Robservations: Miami’s Liz Nagy reporting for ABC 7

Liz Nagy

Liz Nagy

Robservations on the media beat:

There’s another new face coming to ABC-owned WLS-Channel 7. Starting Monday as a per-diem reporter is Liz Nagy, just in from WSVN, the Fox affiliate in Miami. Before joining WSVN in 2011, Nagy worked for WEAR, the ABC affiliate in Pensacola, Florida, and WVIR, the NBC affiliate in Charlottesville, Virginia. A Philadelphia native and graduate of Elon University in Elon, North Carolina, she began at WEIU, the PBS station in Charleston, Illinois. Nagy is engaged to John Hendren, Chicago-based correspondent for Al Jazeera English.

Stefan Holt

Stefan Holt

So long, Stefan: Friday marks Stefan Holt’s last day as morning news anchor at NBC-owned WMAQ-Channel 5. As announced last month, he’s leaving to become afternoon news anchor at WNBC in New York, where he’ll work near his father, “NBC Nightly News” anchor Lester Holt. Starting Monday, Alex Maragos will be filling in alongside co-anchor Zoraida Sambolin at NBC 5. As part of its search for a permanent replacement, the station posted a “help wanted” notice that included this requirement: “Must be willing to work in Chicago, IL.”

Robin Robinson

Robin Robinson

Robin Robinson, the veteran broadcast journalist whose credits include 27 years as nightly news anchor at Fox-owned WFLD-Channel 32, will turn up on morning television next week. On Wednesday, Robinson will make her first appearance filling in for vacationing Melissa Forman as co-host with Jeanne Sparrow on “You & Me” from 6 to 9 a.m. on Weigel Broadcasting WCIU-Channel 26. Robinson most recently has been co-hosting “In The Loop” on City Colleges of Chicago’s WYCC-Channel 20 and anchoring at CBS Radio all-news WBBM AM 780/WCFS FM 105.9.

Jamie Kalven

Jamie Kalven

Jamie Kalven, the independent Chicago journalist who played a key role in exposing the police shooting of Laquan McDonald, has been awarded The Ridenhour Courage Prize for 2016. Presented by The Nation Institute and The Fertel Foundation, the highly prestigious honor recognizes individuals "who persevere in acts of truth-telling that protect the public interest, promote social justice or illuminate a more just vision of society.” The selection committee cited Kalven, founder of the Invisible Institute, for his “fearless reporting and proven human rights advocacy.” Earlier this year Kalven won a George Polk Award for his groundbreaking reporting on McDonald.

Matt Pais

Matt Pais

Matt Pais, movie critic and music editor of RedEye Chicago, is the latest staffer to exit the daily tabloid published by Chicago Tribune Media Group. Pais resigned Thursday after 11 years at RedEye (and Metromix.com), telling readers: “I’m moving on because it’s time to do something else that sets a different path for the future.” His departure closely follows news editor Lisa Donovan, who moved to the Chicago Tribune metro desk. Maggie Wartik, general manager of RedEye, said no replacements have been named, but she promised an update soon.

Rick Joyce

Rick Joyce

Rick Joyce, the former Chicago media executive who launched CelebTV.com for Chicago-based Intersport, is about to be named co-executive producer of “Entertainment Tonight,” the longest-running entertainment news program on television. He most recently has been executive producer of “The List,” a nationally syndicated newsmagazine. It’s a return to “ET” for Joyce, who previously served as news director for the show.