Cortney Hall

After seven years as a second-tier morning news anchor at Tribune Media WGN-Channel 9 and CLTV, Cortney Hall is about to take on a starring role of her own.

Wednesday was Hall’s last day at WGN, where she most recently anchored the 9 a.m. hour of the top-rated “WGN Morning News.” Sources said she’s headed to NBC-owned WMAQ-Channel 5 to co-host a new lifestyle show in development. Continue reading →

Walter Payton

Twenty years after the passing of Walter Payton, WGN-Channel 9 will remember the Chicago Bears legend with a primetime special hosted by his son.

“Savoring Sweetness: The Life & Times of Walter Payton” will premiere at 7 p.m. September 4 on the Tribune Broadcasting station and stream live at WGNTV.com/Live. It will be rebroadcast at 10 p.m. September 7 on WGN and at noon September 8 on CLTV. Continue reading →

Matt Knutson

Robservations on the media beat:

Matt Knutson, executive producer of "Windy City Live," has been promoted to director of content innovation at ABC-owned WLS-Channel 7. He'll supervise all local programming at the station. “Throughout his tenure at ABC 7, Matt has been a source of innovation and has brought his creativity to every project in which he has been involved," John Idler, president and general manager of ABC 7, said in a statement. "His hands-on ability to strategize around premium content across all of our platforms will serve him well in his new role." Knutson, who grew up in Joliet and graduated from Northern Illinois University, joined ABC 7 after six years at Tribune Media, where he worked as a producer at CLTV and as a supervising producer on “Chicago’s Best.” He helped launch "Windy City Live" as a line producer in 2011 and moved up to executive producer in 2015.  No word yet on his successor at the weekday talk and entertainment show. Continue reading →

Newsweb Corporation

While the future of northwest suburban WAIT 850-AM remains uncertain, owner Newsweb Radio has agreed to sell the station's transmitter site in Crystal Lake to McHenry County College.

The McHenry County College board of trustees voted unanimously in May to purchase the 26.9-acre parcel east of Ring Road adjacent to the college for unspecified future development. The deal has not yet been finalized. Continue reading →

Mary Mitchell (Photo: Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times)

Robservations on the media beat:

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, the Rev. Jesse Jackson and a legion of colleagues past and present honored columnist Mary Mitchell Friday on her stepping down after 29 years as a daily voice of compassion and clarity at the Sun-Times. She'll continue to contribute occasional columns and attend editorial board meetings. "You are to be celebrated as a great Chicago icon," Lightfoot told Mitchell at the gathering at Taste 222 on the Near West Side. "And I am really, really grateful for everything that you've brought and for the path that you've blazed for other women of color — and particularly black women — in a really tough industry." Continue reading →

Mark Schanowski

Mark Schanowski, the affable and authoritative Chicago Bulls basketball analyst who’s been a prominent player on the local sports media scene for three decades, is cutting back his workload at NBC Sports Chicago.

Schanowski announced Friday he's reducing his role "to enjoy more time with family and friends." While stepping down as host of Bulls "Pregame/Postgame Live" shows, he'll continue to be a primary contributor on the Bulls for the regional sports network. Continue reading →

Jeff Joniak

Robservations on the media beat:

Jeff Joniak, sports director of Entercom all-news WBBM 780-AM/WCFS 105.9-FM and longtime radio voice of the Chicago Bears, will receive the Media Award from the Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame September 25. Joniak will be one of 10 inductees at the 23rd annual fundraiser for local charities. Others include Harold Baines, Rick Sutcliffe, Mike Magee, Israel Idonije, Bryant Colby Young, Desmond Howard, Lou Holtz, Jim Phillips and Patrick Kane. Peggy Kusinski, sportscaster for NBC-owned WMAQ-Channel 5, will emcee the event at Wintrust Arena. (Here is the link for tickets.) Continue reading →

Goli Sheikholeslami

The most powerful woman in Chicago journalism is leaving town after five years for a new job in New York.

In a surprise announcement today, Goli Sheikholeslami said she was resigning as president and chief executive officer of Chicago Public Media, the nonprofit parent company of NPR news/talk WBEZ 91.5-FM and urban alternative Vocalo. She will become CEO of New York Public Radio, parent company of WNYC, starting in early October. Continue reading →

Barry Winograd

Robservations on the media beat:

After more than 18 years at WDCB 90.9-FM, Barry Winograd is stepping down as midday jazz host on the west suburban College of DuPage public radio station. His last regular show — from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. weekdays — will air September 20. No word yet on a successor. Winograd, who joined WDCB in 2001 after long runs at Chicago Public Media WBEZ 91.5-FM and Entercom adult album alternative WXRT 93.1-FM, will continue to host “When Jazz Was King” at 10 a.m. Saturdays. "Barry is such an important part of who we are as a radio station," said Dan Bindert, station manager of WDCB. "We serve an audience that is serious about jazz. His love for this art form is as genuine and sincere as it gets. That comes across every day he’s on the air.” Said Winograd: “I'd like to thank the jazz community for allowing me to represent America's greatest art form for the past 40 plus years on radio in my home, Chicagoland.” Continue reading →

David Polk (Photo: WFMT)

David Polk, who rose from intern and production assistant to program director of WFMT 98.7-FM, is leaving the Window to the World Communications classical music station after 13 years.

Polk, 36, announced Tuesday he plans to pursue new opportunities in New York. No word yet on a successor. Continue reading →