Kelly Ransford

Kelly Ransford, a veteran of album adult alternative radio stations in San Francisco, Seattle and Denver, is joining WXRT FM 93.1 as music director.

She succeeds John Farneda, who stepped down last month as operations manager and music director after 31 years at the CBS Radio station.

A Chicago native who began her career at CBS Radio Top 40 WBBM FM 96.3, Ransford is a former assistant program director and music director at KFOG in San Francisco. She most recently was promotions director at KMTT and KNDD in Seattle.

In announcing Ransford’s hiring, effective January 5, Norm Winer, vice president of adult rock programming for CBS Radio and program director of WXRT, cited her “excellent reputation throughout the industry for her integrity, her work ethic, easy-going personality, her knowledge and passion for music and radio, and her straightforward approach as a communicator.” Continue reading →

Katherine Green

Citing the “seemingly endless wheel of travel” her job entailed, Katherine Green has called it quits after seven months as senior vice president of news for Tribune Media.

A Tribune Media spokesman confirmed that Green resigned from the company, where she was responsible for overseeing news production and news operations for 42 television stations, including WGN-Channel 9 in Chicago. No replacement has been named. Continue reading →

Dan Miller

“Beyond the Beltway,” Bruce DuMont’s long-running political talk show, temporarily will split into two versions — one for radio and one for television — with veteran Chicago journalist Dan Miller hosting the TV edition.

DuMont, who launched the show in 1980, will continue to host “Beyond the Beltway” on radio. It airs live from 6 to 8 p.m. Sundays on Cumulus Media news/talk WLS AM 890 and 35 other stations across the country. Continue reading →

Phil Ponce

How big is the audience for local news at 7 p.m. in Chicago? We’re about to find out.

It’s been more than 25 years since a commercial station here courted news viewers on the cusp of prime time. In 1987, Fox-owned WFLD-Channel 32 inaugurated its news operation with a newscast at 7 p.m. (promoted as "the news that doesn't get home before you do”). By 1989, Fox 32 News had shuffled off to 9 p.m. Continue reading →

Mark Giangreco

Mark Giangreco, veteran sports anchor at WLS-Channel 7, apologized Wednesday for the wording of a graphic that offended some viewers for its facetious allusion to suicide.

Under a picture of Bears quarterback Jay Cutler, the graphic over Giangreco’s shoulder said: “Cut him or cut your wrists.” It aired during the ABC-owned station’s 10 p.m. newscast Tuesday and touched off a firestorm on social media. Continue reading →

Linda Yu and Hosea Sanders

In a groundbreaking partnership between two Chicago television powerhouses, Weigel Broadcasting’s WCIU-Channel 26 will air a one-hour Monday-through-Friday newscast in prime time, to be produced by ABC-owned WLS-Channel 7.

Starting January 12, “ABC 7 Eyewitness News on WCIU, The U,” will air from 7 to 8 p.m. weeknights, with veteran news anchors Linda Yu and Hosea Sanders, sports anchor Jim Rose and ABC 7’s newest hire, meteorologist Cheryl Scott. The newscast will originate from ABC 7 studios at 190 North State Street. Continue reading →

Cheryl Scott

As expected, meteorologist Cheryl Scott has officially joined the weather team at WLS-Channel 7, where she’ll initially be filling in during various newscasts.

Her hiring, effective immediately, was announced Monday by Jennifer Graves, vice president and news director of the ABC-owned station. Terms of her three-year deal were not disclosed.

Scott steps in as ABC 7’s fifth full-time weather personality along with chief meteorologist Jerry Taft and Tracy Butler, Mike Caplan and Phil Schwarz.

“I’m excited to join ABC 7 Eyewitness News and their respected and dedicated weather team,” Scott said in a statement. “I am truly thankful for the opportunity to continue my career in Chicago, a city I have come to know and love, and now call home!” Continue reading →

"Salem"

For the first time ever, Chicago area cable viewers will be able to watch the national cable channel WGN America in addition to local Tribune Media flagship station WGN-Channel 9.

Starting Tuesday, Comcast Cable systems here will begin carrying WGN America as part of their basic cable tier, including such first-run original programming as “Salem” and "Manhattan” and upcoming reality series “Wrestling with Death” and “Outlaw Country.” Continue reading →

Kate Sullivan and newborn Jack

Weekend news anchors Mai Martinez and Marissa Bailey are expected to alternate filling in alongside Rob Johnson on WBBM-Channel 2 newscasts for the next three months while Kate Sullivan is on maternity leave.

Sullivan, who co-anchors at 5, 6 and 10 p.m. weekdays on the CBS-owned station, last Thursday delivered a boy, John Michael Tillman. It’s a first child for Sullivan and Michael Tillman, who were married in December 2013. Continue reading →

Rogers Hornsby

The stunning announcement that Chicago Cubs baseball would be airing next season on WLS-Channel 7 “for the first time in the 68-year television broadcast history” of the team made for a great story Friday.

Except that it isn’t true. Continue reading →