ESPN Chicago

Robservations on the media beat:

Nielsen Audio

ESPN Radio sports/talk WMVP 1000-AM is about to get a do-over in the ratings. In a confidential email to clients, Nielsen Audio acknowledged that it failed to credit the station for its streaming simulcast in the April audience survey. In rankings reported here last week, ESPN 1000 tied for 25th place with a 1.2 share. That's expected to rise when Nielsen releases a revised Chicago report at noon today. No other stations were affected, according to Nielsen. It's not the first time this year the company was caught with its pants down. In January Nielsen admitted it shortchanged stations in 48 markets (including Chicago) when it tabulated "abnormally low or non-existent" audience estimates for two days in December.

Johanna Zorn

After 19 years as executive director of the Chicago-based Third Coast International Audio Festival Johanna Zorn has announced she’s stepping down this fall. A longtime producer at WBEZ 91.5-FM, Zorn co-founded the nonprofit audio arts organization in 2000 along with Julie Shapiro as a project of Chicago Public Media. “Third Coast has been successful beyond my wildest dreams,” Zorn said in a statement. “At this juncture, I’m excited to pass the leadership of the organization on to the next generation, whose bold new ideas will foster the next chapter of Third Coast’s growth and evolution.” A search for her successor will begin soon. Zorn is married to Chicago Tribune columnist Eric Zorn.

Kevin Matthews

Chicago radio star Kevin Matthews will host a candlelight procession and prayer for peace May 31 in conjunction with the World Apostolate of Fatima and the Chicago Police Chaplains Ministry. "Our Lady of the Broken" will start at 7 p.m. at St. John Cantius Church, 825 North Carpenter Street. Matthews will talk about his 11-year struggle with multiple sclerosis and how his discovery of a broken statue of the Virgin Mary lying by a dumpster changed his life. “Her statue is broken, just like me," he said. "We all are broken and in need of repair. She represents the broken.” The 1.5-mile candlelight procession east to the Chicago Water Tower will culminate in a prayer service for peace, restoration and healing.

Tanja Babich

With the birth Wednesday of her third child — daughter Josephine Emily — Tanja Babich is on maternity leave from ABC-owned WLS-Channel 7, where she co-anchors "ABC 7 Eyewitness News in the Morning" with Terrell Brown. Filling in while she's away will be a rotation of colleagues, starting this week with Karen Jordan and Stacey Baca. "So thankful for this crew and the rest of my work family, behind-the-scenes at ABC 7 Chicago," Babich wrote on Facebook. "I’ll miss you all, but also can’t wait . . . to spend a little time being a full-time mom and wife."

Victoria Bouchard

Victoria Bouchard is out as director of creative services at WBBM-Channel 2. A 21-year veteran of the CBS-owned station, she began as promotion manager and was promoted to head of all on-air promotion and off-air advertising in 2010. A graduate of the University of Illinois at Chicago, Bouchard previously worked as promotion manager at ABC 7 and promotion producer at WSVN, the Fox affiliate in Miami. No word on a replacement at CBS 2.

Wednesday’s comment of the day: David Stewart: Simmer down, haters. We can all call BS when [Rahm Emanuel] uses his platforms to rewrite his own history as mayor, but as a former political insider at the top levels of two of the three branches of the federal government, it will be interesting to have his perspective in the mix.