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. Continue reading →

Chicago Tribune

Robservations on the media beat:

The race is on for Tribune Publishing. Just under the deadline Thursday, multiple bidders submitted offers to buy the parent company of the Chicago Tribune. A company spokeswoman would not specify how many bids had been received or identify any of the bidders, but confirmed that more than one had come in. Bloomberg News reported there were three — McClatchy Co., William Wyatt’s Donerail Group and Jeremy Halbreich’s AIM Media. Also in the background is Michael Sacks, CEO of Grosvenor Capital Management, who was expected to make an offer for the shares of former chairman Michael Ferro. The next key date is Monday when the board of Tribune Publishing is scheduled to meet to review the bids and decide whether to move forward with any of them. Continue reading →

Steve Dahl

Steve Dahl's announcement that his final WLS 890-AM afternoon show will air December 21 and other changes in store for the Cumulus Media news/talk station led the top 10 most-read stories here in October.

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

Chicago Sun-Times (November 1, 2018)

Edwin Eisendrath, who abruptly resigned as CEO of the Chicago Sun-Times Wednesday, isn't the only thing missing from the newspaper today. About half its comics and its daily TV listings are suddenly gone too.

In an unsigned message to readers Thursday, the Sun-Times said it was saving newsprint and production costs by cutting two of its three pages of comics and eliminating its TV grid. Some comics and puzzles (including the New York Times crossword) will be interspersed throughout the classifieds section. Continue reading →

Tribune Publishing

Robservations on the media beat:

Michael Sacks

Michael Sacks, a prominent Chicago businessman and top donor to Mayor Rahm Emanuel, could emerge today as the frontrunner to take control of the Chicago Tribune's parent company. Sources said Sacks, CEO of Grosvenor Capital Management, is poised to make a bid for the shares of former chairman Michael Ferro, who owns a controlling 26 percent stake in the company formerly known as tronc. Tribune Publishing confirmed a New York Post report that initial bids are due today. Also in the running may be McClatchy Co., Sacramento, California-based publisher of 30 daily newspapers. But McClatchy's bid reportedly depends on the uncertain participation of biotech billionaire Patrick Soon-Shiong, owner of the Los Angeles Times and Tribune Publishing’s second-largest shareholder. In addition to the Chicago Tribune, the company owns the New York Daily News, Baltimore Sun, Orlando Sentinel and papers in six other cities. Continue reading →

Edwin Eisendrath

Edwin Eisendrath, the former Chicago alderman who led the investment group that bought the Chicago Sun-Times last year, has resigned after 16 months as chief executive officer of the struggling newspaper’s parent company.

Along with his departure, effective immediately, the company announced the appointment Wednesday of Nykia Wright as interim CEO. Wright joined Sun-Times Media Group as chief operating officer last October after working as a financial analyst and consultant for companies in Chicago, Atlanta and London. Continue reading →

Patrick Sharp

Robservations on the media beat:

Patrick Sharp, who helped lead the Chicago Blackhawks to three Stanley Cup championships, has joined NBC Sports Chicago as an in-studio analyst. Starting Thursday, he’ll appear on "Blackhawks Pregame Live/Postgame Live" with host Pat Boyle and analysts Adam Burish and Jamal Mayers. Sharp also will contribute nationally to "NHL Live," NBC Sports’ live pre- and post-game studio program. “I am excited to join the NBC Sports Chicago team,” said Sharp, who retired from the Blackhawks in April. “After a long career on the ice, it will be fun and challenging to be a part of the game from a new perspective, and I look forward to working with former teammates and people that I’ve watched on NBC Sports Chicago for many years.” Continue reading →

V103 102.7-FM Chicago

WVAZ 102.7-FM marked its 30th anniversary as Chicago's premier music station with another stellar performance atop Chicago's radio ratings.

Nielsen Audio figures released Monday showed the iHeartMedia urban adult-contemporary powerhouse No. 1 among all listeners. V103 leads the market with 56 first-place finishes in the monthly survey since Nielsen introduced Portable People Meter-based surveys in 2008, according to the station. Continue reading →

Dorothy Leavell and Edwin Eisendrath

Robservations on the media beat:

Chicago Journalists Association

Three Chicago area columnists have been named finalists for the Chicago Journalists Association’s 2018 Dorothy Storck Award. They are Mark Brown of the Sun-Times; Deborah Douglas, whose work has appeared in the Chicago Reporter and Vice News; and Mick Dumke of ProPublica Illinois. Winner of the $1,000 prize will be announced at the group’s annual luncheon Saturday at Rock Bottom Restaurant & Brewery, 1 West Grand Avenue. (Here is the link for tickets.) The award is named for the former reporter for Chicago’s American and Chicago Today who died in 2015. Keynote speakers at the event will be Dorothy Leavell, publisher of the Chicago Crusader and new board chairman of the Chicago Reader, and Edwin Eisendrath, CEO of the Sun-Times. Continue reading →

Fernando Diaz

Fernando Diaz, onetime reporter for the Daily Herald and former managing editor of the Spanish-language daily Hoy Chicago, has been named editor-in-chief and publisher of The Chicago Reporter. His appointment, effective November 19, was announced Thursday by the nonprofit Community Renewal Society.

Diaz, who most recently was managing editor for digital coverage at the San Francisco Chronicle, succeeds Susan Smith Richardson, who stepped down earlier this year after five years at the award-winning investigative news organization that focuses on race, poverty and income inequality. Continue reading →