Date Archives → June 2019

'One heck of a ride': Reporter Derrick Blakley retiring from CBS 2

Derrick Blakley (Photo: WTTW/Chicago Tonight)

Derrick Blakley, a Chicago original whose 41-year career in television news included prominent runs as a network correspondent and a local reporter for two stations here, announced his retirement Monday.

Blakley, 65, said his last day as political reporter at WBBM-Channel 2 will be June 27. He's been employed at the CBS-owned station since 2003. Continue reading →

WBEZ’s ‘Wait Wait’ nominated for Radio Hall of Fame

Radio Hall of Fame

“Wait Wait . . . Don't Tell Me!,” the popular NPR comedy-quiz show produced by Chicago Public Media WBEZ 91.5-FM, is among this year’s nominees for the Radio Hall of Fame.

Hosted by Peter Sagal with resident scorekeeper Bill Kurtis, the program is competing with three others — "The Jim Rome Show," NPR's "All Things Considered" and "The Sounds of Sinatra" — in the Longstanding Network/Syndicated category. Continue reading →

Robservations: WBBM Newsradio plans big sendoff for Kris Kridel

Kris Kridel and Sherman Kaplan

Robservations on the media beat:

Look for Sherman Kaplan to return to WBBM 780-AM/105.9-FM today to join in the farewell festivities for his longtime anchor partner, Kris Kridel. Kaplan, who retired from the Entercom all-news station in 2015, launched the "Noon Business Hour” with Kridel in 2001. Kridel's last broadcast will be during today’s noon show, which will feature two segments dedicated to her illustrious 34-year career there. A gathering in the newsroom will follow. “Her departure weighs heavily on us at WBBM,” said managing editor Julie Mann. “She has been an important contributor behind the scenes as well as the recognizable voice of Newsradio. Kris is a mentor and an inspiration to countless reporters, anchors and writers. It's difficult to imagine our newsroom without her and her unwavering commitment to good journalism.” Continue reading →

Robservations: Garry Meier to fill in for Mancow on WLS

Garry Meier

Robservations on the media beat:

Mancow Muller

Radio Hall of Famer Garry Meier will soon be heard again on WLS 890-AM, the Cumulus Media news/talk station. This time Meier will appear as a guest on Mancow Muller's morning show June 21 and then fill in for Muller the full week of June 24, according to Stephanie Tichenor, program director of WLS. Quoth Mancow: "Radio's greatest second-banana lands the greatest honor of his career — filling in for me. . . . This is very big for him!" Meier, who worked with Steve Dahl at WLS in the '80s, spent eight years as Roe Conn's afternoon co-host there before he quit in a bitter salary dispute in 2004. He's been gone from terrestrial radio since 2014 when his five-year run ended at Tribune Broadcasting news/talk WGN 720-AM. In 2016 Meier launched a subscription podcast. Continue reading →

Top program exec Dan Soles to leave WTTW

Dan Soles

For nearly 25 years, everything you saw on WTTW-Channel 11 first had to pass the high standards of Dan Soles. Now he’s leaving.

Signaling changes in store for the public television station, Soles confirmed Monday that he’s departing as senior vice president and chief television content officer of parent company Window to the World Communications. His last day will be June 28. Continue reading →