bruce DuMont is ready to let someone else run the show.
DuMont, 69, said he plans to recommend that his board of directors hire an executive director or general manager to succeed him in overseeing day-to-day operations along with sales and marketing functions at the Chicago museum. Continue reading
Marking the six-month anniversary of Roger Ebert's passing, Chaz Ebert posted a "Dear Roger" letter Friday on rogerebert.com, reflecting on her loss and his legacy.
"You have made yourself known in other ways that have brought me joy and comfort," she writes. "And you have found ways to let me know that you are in a good place." Continue reading
Brandis Friedman
Brandis Friedman, who's been a part-time news anchor and reporter for all-news WBBM AM 780/WCFS FM 105.9 for two years, has been hired as a full-time correspondent for "Chicago Tonight," the flagship nightly news program on WTTW-Channel 11.
She replaces Ash-har Quraishi, who left the public television station in July to join the startup of Al Jazeera America as Chicago correspondent.
It's a return to television news for Friedman, who previously worked at WJLA-TV in Washington, D.C., KARK-TV in Little Rock, Ark., and KFDX-TV in Wichita Falls, Texas. She also served for nine months as deputy communications director for the U.S. House Committee on Science and Technology. Continue reading
