Tanja Babich

It seems like Chicago news anchors come and go all the time — except at WLS-Channel 7.

The ABC-owned station is such a bastion of stability that it’s been seven years since anyone from outside joined the anchor team (Ravi Baichwal in 2006), and 10 years since a new anchorwoman was added to the lineup (Karen Jordan in 2003.) Continue reading →

As if the Sun-Times needed any more problems lately, the newspaper’s website came under cyber attack Saturday.

Some morning visitors to suntimes.com found the site had been replaced by an "under construction" page from its domain host, Network Solutions. Others found nothing at all.

Later in the day, Sun-Times editors tweeted: “Yep. One of our vendors got hacked and it's trickling down.” Followed by: “Thanks for your patience and apologies for our site issues. All should be cleaned up in the next few hours.” Continue reading →

Dave Ross

When sports reporter and producer Dave Ross announced he was leaving the Fox-owned station in Washington, D.C., he said it was to start a new job in Chicago.

“Yes it's true ya'll,” he tweeted Nov. 6. “Cat's out of the bag. after 18 years i'm leaving my beloved @myfoxdc for the windy city. but fox will always be my home.” Followed by: “Leaving the fox family sadly.. details to come…”

So where is he going?

Ross did not respond to my inquiries, but Pressbox D.C. reported that his new gig in Chicago — whatever it may be — is expected to give him the chance to do something new in sports, cutting edge and free form. "I'm excited for the new challenge," Ross told DCRTV.com blogger Dave Hughes. “But it's hard to leave a place and the people in it that you respect and enjoy working with. Gonna miss this town." Continue reading →

Thanksgivukkah is still two weeks away, but it’s already beginning to sound a lot like Christmas on the radio.

WLIT FM 93.9 began airing its annual around-the-clock Christmas music programming at 4:50 p.m. Thursday. The kickoff tune was indeed Perry Como’s 1951 version of "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas.” Continue reading →

Peter Bolger

The Titanic of Talk Radio just got a new first mate.

Peter Bolger, a 30-year veteran of radio programming, Thursday was named operations manager and program director of WLS AM 890, the Cumulus Media news/talk station.

Bolger, who’s been director of AM programming for Clear Channel stations in San Antonio, steps in to WLS at a historic low point in both ratings and morale. The once mighty 50,000-watt powerhouse languishes in 27th place among listeners between 25 and 54 with a 1.4 percent share. Among other setbacks, the losses of longtime morning star Don Wade, who died in September, and midday personality Jim Edwards (aka Jake Hartford), who died in January, continue to be felt by listeners. Continue reading →

So much for Chicago’s grand experiment with socialized newsgathering.

Since May 2009, four local stations — CBS-owned WBBM-Channel 2, NBC-owned WMAQ-Channel 5, Fox-owned WFLD-Channel 32 and Tribune Broadcasting WGN-Channel 9 — have been pooling camera crews, assignment editors and other resources in order to share run-of-the-mill news content on the cheap.

Anyone with half a brain could tell it was a bad idea from the start, and now two of the four stations are calling it quits. Continue reading →

Carla Leonardo

Colleagues and fans are remembering Carla Leonardo for her love of music, her generous spirit and her fabulous voice.

The veteran Chicago radio personality died Saturday of acute myeloid leukemia at 63. She was on medical leave as weekend host at WDRV FM 97.1, where she worked since 2001. In earlier decades, she had been a mainstay of the former Q101 and the Loop. Continue reading →

Christa Robinson

The main mouthpiece for Chicago-based Tribune Co. won’t be based in Chicago anymore.

Christa Robinson, former head of communications for CNN Worldwide, was named Monday to the newly created position of chief communications officer for Tribune Co. In announcing her appointment, the company said she will work out of its New York offices.

“Day 2 at Tribune,” Robinson tweeted Tuesday. “Great people. New coffee shop. Flowers from my hubby. What could be better!” Continue reading →

Keith Moreland

For the second time in three years, the search is on to find a new partner for Pat Hughes.

Keith Moreland’s decision to leave the Cubs broadcast booth has WGN AM 720 on the fast track to select his replacement as color analyst alongside play-by-play announcer Hughes.

Bosses of the Tribune Broadcasting news/talk station hope to have the position filled in time for the 2013 Baseball Winter Meetings, which start Dec. 9. Continue reading →

Under pressure to raise cash quickly, the parent company of the Sun-Times is about to begin selling off some of its suburban publishing assets, according to insiders.

Sources said the first to go likely will be the Joliet Herald-News, one of seven suburban daily newspapers owned by Sun-Times Media. A deal to sell the paper to an unidentified local owner is expected to be announced before the end of the year. Continue reading →