Big John Howell

It’s official: Big John Howell has wrapped up eight years at WIND AM 560 and is headed over to host mornings at rival news/talk WLS AM 890.

Cumulus Media announced Monday that Howell will replace Bruce Wolf and Dan Proft from 5 to 9 a.m. Monday through Friday, starting January 19. News anchor John Dempsey, traffic reporter Kelli Walker and producer Pete Zimmerman are expected to continue in their roles. Continue reading →

Phil Ponce

Phil Ponce isn’t just the host of WTTW-Channel 11’s “Chicago Tonight” anymore. From now on, he’s The Alexandra and John Nichols Chief Correspondent and Host for the public television station’s nightly news program.

Marking a first in Channel 11’s 60-year history, Window to the World Communications has named an on-air host’s position in honor of a couple of major financial backers. Continue reading →

Roe Conn

Not rumor, but fact: Roe Conn, the veteran Chicago broadcaster whose 25-year run on WLS AM 890 ended last October, is about to sign on as afternoon personality at WGN AM 720, sources said.

The Tribune Media news/talk station is expected to announce this week that Conn will replace Bill Leff and Wendy Snyder from 3 to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday. Leff and Snyder have held the afternoon shift since they succeeded Garry Meier last May. Continue reading →

Chicago’s world-class museums and other cultural attractions are the setting for a new children’s series on WTTW-Channel 11 starring Tim Kazurinsky.

“Moochie Kalala Detectives Club” each week will follow two Chicago area kids, played by Evelyn Alumbreros and Gregory Vasquez, as they pursue fact-finding missions inspired by the tall tales told by their grandfather, played by Kazurinsky, the Chicago actor. Continue reading →

Mason and Remy

Mason and Remy, a popular duo on St. Louis radio, have been named morning personalities at iHeartMedia’s new country music station in Chicago.

Starting January 20, “The Mason and Remy Show” will air from 6 to 10 a.m. weekdays on WNUA FM 95.5, which this week switched from Spanish-language regional Mexican to a country format branded as Big 95.5. Continue reading →

Roger Ebert (Chicago Sun-Times)

The Chicago Sun-Times has agreed to donate its vast collection of movie press kits and related memorabilia to the archives of Roger Ebert at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign.

The material is believed to include decades of movie press kits — including priceless photos which cannot be sold because the rights belong to Hollywood studios. Continue reading →

Erika Maldonado

After 10 years as a general assignment reporter for Univision WGBO-Channel 66, Erika Maldonado has been promoted to 5 and 10 p.m. weekday news anchor at Chicago’s leading Spanish-language station.

Maldonado, who has been filling in alongside 20-year veteran anchor Jorge Barbosa since Angélica Atondo left in October, this week was named permanent co-anchor, according to Teri Arvesu, news director of Univision Chicago. Continue reading →

Terrell Brown

It was no hyperbole when the blog post announcing Terrell Brown’s hiring last spring called him WLS-Channel 7’s “anchor of the future.”

Just nine months after signing on at the ABC-owned station as a reporter, the 27-year-old newcomer is about to become anchor of Chicago’s top-rated morning newscast. Starting Monday, he'll join co-anchor Judy Hsu, meteorologist Tracy Butler and traffic reporter Roz Varon on ABC 7 Eyewitness News This Morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. weekdays. Continue reading →

Chicago Tribune Freedom Center

Two months after they moved from Sun-Times headquarters to Tribune Tower, editorial employees of the suburban newspapers acquired by Chicago Tribune Media Group are on the move again.

About 20 Pioneer Press editors and other staffers will be relocated next week to new offices at Chicago Tribune Freedom Center at 777 West Chicago Avenue. Built in 1982, the 940,000-square-foot facility houses the newspaper’s printing presses and distribution operations. Continue reading →

Jerry Schnacke

Jerry Schnacke, an 18-year veteran of Chicago broadcasting, has been named vice president of sales for iHeartMedia Chicago’s seven radio stations and digital platforms.

He succeeds Jason Courtemanche, who held the position since December 2012.

"I am thrilled to have Jerry as part of our iHeartMedia Chicago team,” Matt Scarano, president of iHeartMedia Chicago, said in a statement Tuesday. “Jerry brings a wealth of expertise, high-level management experience and a tremendous track record of success to our cluster. I am looking forward to working closely with Jerry in his new role." Continue reading →