Robservations: One down: Sun-Times brings back crossword

Chicago Sun-Times

Robservations on the media beat:

The people have spoken: Just one day after the Sun-Times announced its was dropping most of its comics, puzzles and daily TV grid to save newsprint and production costs, the paper has brought back its crossword puzzle. “Based on feedback from readers, ‘Today’s Crossword’ is being restored to daily print editions,” the paper said in an unsigned editor’s note Friday. “We appreciate your feedback and thank you for reading the Sun-Times.” No word on whether Ziggy or the paper’s other banished comics have a prayer.

Kathy Hart

It looks like we'll be hearing more from Kathy Hart on WGN 720-AM. Following up her three-day fill-in gig alongside Frank Fontana, the former Chicago radio morning star was back on the Tribune Broadcasting news/talk station Sunday. Featured on Sunday's show was an in-studio Botox party with Hart, Wendy Snyder, Judy Pielach and Mary Van De Velde. (Unusual radio, to say the least.) Todd Manley, station manager and vice president of content at WGN, said Hart would be filling in "multiple times" over the next two months.

Mark Brown

Sun-Times columnist Mark Brown was named winner of the 2018 Dorothy Storck Award from the Chicago Journalists Association Saturday. The $1,000 prize was presented for Brown’s series on homelessness. “This is someone who can go from hard-hitting investigations to columns that tug at your heart,” Maudlyne Ihejirika, the association’s president, said of Brown. “He writes about homelessness in a way that makes you care.” Ihejirika also announced the group would be launching its own news show and mentorship program for students.

Andy Shaw

Andy Shaw, longtime Chicago political reporter and former president and CEO of the Better Government Association, will turn up as election night analyst on Entercom all-news WBBM 780-AM and WCFS 105.9-FM, starting at 7 p.m. Tuesday. He’ll join WBBM Newsradio anchor Kris Kridel and Cisco Cotto and political editor Craig Dellimore. Coming up: Shaw will be honored by colleagues as outgoing BGA chief November 29 at the Union League Club.

Friday’s comment of the day: John Siuntres: I hope McClatchy buys the Trib.