A recent Sun-Times business blog post acknowledged that bitcoin had been “battered by news of theft and volatility” lately. But that’s not stopping parent company Wrapports LLC from doubling down on the controversial digital currency.

On Thursday, the Sun-Times announced it was becoming “the first major newspaper” to accept bitcoin as payment. Customers in the Chicago area can now use bitcoin to pay for the subscriptions at bitcoin.suntimes.com. Continue reading →

Jay Levine

A live report by WBBM-Channel 2’s Jay Levine on President Obama’s fundraising visit to Chicago Wednesday was disrupted by a protester shouting: “Obama is a war criminal.”

Levine, chief correspondent for the CBS-owned station, had just begun his report from River North on the 5 p.m. newscast when an unidentified man lunged for his microphone. A second view of the incident was captured by WMAQ-Channel 5’s Mary Ann Ahern, who was reporting live for the NBC-owned station nearby. Continue reading →

Linda Yu

Linda Yu, the Chicago television treasure whose amazing longevity is exceeded only by her popularity, marked her 30th anniversary at WLS-Channel 7 Wednesday by doing what she’s always done — anchoring a top-rated newscast on the ABC-owned station.

“It’s been a lucky, fascinating, learning, productive, wonderful time,” she told Facebook fans. “I’m grateful and humbled by your support all these years!” Continue reading →

Goli Sheikholeslami

“Chicago” may be the company’s first name, but when it came to choosing a new chief executive officer, Chicago Public Media had no qualms about going out of town.

In naming Goli Sheikholeslami to oversee public radio WBEZ FM 91.5 and its related enterprises Tuesday, the board of Chicago Public Media chose a veteran of New York and Washington media suites with no prior connection to Chicago — and no experience in radio for that matter. Continue reading →

Susan Carlson

Veteran Chicago newswoman Susan Carlson has been named a full-time reporter and fill-in news anchor at NBC-owned WMAQ-Channel 5.

Her promotion from part-time status, effective April 28, was confirmed Tuesday by Frank Whittaker, station manager and vice president of news at NBC 5.

“I’m extremely delighted that Susan will be joining us full-time,” Whittaker told me. “She’s a born and bred Chicagoan who knows our city and suburbs well. Her years of local reporting will be a great addition to our staff.” Continue reading →

Terrell Brown

Terrell Brown, who signed off last week after five years as a CBS News correspondent, is on his way to WLS-Channel 7 as the ABC-owned station's anchor of the future.

Brown starts April 14 as a general assignment reporter and contributing anchor, ABC 7 Eyewitness News officials announced Tuesday. Continue reading →

Goli Sheikholeslami

Goli Sheikholeslami, former head of the Washington Post’s digital division, has been named chief executive officer and president of Chicago Public Media, parent company of public radio WBEZ FM 91.5.

Her appointment, effective May 5, was announced Tuesday by Stephen Baird, board chairman of Chicago Public Media. It culminates a nationwide search that followed the forced resignation of Torey Malatia last July after two decades as a visionary and controversial leader. Continue reading →

Here are my picks for the 10 most notable Chicago media stories of the month.

Click on the arrows to advance the photos. To read the original posts, click on the headlines under each photo: Continue reading →

Greg Easterly

Tribune Broadcasting is reaching out to its station in Cleveland to fill the longstanding vacancy for president and general manager of Chicago flagship WGN-Channel 9.

Moving up from the 19th largest market to the third is Greg Easterly, a 17-year veteran of WJW-TV, Cleveland’s Fox affiliate. Tribune Co. picked up WJW last December as part of its $2.7 billion acquisition of 16 stations owned by Local TV Holdings. Easterly spent his first 10 years at the station as news director before he was named general manager in 2007. Continue reading →

Madeleine Doubek

Madeleine Doubek, the veteran Chicago journalist who was a mainstay of the Daily Herald for 27 years, soon will be turning up in the Sun-Times.

Starting April 15, Doubek will appear as a columnist twice a month on the Sun-Times editorial page and on Early & Often, the newspaper’s new digital platform covering government and politics. Continue reading →