Deborah Norville

Happy to see our old friend Deborah Norville has extended her contract for two more years with the syndicated newsmagazine “Inside Edition.”

The start of Norville’s 20th season as host September 8 coincides with the show’s move back to its familiar 3 p.m. weekday time slot on ABC-owned WLS-Channel 7. For the past two years it was on at 2 p.m. to accommodate Katie Couric’s now-canceled talk show. Continue reading →

Mike Stephen

Mike Stephen, an acclaimed storyteller who began as an intern for Spike O’Dell at WGN AM 720 and went on to host and produce one of Chicago’s longest-running and most ambitious podcasts, is returning to his radio roots.

Starting October 4, Stephen’s “Outside the Loop Radio” will air from 6 to 7 a.m. Saturdays on the Tribune Broadcasting news/talk station, leading in to WGN’s “Mr. Fix It with Lou Manfredini.” Continue reading →

The impending departure of Cheryl Scott as weekend meteorologist at WMAQ-Channel 5 is just the latest in a string of defections from the NBC-owned station since 2011.

At least six popular personalities have signed off from NBC 5 in recent years (although one has since returned). In most cases, they left for network opportunities. Continue reading →

Brant Miller

Robservations on the media beat:

Jack Diamond

Brant Miller must lead a charmed life. The veteran Chicago broadcaster survived not one but two career threats last week and emerged stronger than ever. First was the news that Cheryl Scott was leaving WMAQ-Channel 5 after three years as weekend meteorologist, removing Miller’s rival for the top weather job at the NBC-owned station. Then came word that Washington radio personality Jack Diamond had turned down an offer to replace Miller in his other job as morning host at Cumulus Media classic hits WLS FM 94.7. (Miller would have shifted to weather reporting and co-hosting on the show.) Instead, Diamond accepted a longer-term deal with 105.7 Max FM in San Diego. Now Miller’s ratings on WLS are the highest they've been. Continue reading →

Doug Levy

Doug Levy, an 18-year veteran of Univision Chicago Radio who’s also known as a former Chicago rock radio personality, has been promoted to vice president and general manager of Univision Local Media here.

He now adds Univision WGBO-Channel 66 and UniMás WXFT-Channel 60 to the five Spanish radio stations he already oversees — WOJO FM 105.1, WPPN FM 106.7, WRTO AM 1200, WVIV FM 103.1, and WVIX FM 93.5. Continue reading →

Elizabeth Brackett

Elizabeth Brackett, a respected veteran of four Chicago TV news operations, retired Tuesday after 20 years as a full-time staff correspondent for “Chicago Tonight,” the nightly news program on public television WTTW-Channel 11.

But she won’t be leaving the show altogether. In her new role as “special correspondent,” Brackett will contribute 10 long-form stories in the coming year. Continue reading →

Chicago magazine

It’s a busy week at Chicago magazine, where an interim publisher was named on the business side and two digital editors were replaced by insiders on the editorial side.

Tom Conradi, advertising director of the Chicago Tribune Media Group monthly since 2008, was given the additional title of interim publisher. The move follows the resignation in June of Rich Gamble after five years as publisher and general manager. Continue reading →

Lourdes Duarte

The growth of WGN-Channel 9’s late-afternoon news block will mean more time for anchors Mark Suppelsa and Micah Materre and a move to early mornings for Lourdes Duarte.

Starting September 8, the Tribune Broadcasting station will add an hour of news at 4 p.m. weekdays, boosting its output to a record 61 hours of live local news each week. Continue reading →

Rafer Weigel

The handwriting was on the locker room wall.

Rafer Weigel, who once seemed destined to inherit his late father’s legacy as one of Chicago’s top sportscasters, is leaving town after little more than three years at ABC-owned WLS-Channel 7. Continue reading →

Cheryl Scott

The next sound you hear will be hearts breaking all over Chicago.

With her contract up next month at WMAQ-Channel 5, Cheryl Scott is leaving the NBC-owned station after three years as weekend meteorologist. Continue reading →