Jennifer Lyons

Every three years I survey the local media landscape, stick my neck out, and offer up my list of the most powerful women in Chicago journalism. I first did it in 2011. Then again in 2014.

It’s that time again. Continue reading →

Howard Sudberry and Alyssa Ali

Robservations on the media beat:

Arlington International Racecourse comes to Comcast SportsNet Chicago with the debut of “Good Day Arlington” this weekend. Hosted by former Chicago sportscaster Howard Sudberry and racing analyst Alyssa Ali, the 12-week summer series will air at 11 a.m. Saturdays. “Our goal is to make this a fun show featuring many live guests from sports, racing and entertainment,” Sudberry said. “While we will talk about racing and the big events and use this as a chance to show off Arlington, we want to make it a show that anyone can find interesting even if they aren’t an avid racing fan.” Arlington is celebrating its 90th year at Northwest Highway and Wilke Road in Arlington Heights. Continue reading →

Reboot Illinois

Longtime Springfield journalist Matt Dietrich is out as editor of Reboot Illinois, the website and subscription newsletter covering state and local government and politics.

The elimination of Dietrich’s position coincided with the ouster of Madeleine Doubek as publisher, and Cathy Rockwell as vice president of revenue strategy. All three moves were believed to be tied to changes in the operation of Reboot Illinois, including the elimination of original content in favor of news aggregation and links to other sites. Continue reading →

Kathy Hart

Radio Hall of Famer Kathy Hart temporarily has stepped aside from the popular morning radio show she co-hosts with Eric Ferguson on Hubbard Radio hot adult-contemporary WTMX FM 101.9.

Except for an abbreviated appearance last Monday, she’s been off the air since April 27, with listeners given no explanation for her absence. No one at the station — including her co-host — seems to have any idea when Hart will be back. Continue reading →

iHeartMedia Chicago

Robservations on the media beat:

Steve Harvey

On the same day iHeartMedia announced a long-term renewal for syndicated morning star Steve Harvey Tuesday, the company initiated another wave of layoffs nationwide. No full-time on-air personalities in Chicago were affected, but sources said at least two part-time weekend hosts were among the cuts here. With the company staggering under $20.4 billion in debt and warning investors it may not survive the next 10 months, does it really help iHeartMedia to put a couple of part-timers out of work? Matt Scarano, president of iHeartMedia Chicago, did not respond to requests for comment. Harvey’s show airs on urban adult-contemporary WVAZ FM 102.7. Continue reading →

WGN Television Opening Night (April 5, 1948)

Don’t look now, but “Chicago’s Very Own” may not belong to Chicago much longer.

Regardless of who buys Tribune Media — and right now the leading contenders appear to be Rupert Murdoch’s 21st Century Fox and Sinclair Broadcast Group — it is all but certain to mean the end of local ownership for WGN-Channel 9 and WGN AM 720, two venerable hometown icons. Continue reading →

Anita Padilla

Robservations on the media beat:

Under pressure from their bosses to boost social media traffic, reporters at Fox-owned WFLD-Channel 32 may be going too far. Exhibit A is Anita Padilla, a 20-year veteran of Chicago television news. Since Thursday, Padilla has drawn more than 25,000 views to Facebook Live videos she’s been posting about Semaj Crosby, the 16-month-old girl who was found dead in a Joliet Township home. Acknowledging that much of her information was “unofficial” and “unconfirmed,” and included “things I can’t say on the air,” Padilla has been riffing in the videos on who’s to blame and how she feels about the crime. Grisly rumors she cited that the victim was found “stuffed in a couch” were specifically refuted by the Will County Sheriff's Office. It may be great clickbait, but Padilla’s speculation on the actions and motives of potential suspects (before any charges by police) may come back to haunt Fox 32. Continue reading →