Ben Calhoun

Ben Calhoun, former political reporter and deputy news director at WBEZ FM 91.5, is returning to the Chicago Public Media station as director of content and programming.

Since 2010 Calhoun has been a producer for “This American Life,” the public radio documentary series launched at WBEZ and now based in New York. Continue reading →

Dave McKinney

Dave McKinney’s resignation Wednesday after 19 years as a reporter for the Sun-Times is a huge loss for the newspaper and its readers at a time when neither can afford to be without his diligent, uncompromising and vital work.

McKinney’s impassioned public letter of resignation to Michael Ferro Jr., chairman of Sun-Times parent company Wrapports LLC, is a must-read for anyone who cares about ethics and integrity in journalism. Continue reading →

While officials of the Sun-Times parent company won’t comment on plans to sell their suburban newspapers to Tribune Publishing, the chief executive officer of Wrapports LLC says he’s “evaluating a variety of investments” to strengthen the company.

A report here Tuesday said Wrapports has agreed sell all of its suburban daily and weekly newspapers to Tribune Publishing, while retaining the Sun-Times daily tabloid and the Reader free weekly, according to sources. Continue reading →

Chicago Sun-Times

In a blockbuster deal that could change the Chicago journalism landscape, the parent company of the Sun-Times plans to sell all of its suburban daily and weekly newspapers to Tribune Publishing, sources said.

Once the sale is completed, Wrapports LLC would continue to publish only the Sun-Times daily tabloid and the Reader free weekly, according to insiders. Tribune Publishing, parent company of the Chicago Tribune and nine other newspapers nationwide, would acquire the Aurora Beacon-News, the Elgin Courier-News, the Lake County News-Sun, the Naperville Sun, the Northwest Indiana Post-Tribune, the SouthtownStar, and the 32 weekly newspapers published by the Pioneer Press. Continue reading →

Cheryl Scott

Cheryl Scott, the hottest free agent in Chicago media, is close to accepting an offer from WLS-Channel 7, where she eventually would succeed Jerry Taft as the ABC-owned station’s top meteorologist, sources said.

Finalizing the deal has been delayed by Scott’s former employer, WMAQ-Channel 5, which could exercise its right to match ABC 7’s offer, raising the slim possibility that she would return to the NBC-owned station. But insiders said they don’t expect that to happen. Continue reading →

Effie Rolfe

Effie Rolfe, Chicago radio’s “Voice of Inspiration” for more than two decades, has a worldwide pulpit for her message now.

Rolfe has been named program director and operations manager of Chicago-based Moody Radio’s Urban Praise, a 24/7 Internet channel of soulful and inspiring music “that exalts Christ and encourages the believer.”

In her new role, Rolfe will oversee music and content for the channel, “putting a strong emphasis on increasing our promotional and social media outreach to build audience across the country and beyond,” said Denny Nugent, national program director of Moody Radio. “We look forward to the impact she will create.” Continue reading →

Chicago Sun-Times

After insisting for nearly three years that it would no longer endorse candidates for political office, the Sun-Times is reversing itself and formally backing Republican Bruce Rauner for governor.

The Sun-Times announced Friday that its Sunday edition would carry its choice for governor. Although the announcement stopped short of saying whom the newspaper would endorse, sources confirmed that Rauner would get the nod enthusiastically over Democrat Pat Quinn. Continue reading →

Terry Savage

Terry Savage, the nationally known expert on personal finance, the stock market and the economy, is the latest veteran of the Sun-Times to be welcomed inside Tribune Tower.

The former Sun-Times columnist and author this week was added to the roster of contributors to the Tribune Content Agency, the syndication and licensing unit of Tribune Publishing. Continue reading →

Dionne Miller

It’s official: Dionne Miller is joining WLS-Channel 7 as weekend sports anchor — and the first woman on the ABC-owned station’s sports staff.

Confirming a report here earlier this month, ABC 7 announced Miller’s hiring Thursday in a memo to the staff. She starts Monday. Continue reading →

Ashley Fields

The potentially game-changing addition of Cubs broadcasts to the WBBM AM 780 lineup also brings a new marketing and promotions team to the top-rated CBS Radio all-news station.

Ashley Fields has been promoted to marketing director of WBBM Newsradio, simulcast partner WCFS FM 105.9 and sports/talk WSCR AM 670. She also will oversee integrated marketing and non-tradition revenue efforts for Cubs baseball and Bears football on WBBM Newsradio and White Sox baseball on the Score.

Fields, who joined CBS Radio Chicago as a sales account executive out of Northwestern University graduate school, most recently has been director of marketing at the Score. Continue reading →