Cheryl Scott and Dante Deiana (Photo: Cheryl Scott)

The engagement of ABC 7 meteorologist Cheryl Scott and Chicago DJ Dante “Dante the Don” Deiana atop a Hawaiian volcano, and news that Brian Hanley had been cut as morning co-host at The Score led the top 10 most-read stories here in July.

To read the full posts, click on the headlines: Continue reading →

Carl Grapentine (Photo: WFMT)

If the radio voices that wake you up in the morning or keep you company on your way to work sound different lately, you’re in good company.

At least 10 Chicago area radio stations have made notable changes in recent months to their morning-drive talent lineups. In the past week alone, three stations bid farewell to prominent personalities on the sunrise shift — Carl Grapentine on classical WFMT 98.7-FM, Brian Hanley on sports/talk WSCR 670-AM, and Charles Thomas on news/talk WVON 1690-AM. Continue reading →

Rob Johnson and Irika Sargent

Robservations on the media beat:

Jeff Harris

Jeff Harris just stepped into what may be the toughest job in Chicago television. As the new vice president and news director of CBS-owned WBBM-Channel 2, Harris inherits a perpetually challenged news operation with nowhere to go but up. Since his arrival from ABC affiliate WEWS in Cleveland two weeks ago, insiders say, he's expressed an interest in investigative reporting over crime coverage — which some see as an encouraging sign. "He likes to defy conventional wisdom," said one newsroom veteran, who described Harris as a "smart, quiet guy." In the July Nielsen sweep, CBS 2's 10 p.m. newscast with Rob Johnson and Irika Sargent trailed the market in fourth place with a 2.7 rating (89,091 households) and 5.3 share. Among viewers between 25 and 54 — the so-called money demo — it registered a scant 0.5 rating and 1.7 share. Continue reading →

Maze Jackson and Charles Thomas

In the latest Chicago radio surprise, longtime political journalist Charles Thomas has resigned as co-host of Maze Jackson’s morning show on WVON 1690-AM, the Midway Broadcasting African-American news/talk station.

Thomas quit days after Politico Illinois Playbook reported on connections between Jackson and a political consultant working for the reelection campaign of Governor Bruce Rauner. Rauner recently appeared on the show, where he declared: "We've done historic things for the black community. I would argue more than any other governor." Continue reading →

Mike Mulligan and David Haugh

Can one of Chicago’s most prominent sports columnists also host the city’s premier morning-drive sports radio talk show? David Haugh is about to find out.

Starting today, Haugh will join Mike Mulligan as co-host from 5 to 9 a.m. Monday through Friday on Entercom sports/talk WSCR 670-AM. The longtime Chicago Tribune columnist is replacing Brian Hanley, whose contract was not renewed after 26 years at The Score. Continue reading →

Stephanie Zimmermann

Robservations on the media beat:

Stephanie Zimmermann, the nationally known consumer investigative reporter, is returning to the Sun-Times after a five-year run with ABC News. She’ll rejoin the paper next month to cover a wide-ranging consumer beat in print and online. "Stephanie's work when she was at the Sun-Times was always top notch, and her work at ABC has made her an even better journalist,” Sun-Times editor-in-chief Chris Fusco said in a statement. “We're thrilled to again call her a Sun-Times staffer and look forward to seeing her produce stories that continue to differentiate us from our competition." After 16 years at the Sun-Times, including a long run as “The Fixer” consumer columnist, Zimmermann joined ABC News as a reporter/producer with the network’s investigative unit. A graduate of Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism, she previously worked for the Daily Herald and the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Continue reading →

Mike Mulligan and Brian Hanley

It’s over and out for “The Mully & Hanley Show.” Friday will be Brian Hanley’s last day as morning co-host alongside longtime partner Mike Mulligan on Entercom sports/talk WSCR 670-AM.

As first reported here July 3, Chicago Tribune sports columnist David Haugh is expected to replace Hanley from 5 to 9 a.m. weekdays, starting Monday. Hanley, a 26-year veteran of The Score, will shift to fill-in and vacation-relief duties. Continue reading →

Sinclair Broadcast Group

Robservations on the media beat:

Ajit Pai

Despite heat from President Donald Trump, FCC chairman Ajit Pai isn't backing down from the action that doomed Sinclair Broadcast Group's acquisition of Tribune Media (including WGN-Channel 9 and WGN 720-AM). “I stand by our decision,” Pai told the House Energy and Commerce Committee at a hearing Wednesday. "So long as I have the privilege of serving as the chairman of the FCC, I’m going to find the facts, I’m going to follow the law and I’m going to call them like I see them.” On Tuesday, Trump blasted the Republican-dominated FCC, tweeting: "So sad and unfair that the FCC wouldn’t approve the Sinclair Broadcast merger with Tribune. This would have been a great and much needed Conservative voice for and of the People. Liberal Fake News NBC and Comcast gets approved, much bigger, but not Sinclair. Disgraceful!" Continue reading →

New York Daily News

Robservations on the media beat:

tronc

The bloodbath that wiped out half the editorial staff of the New York Daily News Monday will continue today at other units of Chicago-based parent company tronc. That’s the word from CEO Justin Dearborn, who told employees the cutbacks would “accelerate our company’s transformation into a truly digitally-focused enterprise — one that creates meaningful journalism, delivers it more quickly and more frequently, and develops new approaches to engage our reader.” Tronc bought the money-losing Daily News in 2017 for the token price of one dollar in what many saw as a grab for its printing plant and real estate. Dearborn acknowledged that further personnel cuts would be implemented today “to reduce expenses and contain costs.” While the latest job losses are expected to include a substantial number of positions at the corporate level and in other departments, a tronc spokeswoman said there would be no editorial layoffs in Chicago. The Chicago Tribune newsroom last underwent major downsizing in March. Continue reading →

Dennis Moore (Photo: Ken Carl)

A familiar voice on WFMT 98.7-FM — weekend host and onetime program director Dennis Moore — has been named morning personality at the Window to the World Communications classical music station.

Starting August 6, he’ll succeed Carl Grapentine, who’s retiring from the 6-to-10 a.m. weekday “Morning Program” Friday after three decades at WFMT. Continue reading →