Robservations on the media beat:
In March Crain’s Chicago Business teamed with Tribune Broadcasting news/talk WGN 720-AM on “The Daily Gist,” a new weekday afternoon podcast hosted by Amy Guth. That was just the beginning. Starting next week, the partnership will expand with installation of a WGN microphone inside the Crain’s newsroom. Reporters from the business weekly will turn up each day at 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. on “The WGN Radio Crain’s Chicago Business Desk” and at 12:50 p.m. on WGN’s “Wintrust Business Lunch,” according to Todd Manley, station manager and vice president of content at WGN. Said Jim Kirk, publisher and executive editor of Crain’s: “The station’s unique relationship with its listeners is a natural for Crain’s as we continue to look for ways to grow our journalism beyond our traditional platforms.”
While print circulation and advertising revenues continue to decline, the Chicago Tribune touted the news Monday that it had topped 100,000 in digital-only subscribers. “This is a milestone – not a destination – as we accelerate toward being a truly digitally-focused company,” Tim Knight, CEO and president of Tribune Publishing, said in a press release. “We are reshaping our newsrooms to meet the changing demands of our audience and we appreciate the growing support from subscribers, advertisers and community partners.” In an email sharing the news with subscribers, Bruce Dold, editor-in-chief and publisher of the Tribune, offered free eight-week digital subscriptions to friends of current customers.
The Daily Herald is on the move. After 23 years in its own five-story office building at 155 East Algonquin Road in Arlington Heights, the newspaper will pack up and relocate this weekend two blocks west to leased space at 95 West Algonquin Road. Parent company Paddock Publications sold its current headquarters to Bradford Allen, a Chicago-based real estate company. If all goes as planned, it'll be business as usual by Monday morning.
The newest face on CBS-owned WBBM-Channel 2 may be a familiar one to viewers of Spanish-language TV in Chicago. César Rodríguez, a former general-assignment news reporter and sports anchor at Telemundo WSNS-Channel 44, signed on this week as a per diem reporter at CBS 2, via agent Steve Mandell. In February Rodríguez was not renewed after six years at Telemundo Chicago. Union activists said his ouster was related to his role on the negotiating team of the SAG/AFTRA local. Management denied the allegation. Rodríguez previously worked at KVIA, the ABC affiliate in El Paso, Texas.
Monday's comment of the day: Charlie Meyerson: [Re: Illinois Broadcasters Hall of Fame to honor George Will] OK, but wouldn't it be nice if this honor went to someone who'd broadcast from, you know, um, Illinois?