Bruce Dold

The addition of pages and personnel both in print and online this week underscored what the Chicago Tribune calls its “commitment to opinion leadership.”

In a message to readers Monday, editor Gerry Kern announced the addition of a Perspective page on Monday and Tuesday, bringing the total number of opinion pages to three each day Monday through Friday and five on Sunday. Also being expanded are the Tribune’s digital opinion pages, including editorials, commentary, columns, cartoons, videos and letters from readers.

The moves come at a time when other newspapers are going in the opposite direction. Continue reading →

Eric Brown

Co-workers and colleagues are remembering Chicago radio sportscaster Eric Brown as a consummate professional and a genuinely nice guy.

A 26-year veteran of CBS Radio all-news WBBM AM 780/WCFS FM 105.9, Brown died of cancer Tuesday at 58. He had been on a leave of absence since last fall. Continue reading →

David Kaplan and David Haugh

Comcast SportsNet Chicago will air a live, three-hour simulcast of David Kaplan and David Haugh’s midday show on Tribune Broadcasting sports/talk WGWG LP 87.7, starting July 21.

From cameras in their Tribune Tower radio studio, “Kap & Haugh” will be seen from 9 a.m. to noon Monday through Friday on Comcast SportsNet. A one-hour “Best of Kap & Haugh” highlights show also will air at 11 p.m. weeknights. Continue reading →

Robert Jordan, Jim Ramsey, Jackie Bange and Rich King

In yet another expansion of its news operation, WGN-Channel 9 is about to add an hour of news at 5 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.

Robert Jordan and Jackie Bange, who’ve been co-anchors of the 9 p.m. weekend newscasts on the Tribune Broadcasting station since 1995, will front the new 5 p.m. newscasts, starting July 12. Also featured will be Jim Ramsey on weather and Rich King on sports. Continue reading →

Greg Caputo

Greg Caputo leaves some pretty big shoes to fill at Chicago’s busiest TV news operation, but WGN-Channel 9 appears to be in no hurry to replace him.

No successor has been named for Caputo, who announced plans May 5 to retire as news director of the Tribune Broadcasting station. His last day on the job will be Friday.

While the position remains vacant (and the opening is still posted online), all eyes are on assistant news director Jennifer Lyons. A 20-year veteran of WGN, Lyons has taken a larger role in the news department since Caputo's announcement and will continue to oversee the department after next week, according to Greg Easterly, president and general manager. Continue reading →

Terri Hemmert (Photo: Don Pointer)

WXRT FM 93.1 is inviting listeners to help cheer up Terri Hemmert while the Chicago radio treasure is off the air and out of commission recovering from knee surgery.

The CBS Radio album adult alternative station has opened a “Get Well Soon Terri Hemmert!” page on its website with a form for fans to submit messages to her. Continue reading →

CBS 2 Mobile Weather Lab

The station that brought Chicago its first minicam technology more than 40 years ago just unveiled the city’s first mobile weather lab.

CBS-owned WBBM-Channel 2 rolled out a modified BMW X5 Thursday that it’s touting as the area’s “first highly-advanced weather station on wheels.” It’s sponsored by BMW, of course. Continue reading →

Ed Volkman and Joe Colborn (aka Eddie & Jobo)

Ed Volkman and Joe Colborn, the iconic Chicago radio duo known as Eddie & Jobo, could be headed for yet another comeback — this time on classic hits WLS FM 94.7.

Talks first began in May when the two met with John Dickey, co-chief operating officer and executive vice president of Cumulus Media, sources said. No agreement was reached, but negotiations are expected to start up again this week on plans to sign them for mornings. Continue reading →

Here’s a look at Chicago’s most popular radio stations during the weekend, according to ratings for the period from April 24 to May 21.

Following are the top-rated stations in the Chicago metro area as measured by Nielsen Audio among all listeners age 6 and older from 6 a.m. to midnight Saturday and Sunday, followed by format and average share of audience. Continue reading →

Emily Barr

Emily Barr, former president and general manager of ABC-owned WLS-Channel 7, will be honored as Broadcaster of the Year Wednesday by the Illinois Broadcasters Association.

Barr, who stepped down after 15 years at ABC 7 in 2012 to become president and CEO of Post-Newsweek Stations, twice served as board chairman of the state broadcast trade association. She later was elected to the lifetime board position of director emeritus.

“There is no broadcaster more deserving of this award than Emily,” Dennis Lyle, president and CEO of the IBA, said in a statement. “She clearly defines what local broadcasting means to the community it serves, and does so with unmatched enthusiasm and dedication for an industry she so loves.” Continue reading →