Jenny Milkowski (Photo: Maggie Ponce/Revealed Studios)
Robservations on the media beat:
Jay Styles
Jenny Milkowski, former traffic reporter on “Good Day Chicago,” has been named afternoon personality on WSHE FM 100.3, starting March 29. Along with co-host Jay Styles, she’ll succeed Cara Carriveau, whose last day on the Hubbard Radio adult contemporary station was Friday. Milkowski, a Chicago area native and 2006 broadcast journalism graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, spent the last three years at Fox-owned WFLD-Channel 32 and gained a wide social media following before Michelle Alegria replaced her as morning traffic reporter. “I am beyond ecstatic to continue connecting with listeners in Chicago,” Milkowski said Monday. “To be able to work in the city where I was born and raised is a dream come true.” Styles most recently was Chicago producer for Brooke Fox and Jubal Flagg’s morning show. Also at WSHE, evening host Robb Rose succeeds Styles as “Brooke & Jubal” producer, and weekend host Brian Middleton moves to evenings.
Chicagoist
Chicagoist, one of the online news sites that were shut down when billionaire Joe Ricketts killed DNAinfo last year, may be acquired by Chicago Public Media WBEZ FM 91.5. Public media stations in New York, Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., recently picked up the assets of Gothamist, LAist and DCist from Ricketts. Now WBEZ has been approached by WNYC about acquiring Chicagoist, including domain names, social media assets and archives. “Given WBEZ’s commitment to local journalism, as well as admiration for the work of these former outlets, WBEZ is actively exploring this possibility and determining how these assets might be used most effectively in keeping with the organization’s mission to serve the Chicago community,” Steve Edwards, vice president and chief content officer for Chicago Public Media, said in a statement.
Town Square Publications
Paddock Publications, owner of the Daily Herald, has acquired SouthComm Publishing, based in Nashville, Tennessee. The addition of the custom publishing company makes Paddock’s Town Square Publications the largest publisher of chamber of commerce magazine and directories in the country. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. It’s Paddock’s fourth acquisition of a chamber publishing company's assets since 2014. "SouthComm Publishing was a strong competitor to Town Square for many years, and this acquisition broadens our profile from coast to coast," said Scott Stone, president and chief operating officer of Paddock Publications.
Jim Mabie
No comment from WTTW-Channel 11 on published reports about Jim Mabie, prominent Chicago philanthropist and chairman of the board of Window to the World Communications, parent company of WTTW and classical WFMT FM 98.7. Crain’s Chicago Business reports Mabie and three other former employees of William Blair & Co. are accused of stealing confidential documents from the investment banking and wealth management firm. A lawsuit is seeking return of the documents. Mabie, 82, recently left William Blair to join Chicago Capital, a newly formed equity firm. He’s also on the board of Chicago Public Media WBEZ FM 91.5.
Jim Warren
Jim Warren, the former columnist and editor for the Chicago Tribune, has landed as executive editor of NewsGuard, a media startup that will rate other news media. Warren most recently was media critic and daily newsletter writer for Poynter.org. Founded by media entrepreneur Steve Brill and former Wall Street Journal publisher Gordon Crovitz, NewsGuard will review and rate news sites based on where they get their information and who’s behind them. “In addition to alerting people to fake news, one of our key goals is to help consumers, including young people, know when to take news from certain sites with a grain of salt,” Crovitz said in a statement. “Brands convey important information about sources of news, but unlike in the days of newsstands, brands don’t stand out in social media feeds or search results.”
Mike Adamle
Sports and media colleagues of Mike Adamle gathered last week to help launch The Mike Adamle Project: RISE ABOVE. The event at the Italian American Sports Hall of Fame raised more than $50,000. A joint initiative with the Concussion Legacy Foundation, the nonprofit organization will create a resource network for people with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). Adamle retired as a sports anchor last year after he was diagnosed with dementia, believed to be the final stage of CTE, resulting from his years as a pro football player.
David Lee
David Lee has been named vice president of audience development and creative services at ABC-owned WLS-Channel 7. He most recently held the same position at KTRK, the ABC station in Houston. He succeeds Curtis Miles, who left in July to become general manager of WAOW, the ABC affiliate in Wausau, Wisconsin. Lee, a native of Great Falls, Montana, and graduate of Montana State University, previously worked in Fresno, California, and Spokane, Washington. “David’s creative instincts combined with his expertise mining the digital space make him the ideal person to lead our station’s talented creative services department,” John Idler, president and general manager of ABC 7, said in a statement.