Date Archives → 2014

My 10 favorite newspaper movies

The last time I shared a list of my favorite films about the Fourth Estate in 2009, I heard from a lot of people.

Even my esteemed colleague Roger Ebert joined the conversation, questioning me for leaving out two contemporary newspaper movies, Zodiac (2007) and State of Play (2009).
Continue reading →

Billionaire Griffin breaking up with Reboot Illinois backer

Anne Dias Griffin and Ken Griffin

Anne Dias Griffin and Ken Griffin

If early media reports are any indication, the divorce of one of Chicago’s richest and most politically potent couples is unlikely to remain a private affair, as both sides are hoping.

Billionaire Ken Griffin, founder and head of Chicago-based hedge fund Citadel Investments, confirmed through the law firm Berger Schatz that he filed for divorce Wednesday from Anne Dias Griffin, his wife of 11 years and founder of the website Reboot Illinois. Continue reading →

Dahl podcast price jumps 20 percent

Robservations on the media beat:

Steve Dahl

Steve Dahl

If you want to subscribe to Steve Dahl’s podcast by the year, it’s going to cost you more. Annual subscribers to the Steve Dahl Network had been paying $99.95 a year since Dahl began his paywall podcast in August 2011. But now they’ll be charged $119.40 a year — matching the rate of monthly subscribers, who pay $9.95 a month. “I’m not raising the price, I'm just not offering two free months anymore,” Dahl explained. “When the Network debuted three years ago, we only offered my daily show. Now we offer over 40 new shows a month from five different hosts (six if you count Steve and Garry). I am revising my business model, and devising other ways to reward our loyal subscribers. Just part of growing the business.” Continue reading →

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 →