Chicago homecoming for ABC 7 news exec

Sarah Dunlap Burke

Sarah Dunlap Burke

Sarah Dunlap Burke, a Chicago area native and veteran news producer who began as an intern at Tribune Broadcasting WGN-Channel 9, has been hired as assistant news director at ABC-owned WLS-Channel 7.

Burke, who most recently has been acting news director at WBZ-TV, the CBS-owned station in Boston, succeeds Janet Hundley, who resigned from ABC 7 in May to become news director of WTMJ-TV, the NBC affiliate in Milwaukee. Continue reading

Ramonski: ‘Everyone will go through something’

Ramonski Luv

Ramonski Luv

Nearly two weeks after his dismissal as evening personality at WVAZ FM 102.7, Ramonski Luv is thanking fans, friends and former co-workers for their support.

“Everyone will go through something; mine is just magnified,” he wrote on Facebook in his first public comment since he left the top-rated Clear Channel urban adult-contemporary station.

Details of Luv’s abrupt departure remain confidential. Clear Channel has not elaborated on its July 9 statement: “It’s our policy not to discuss employee matters for privacy reasons. Joe Soto will continue to host evenings on V103.” Soto, who’d been been teamed with Luv for the past decade, has declined to comment. Continue reading

Horowitz named president of Hubbard Radio

Drew Horowitz

Drew Horowitz

Veteran Chicago-based radio executive Drew Horowitz has been named president and chief operating officer of Hubbard Radio, parent company of three top stations here and 25 stations nationwide.

His promotion from executive vice president and chief operating officer follows the departure of Bruce Reese, who stepped down as president and chief executive officer July 7. Reese will serve as special advisor to Hubbard Radio.

“For the past few years I have had the privilege to work with Drew and see first-hand what a gifted broadcaster he is,” Ginny Morris, chairman and chief executive officer of Hubbard Radio, said in a statement Friday. “Drew’s passion for the radio business and for the people with whom he works is evident in how he approaches every opportunity and every challenge. I look forward to further partnering with him as we continue to move our business forward.” Continue reading

V103’s Joe Soto: No. 1 with a muzzle

Joe Soto

Joe Soto

You can be the top-rated evening personality on the No. 1 radio station in Chicago. You can command an audience of more than 475,000 listeners a week. You can be a 34-year broadcast veteran who’s won awards and a stellar reputation as a pro.

But if you work for Clear Channel Media and Entertainment, you can’t answer a simple question from a reporter. Continue reading

Christian Science Monitor exits Chicago

MonitorThe Christian Science Monitor is closing its Chicago bureau in the latest realignment of personnel by the Boston-based international news organization.

Veteran Chicago reporter Mark Guarino, who has headed the bureau here since 2008, is one of three staff writers whose positions are being eliminated companywide. Effective August 22, the move will leave the brand without a full-time presence in the Midwest. Continue reading