Chuck Swirsky and Bill Wennington (Photo: Chicago Bulls)

It’s official: Chicago Bulls broadcasts are moving to The Score.

Confirming a report here Tuesday, the Bulls have reached agreement with Entercom sports/talk WSCR AM 670 to become the team’s new radio flagship through 2021. The first game on The Score will air Saturday against the Los Angeles Clippers. Continue reading →

United Center (Photo: Chuck Swirsky)

Robservations on the media beat:

The Chicago Bulls are close to a deal to move their radio broadcasts to WSCR AM 670, according to insiders. An agreement could be finalized this week that would put the games on the Entercom sports/talk station through 2021. The Bulls and Chicago White Sox are losing their current radio home on news/talk WLS AM 890 as owner Cumulus Media seeks to emerge from bankruptcy by shedding unprofitable contracts. No word yet on where the White Sox will land, but likely destinations appear to be Tribune Broadcasting news/talk WGN AM 720 or ESPN sports/talk WMVP AM 1000. Continue reading →

Richard Roeper

The Chicago Sun-Times has benched Richard Roeper, the veteran columnist and film critic, in the wake of a New York Times report on the buying and selling of fraudulent social media followers.

Editor-in-chief Chris Fusco confirmed the Sun-Times was investigating Sunday’s New York Times story, which identified Roeper among numerous celebrities who bought Twitter followers from a company linked to a “black market” of bogus accounts.

"We became aware this weekend of issues relating to Rich Roeper's Twitter account,” Fusco said in a statement Monday. “We're investigating these issues. We will not be publishing any reviews or columns by Rich until this investigation is complete." Continue reading →

Michelle Alegria

Michelle Alegria, who graced ABC-owned WLS-Channel 7 for nearly 10 years as a featured contributor to its “190 North” magazine show, is joining Fox-owned WFLD-Channel 32 as traffic reporter for “Good Day Chicago.”

Alegria is expected to be announced Monday as replacement for Jenny Milkowski, who left the weekday morning show last week after three years. Fox 32 contracts with Total Traffic Network for its traffic service and personnel. Continue reading →

Jim Kirk

Robservations on the media beat:

Ten days after Jim Kirk was named interim editor-in-chief of the New York Daily News, he’s being tapped to return to Los Angeles to become editor-in-chief of the Los Angeles Times, sources said Sunday. Tronc, Chicago-based owner of both newspapers (as well as the Chicago Tribune) will announce Monday that the seasoned Chicago journalist and media executive will replace Lewis D’Vorkin, who became L.A. Times editor in October. D'Vorkin, who’s been the target of staff complaints and the subject of highly critical stories, will shift to a new role as chief content officer of tronc. Kirk joined tronc in August as senior vice president of strategic initiatives after five years as publisher and editor-in-chief of the Sun-Times. Until his brief move to the Daily News, he had been interim executive editor of the L.A. Times. Continue reading →

Richard Roeper (Photo: Windy City Live/ABC 7)

Richard Roeper is returning to the pages of the Sun-Times as a news columnist while continuing to serve as the newspaper’s film critic. His general-interest column will appear Tuesdays and Thursdays in addition to his weekly output of movie reviews.

Roeper’s expanded role was part of a realignment of columnists announced to the staff Thursday by Chris Fusco, editor in chief of the Sun-Times. Continue reading →

WGN

Robservations on the media beat:

Mark Suppelsa

More than five months after Mark Suppelsa announced he was retiring from WGN-Channel 9, the Tribune Broadcasting station still hasn’t found a replacement for its top anchorman. News director Jennifer Lyons confirmed that there would not be a successor in place for the February rating sweep, which starts next Thursday. As the anchor search goes on, a variety of insiders have been filling in alongside Micah Materre at 5, 6, 9 and 10 p.m. WGN continues to hold a wide lead over Fox-owned WFLD-Channel 32 at 9 p.m., according to Nielsen figures for January. Continue reading →

Jeff Glor

Robservations on the media beat:

Mosheh Oinounou

Mosheh Oinounou, who grew up in north suburban Prairie View and graduated from Stevenson High School, has been named executive producer of “The CBS Evening News.” His appointment, effective February 5, follows the recent promotion of Jeff Glor to anchor of the flagship newscast. The two previously worked together at CBSN, where Oinounou managed the launch of the live streaming network news service and was its first executive producer. "I look forward to working with Jeff and the talented team at 'CBS Evening News,'" Oinounou said in a statement Tuesday. "It is a privilege to have the opportunity to work on this broadcast as we make it even more relevant in the 24/7 digital world." He joined CBS News in 2011 as senior producer of “CBS This Morning.” With an M.A. in security policy studies and B.A. in political communication from the George Washington University, he previously worked for Bloomberg Television and Fox News Channel. Continue reading →

Erich Mancow Muller

Erich Mancow Muller, morning host on WLUP FM 97.9 and one of Chicago’s best-known radio personalities, is suddenly a man without a contract.

Cumulus Media, which operates the classic rock station, pulled the plug last week on its talent agreement with Muller’s company, American Patriot LLC, according to a filing in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in New York. Continue reading →

Andy Shaw

Robservations on the media beat:

Andy Shaw, who’s been the public face of the Better Government Association since 2009, is stepping down as president and chief executive officer of the nonprofit civic watchdog group. A search is on for his successor, who is expected to be named next month. “The time is right for someone else to take over day-to-day management of the BGA while I continue to help the organization in a variety of other ways leading up to our centennial celebration in 2023,” Shaw said Monday. Shaw, 69, joined the BGA as executive director in 2009 and was named president and CEO in 2011. He previously had been political reporter for ABC-owned WLS-Channel 7. “I enjoyed 37 wonderful years as a print and television reporter in Chicago, and it’s been an honor and a privilege to spend the past eight-plus years participating in the revitalization of this legendary and critically important watchdog organization,” he added. Continue reading →