Robservations on the media beat:
Say goodbye to WFXF 103.9-FM, the northwest suburban classic rocker known as 103.9 The Fox. Educational Media Foundation is expected to finalize its purchase of the station from Matrix Broadcasting and flip it to the “K-Love” noncommercial Christian music format on Monday. When it learned the transfer was imminent, The Fox moved up its annual "Adult Easter Egg Hunt" from April 19 to this Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon at McHenry County College in Crystal Lake. Then it's over and out for morning host Eddie Volkman, midday host and program director Alex Quigley, and afternoon host Patrick Capone. "We knew it was coming and now we know when," Volkman wrote on Facebook. "We will always cherish you Fox Rockers, and like the Grateful Dead said, 'We will get by, we will survive'! Long live rock ‘n’ roll!"
With the departure last week of "Chicago Tonight" correspondent Eddie Arruza, look for WTTW-Channel 11 to rotate four of his former colleagues as hosts of "Week in Review," the long-running reporters' roundtable at 7 p.m. Fridays. Paris Schutz, Brandis Friedman, Amanda Vinicky and Phil Ponce will take turns as moderator each week, according to a spokeswoman for the Window to the World Communications public television station. The show has been without a permanent host since the legendary Joel Weisman retired in January 2018.
Stephen Wright, former engineering supervisor at CBS Radio Chicago, has been hired as senior director of technology at Chicago Public Media WBEZ 91.5-FM. He most recently was director of engineering at Beasley Media Group in Tampa, Florida. At WBEZ he will lead the station’s broadcast operations and engineering teams, as well as information technology. “I am thrilled to be joining WBEZ and to have the opportunity to work with some of Chicago’s most talented broadcast professionals,” Wright was quoted as saying.
Heartfelt condolences to Chicago media treasure and dear friend Walter Jacobson on the death of his wife, Susie Jacobson, 62, a former advertising and marketing executive. She fell while walking their dog Sunday night in Wellington, Florida, and later died of a head injury. The former Susan Graham graduated from New Trier West High School and Yale University, and was a national tennis champion and competitive equestrian. Her career included positions as account director at J. Walter Thompson, senior vice president at Grant/Jacoby, and director of marketing communications at HTM Holdings, London-based parent of Head sporting goods. The Jacobsons were married for 24 years.
Tuesday’s comment of the day: Bart Shore: Roz [Varon] has set the standard on reporting traffic in Chicago! Thirty years of anything in this business is unreal! Congrats, Roz!