Newsprint (Photo: Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg)

Robservations on the media beat:

The future of more than 450 daily and weekly newspapers throughout Illinois may be in jeopardy because of a tariff that could raise the price of Canadian newsprint by as much as 32 percent. A survey by the Illinois Press Association showed that 68 percent of all publishers would be forced to shrink their newspapers and 60 percent would have to reduce staff and not fill open positions if the tariffs become permanent. Some publications will be driven out of business. All 18 members of the U.S. House of Representatives from Illinois signed a letter this week urging the International Trade Commission to “take into full consideration the negative impacts of these tariffs on the newspaper industry and other stakeholders in Illinois and throughout the United States.” Continue reading →

Shia Kapos

Robservations on the media beat:

Natasha Korecki

Shia Kapos, the longtime and well-connected chronicler of Chicago’s movers and shakers, is replacing Natasha Korecki as writer of Politico’s Illinois Playbook. Korecki, who’s been writing the daily newsletter on politics and government since 2015, was promoted to national correspondent for Politico. “I’ll still be here for a couple of weeks before handing over the baton,” Korecki reported. Kapos, a former columnist for the Sun-Times and Crain’s Chicago Business, has been blogging — Taking Names at ShiaKapos.com — and covering corporate governance for Acuris. “I’ve loved writing about big shareholders for Acuris, but I really enjoy digging in to Chicago news,” Kapos said. “Writing the Illinois Playbook is a dream come true. I have big shoes to fill as Natasha has become the premiere political writer in Illinois — and soon the Midwest. I think together we’ll be kicking ass and taking names.” Continue reading →

Edwin Eisendrath

Robservations on the media beat:

John Kass

Sun-Times CEO Edwin Eisendrath is responding to critics who’ve questioned whether the paper can cover politics and City Hall fairly under its current ownership. Foremost among them is Chicago Tribune columnist John Kass, who challenged the connection between Sun-Times chairman Jorge Ramirez and his boss, investment executive Michael Sacks, whom Kass described as Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s “money guy, closest confidant and top fundraiser.” This week Eisendrath fired back: “The truth is the journalists do their job, and they’re not being bossed around by anyone on our board. That line is held, and it’s been clear. I don’t see any evidence that anybody is walking around me and talking to the reporters and trying to push them to do anything,” he told me. “The same way I’m able to say — in spite of clear evidence that the Tribune has a corporate point of view and a political point of view — I’m able to give credit to the journalists for the work they do. And I would expect Kass to do the same thing. . . . It’s fair to go after corporate citizenship. You bet it is. But that’s a different case. That’s not what he did. He said the reporters are going to get their marching orders from City Hall. Shame on him. He knows better.” Continue reading →

Tanja Babich, Cheryl Burton and Judy Hsu (Photo: ABC 7)

Cheryl Burton, a 26-year veteran of WLS-Channel 7, has been named to succeed Kathy Brock as co-anchor of the top-rated 10 p.m. newscast, the ABC-owned station announced Tuesday.

Starting June 28, Burton will join Alan Krashesky on the 10 p.m. newscast while continuing to co-anchor with Krashesky at 5 p.m. on ABC 7 and with Hosea Sanders at 7 p.m. on Weigel Broadcasting WCIU-Channel 26. Continue reading →

Block Club Chicago staff (standing from left): Stephanie Lulay, Shamus Toomey and Jen Sabella; (sitting from left): Mina Bloom, Alisa Hauser, Lee Edwards, Kelly Bauer and Mauricio Pena

Wednesday marks the official launch of Block Club Chicago, a subscription-based neighborhood news service from the former editors of DNAinfo Chicago.

Since the startup was announced in February, more than 3,000 backers contributed $183,720 in a Kickstarter campaign to fund the nonprofit independent newsroom. Support is expected to come from a combination of subscriptions and charitable donations from individuals and foundations. Continue reading →

Melissa McGurren, Eric Ferguson and Brian “Whip” Paruch (Photo: Todd Rosenberg Photography)

As sure as the sun rises over Lake Michigan, Eric Ferguson dominates morning radio in Chicago.

The Nielsen Audio ratings report released Monday shows the Radio Hall of Famer expanding his first-place lead in May after more than two decades as morning star of Hubbard Radio hot adult-contemporary WTMX 101.9-FM. Continue reading →

Tribune Tower

Robservations on the media beat:

Gregory Pratt

Thousands of words were written and spoken last week about the departure of the Chicago Tribune from Tribune Tower. But none resonated as much as this tweet by City Hall reporter Gregory Pratt: “I know the @chicagotribune is not Tribune Tower. It's the staff and its readers. But the fact that a corporate divorce brought on by years of high-level corporate hijinx led to our building being sold out from underneath us will always sting. Corporate capitalism at its worst,” Pratt wrote. The eviction of the newspaper from its namesake home at 435 North Michigan Avenue didn’t have to happen. It only came about because the bosses of Tribune Media — a separate entity from the newspaper’s owner tronc — were determined to squeeze every penny out of the company before selling what was left to Sinclair Broadcast Group. For the short-term profit of a relatively small number of investors, the long-term legacy of a Chicago institution was lost. After 93 years in a landmark neo-Gothic cathedral of journalism, now the Tribune occupies leased space in One Prudential Plaza. What a shame. Continue reading →

Edwin Eisendrath and Madeleine Doubek

The Chicago Sun-Times has only a 60 percent chance of still being in business two years from now, according to the newspaper’s CEO.

Edwin Eisendrath, who headed the investor group that acquired the struggling daily tabloid last summer, shared the assessment in public remarks Thursday at the Illinois Press Association convention in Bloomington-Normal. Continue reading →

Bill Plante (Photo: Jeff Burnett)

Robservations on the media beat:

Tom Skilling

The great Bill Plante, who covered five presidents as CBS News senior White House correspondent, was inducted Wednesday in the Illinois Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame. The Chicago native and graduate of Loyola University retired after 52 years at the network in 2016. As the 60th inductee in the Hall of Fame, Plante was introduced by his stepson, syndicated radio talk show host Chris Plante. Also honored at the IBA convention in Normal, Illinois, was Tom Skilling, legendary chief meteorologist for Tribune Broadcasting WGN-Channel 9, who received the group’s Broadcast Pioneer Award. Continue reading →

Steve Cochran and Justin Kaufmann (2015 photo)

In the wake of historic low ratings, Tribune Broadcasting news/talk WGN 720-AM is making changes to its talent lineup in mornings and evenings.

Justin Kaufmann, who has been hosting his own show, called “The Download,” from 7 to 11 p.m. weeknights, will become a full-time contributor to “The Steve Cochran Show” from 6 to 10 a.m. weekdays. Continue reading →