Brad Edwards and Irika Sargent
Robservations on the media beat:
Following a surprising change to its anchor lineup, WBBM-Channel 2 begins the May ratings sweep no better off than before. In April the CBS-owned station's 10 p.m. newscast averaged a 3.1 rating (100,790 households) and 6 percent share. That's precisely the rating and share it had in February — the month before CBS 2 replaced 13-year veteran Rob Johnson with Brad Edwards alongside Irika Sargent. In other words, while the station cut a hefty salary, it doesn't appear to have won or lost viewers. Perhaps that was management's goal all along. ABC-owned WLS-Channel 7 still leads the pack with 6.7 rating (217,837 households) and a 13 share for its late news, anchored by Alan Krashesky and Cheryl Burton.
Miles Bryan
Days after he was named recipient of a 2019 Edward R. Murrow Award, Miles Bryan has departed as a general assignment reporter at Chicago Public Media WBEZ 91.5-FM. “I'm leaving the station, and Chicago, for new adventures out east,” he tweeted. “I'm overwhelmed with gratitude for my colleagues, and this city, for three thrilling years.” Bryan joined WBEZ from Wyoming Public Radio, where he was a reporter and host. The Murrow Award for best news series by a large market radio station cited the four-part series Bryan reported with Casey Toner of the Better Government Association on poverty in south suburban Dolton.
Laurence Holmes
It's shaping up to be quite a year for Laurence Holmes. Last month the popular Chicago sportscaster signed a new multiyear contract and was promoted to weekday afternoon host at Entercom sports/talk WSCR 670-AM. Now comes word he's about to receive a master's degree in journalism from the University of Alabama, where he's been studying remotely for two years. Holmes will pick up his diploma next week in Tuscaloosa. "I'm glad that I'll be able to add that to some of my teaching at DePaul [University]," he said. "The experience was really mind-blowing to go back to being a student again."
Tim Knight
Tim Knight, who's been CEO of Chicago Tribune parent company Tribune Publishing since January, rarely grants interviews. It's easy to see why. Knight raised eyebrows this week when he told Poynter.org why he prefers to keep the combined position of publisher and editor at his newspapers: “We have found that a certain kind of advertiser — a large regional hospital chain, for instance — wants to meet with the editor and be drawn in" to hearing what’s happening editorially. (Here is the link.)
Thursday's comment of the day: Debbie Smith Kwei-Cook: Congratulations, Angela Ingram! This proclamation is well deserved. Angela is an inspiration to everyone. She leads by example! I am proud of her accomplishments and honored to be her friend of close to 30 years!