Curtiss Johnson

Curtiss Johnson, a former rock radio programmer in Sacramento and Phoenix, has been named program director of Hubbard Radio classic hits WDRV FM 97.1.

Starting Monday, Johnson will succeed Patty Martin, who announced last month that she was stepping down after 13 years at the Drive. Martin, a 34-year veteran of Chicago radio, cited health matters involving her husband, who soon may undergo a kidney transplant.

“Replacing Patty, the only programmer in our 13 rockin’ years, was daunting, but we believe we have hit the jackpot!” Greg Solk, senior vice president of programming at Hubbard Radio, told staffers in a memo Tuesday. “Curtiss is brilliant, but down to earth. He is artsy and scientific. He will not only make a great programming partner for me, but a terrific team player and coach for all of you.” Continue reading →

Dan Schmidt

Window to the World Communications, the nonprofit parent company of public television WTTW-Channel 11 and classical music WFMT FM 98.7, is facing harsh criticism from members of the community it’s licensed to serve.

Declaring that the public broadcaster “has not lived up to its potential as a local player for a long time,” an ad hoc citizens group called “Fix Channel 11” is calling on the management and board of trustees “to commit to changing directions and their assumptions about its future.” Continue reading →

June 17, 1994

On June 17, 1994, the opening ceremonies of the World Cup were held at Soldier Field in Chicago. That same day, President Bill Clinton delivered a speech to residents of Robert Taylor Homes on the South Side. Yet both stories got short shrift on the 10 o’clock news that night.

Instead, Chicago and the rest of the country were mesmerized by the slow-speed police chase of O.J. Simpson in his white Ford Bronco across 60 miles of Los Angeles freeways and city streets. Continue reading →

Broadcast legend Casey Kasem, who died Sunday at 82, was no stranger to Chicago.

Not only was his voice familiar to generations of listeners to “American Top 40” and viewers of “Scooby-Doo,” but Kasem was a frequent visitor to the National Radio Hall of Fame here. Continue reading →

Holly Gilson

The parent company of public television WTTW-Channel 11 and classical music WFMT FM 98.7 has eliminated the position of a former spokeswoman it praised as “unparalleled.”

Holly Gilson most recently was director of strategic partnerships and special projects at Window to the World Communications. A highly regarded 13-year veteran of the company, she previously was director of corporate communications.

In 2012, the company eliminated the position of 16-year veteran Joanie Bayhack as senior vice president of communications and corporate partnerships. Continue reading →

Jack Barry

The Chicago Tribune’s syndication and licensing business just picked off another editor from the Sun-Times.

Jack Barry, assistant metro editor and a 24-year veteran of the Sun-Times, has been hired as acquisitions editor for the Tribune Content Agency, a unit of Tribune Publishing.

His move closely follows that of Zach Finken, former Sun-Times assistant managing editor for news, who was named associate editor of Tribune Content Agency in May.

Both report to John Barron, the former Sun-Times editor and publisher who has been editor of Tribune Content Agency since last October. With the complete acquisition of McClatchy-Tribune Information Services, the newly expanded Tribune Content Agency serves 1,200 media clients and digital entities worldwide. Continue reading →

Bill Kurtis and a bear

Chicago’s beloved anchorman emeritus Bill Kurtis is back to doing funny commercials again. But this time not everyone is laughing.

JWT Chicago (formerly J. Walter Thompson) this week unveiled a series of seven digital videos for the Illinois Office of Tourism featuring Kurtis waxing rhapsodic about supposedly masculine vacation pursuits across the state. All have been posted on EnjoyIllinois.com. Continue reading →

Barbara Popovic

Jazz, blues and the rest of the lineup of public radio WDCB FM 90.9 soon will be heard around the clock on Chicago’s public access television network.

The College of Du Page noncommercial station has formed a wide-ranging partnership with CAN TV, the nonprofit independent network serving more than 450,000 households throughout the city of Chicago. Continue reading →

Here’s a look at Chicago’s most popular nighttime stars, according to radio ratings released Monday for the period from April 24 to May 21.

Following are the top-rated shows as measured by Nielsen Audio among all listeners age 6 and older from 7 p.m. to midnight Monday through Friday, followed by share of audience. Continue reading →

Here’s a look at Chicago’s most popular midday stars, according to radio ratings released Monday for the period from April 24 to May 21.

Following are the top-rated shows as measured by Nielsen Audio among all listeners age 6 and older from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday, followed by average share of audience. Continue reading →