John McLaughlin

Robservations on the media beat:

William McCarter

“The McLaughlin Group” may be the ultimate Washington insiders’ show, but it owes its status as a national institution to Chicago. It was William McCarter, the visionary architect of public television WTTW-Channel 11 and former president and CEO of Window to the World Communications who partnered in production of the groundbreaking show and brought it to PBS in 1982. Host John McLaughlin, who died Tuesday at 89, once called McCarter “one of the best programming minds in the business.” McCarter retired in 1998 and died in 2011. Dan Schmidt, who succeeded McCarter, said Tuesday “The McLaughlin Group” was “emblematic of public media’s dedication to political commentary and discussion.‎” No word on plans for the show, which airs here at 6:30 p.m. Saturdays on WTTW. Continue reading →

Kimmie Caruba

With the hiring of a new nighttime personality Monday, CBS Radio finalized the weekday talent lineup on its refreshed and rebranded country WUSN FM 99.5.

Kimmie Caruba, a Chicago native who once worked as a morning show intern for iHeartMedia Top 40 WKSC FM 103.5 and programming intern for Window to the World Communications WTTW-Channel 11, was signed to host from 7 p.m. to midnight Monday through Friday on US 99, starting August 29. Continue reading →

Andy Shaw

Robservations on the media beat:

Investigators, reporters and other staff members of Chicago’s Better Government Association voted unanimously last week to seek representation by the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. The unionizing move could be seen as a challenge to Andy Shaw, who has headed the nonprofit investigative news organization and civic watchdog group since 2009. It comes just weeks after the resignations of Robert Reed as director of programming and Robert Herguth as director of investigations. Their departures reportedly were prompted by changes in the organization’s structure and revisions in its investigative strategy. No comment yet from Shaw or SAG-AFTRA officials. SAG-AFTRA recently won elections to represent producers of “Chicago Tonight” at Window to the World Communications WTTW-Channel 11, and staffers who work in content and technical areas at Chicago Public Media WBEZ FM 91.5. Continue reading →

Robert Jordan (Photo: Bart Shore)

Capping a distinguished 43-year career in Chicago television news, Robert Jordan announced plans Sunday to retire next month as weekend news anchor at Tribune Broadcasting WGN-Channel 9.

"Bob has dedicated his career to informing Chicago for more than four decades," Jennifer Lyons, news director of WGN, said in a statement. "His dedication is unparalleled; he is truly a legend in Chicago broadcasting." Continue reading →

Doug Stylz and Justin Roman

Another Chicago radio bombshell: Doug Stylz and Justin Roman, the highly-rated afternoon duo on Top 40 WBBM FM 96.3 for the past 10 years, are switching to WUSN FM 99.5 as the country music station’s new morning team, CBS Radio announced Thursday.

Effective September 6, they’ll replace Lisa Dent and Ramblin’ Ray Stevens, who parted company with US 99 last week. Stevens moved to Cumulus Media news/talk WLS AM 890 as morning co-host with Big John Howell. Continue reading →

Cubs Radio

Chicago Cubs baseball broadcasts again landed the top spot for CBS Radio sports/talk WSCR AM 670 among men between 25 and 54 in the latest Nielsen Audio ratings.

The previous month saw The Score tied for first place in the key male demo with Hubbard Radio hot adult-contemporary WTMX FM 101.9. This time, The Score was No. 1 all by itself. Continue reading →

Steve Robinson

Steve Robinson is stepping down after 16 years as executive vice president and general manager of classical WFMT FM 98.7, the Window to the World Communications station announced Monday.

No successor was named for Robinson, 69, whose last day at the station will be September 30. He said he plans to “stretch [his] entrepreneurial wings in the for-profit world.”

Continue reading →

Kristen Nicole

Kristen Nicole, who has been anchoring weekends on WFLD-Channel 32 since March, was promoted Monday to weekday morning news anchor at the Fox-owned station.

Nicole will join Natalie Bomke on the anchor desk of “Good Day Chicago” from 4:30 to 6 a.m. Monday through Friday. She replaces George Smith, who is moving to full-time sports anchor and reporter at Fox 32. Continue reading →

"Chicago's Hottest Country"

The first phase of rebranding CBS Radio country WUSN FM 99.5 rolled out Monday with the new slogan “Chicago’s Hottest Country.”

“It’s important that we reflect today’s country listener in everything we do,” program director Jeff Kapugi said in a statement. “The artists, music and concerts are hot and now so is ‘US 99 Chicago’s Hottest Country.’ ” Continue reading →

Marion Brooks

Robservations on the media beat:

Monday marks the start of a 4 p.m. weekday newscast on NBC-owned WMAQ-Channel 5, increasing NBC 5’s output to 41 hours of local news each week. Marion Brooks will anchor the additional half-hour, with co-anchor duties shared by Rob Stafford and Dick Johnson (similar to the lineup for the 4:30 p.m. newscast). “Our new 4 p.m. newscast will expand our local news commitment and offer our viewers even more of what they’re looking for,” David Doebler, president and general manager of NBC 5, said in a statement. The move, announced last April, puts NBC 5 on equal footing with ABC-owned WLS-Channel 7, which long has started its afternoon news block at 4 p.m., and Tribune Media WGN-Channel 9, which added a 4 p.m. newscast in September 2014. Continue reading →