Jeanne Sparrow

Robservations on the media beat:

Longtime Chicago radio and television personality Jeanne Sparrow announced she's taking time off as weekend host at iHeartMedia urban adult-contemporary WVAZ 102.7-FM to undergo a hysterectomy. In a video post on Facebook Saturday she urged listeners to take care of themselves. "Today's my last day on the air [at] V103 Chicago for a little while," Sparrow said. "I had a cancer scare this summer and thank God it was benign but I'm still at risk so I'm having surgery next week. I appreciate all prayers, good vibes and love. I'll see you soon!" V103 officials declined to comment on Sparrow's announcement or plans for a fill-in while she's away. Before returning to radio in 2017 Sparrow spent eight years as co-host of “You & Me,” the former morning show on Weigel Broadcasting WCIU-Channel 26. Continue reading →

Chicago Sun-Times (October 18, 2019)

Robservations on the media beat:

In a first for the Chicago Sun-Times, today's entire print edition has been tinted pink to raise awareness of National Mammography Day. "Our pink paper is a reminder of the importance of mammograms, whether for you, your wife, mother, daughter, sister or friend," said Pamela Henson, senior vice president of advertising and marketing for the Sun-Times and a seven-year breast cancer survivor. A portion of all single-copy sales will be donated to the American Cancer Society. Continue reading →

Jason Goff

Jason Goff, the former Chicago radio sports-talk personality, has been tapped by NBC Sports Chicago as pregame and postgame host of Chicago Bulls broadcasts.

Goff succeeds Mark Schanowski, a 13-year veteran of the regional sports network who stepped down as host but continues as a primary contributor on the Bulls across multiple platforms. Continue reading →

Irika Sargent and Dorian Orr

Robservations on the media beat:

Irika Sargent and Dorian Orr

The clouds parted and the sun shined as Chicago television news anchor Irika Sargent took her wedding vows in Hawaii. The 5, 6 and 10 p.m. weekday anchor at CBS-owned WBBM-Channel 2 married Dorian Orr before 60 family members and friends in a stunning outdoor ceremony October 3 at historic Haiku Mill on the island of Maui. Orr is Chicago-based general manager of Microsoft Services User Experience and Mixed Reality Studios. Sargent, a Cornell-educated lawyer, joined CBS 2 in 2015 from CBS-owned WFOR in Miami. Best wishes to both of them. Continue reading →

Chicago (AP Photo)

For roughly half a million television homes in the Chicago area, Friday will be a very big day.

That’s when over-the-air viewers will have to rescan their TVs or converter boxes if they want to continue to receive local TV stations for free. Continue reading →

WBEZ

Starting today Chicago’s premier public radio station is putting it all on the line.

With the debut of a two-hour local talk show as the new centerpiece of its daytime lineup, Chicago Public Media WBEZ 91.5-FM is hoping to boost noontime listenership without jeopardizing its robust ratings in morning drive, fueled by NPR's "Morning Edition." Continue reading →

WGN Radio

Robservations on the media beat:

You won't hear the Chicago Bears, but WGN 720-AM is about to begin airing select NFL football games on Sunday afternoons. Starting this weekend the Nexstar news/talk station will broadcast a play-by-play lineup distributed by Compass Media Networks. This Sunday's matchups are Houston Texans vs. Kansas City Chiefs at 11:30 a.m., and Dallas Cowboys vs. New York Jets at 2:45 p.m. Under new Nexstar ownership, WGN hopes to use the games to promote other programming on the station. This is a bye week for the Bears, who continue to air on Entercom all-news WBBM 780-AM/WCFS 105.9-FM. Continue reading →

Dave Fogel

Chicago radio veteran Dave Fogel just signed on for three more years of mornings at WLS 94.7-FM, the Cumulus Media classic hits station.

WLS program director Wade Linder confirmed the deal to keep Fogel on the morning show with co-host Kim Berk through 2022. Terms were not disclosed. Continue reading →

Mike Thomas

Although he's spent the last decade as program director of a sports/talk station in Boston, the new boss of ESPN Radio WMVP 1000-AM considers himself "a lifelong Chicago sports fan."

On Monday downstate Illinois native Mike Thomas was named market manager of ESPN 1000, where he will oversee sales, content and marketing strategy and execution for Chicago's No. 2 sports/talk outlet, starting in January. Continue reading →

NBC Tower

Robservations on the media beat:

Joseph Schiltz

Joseph Schiltz, former chief marketing officer and senior vice president of development at Chicago Tribune Media Group, has been hired as vice president of creative services and programming for NBC-owned WMAQ-Channel 5 and Telemundo Chicago WSNS-Channel 44. He most recently was a partner at Narrative US, a Chicago-based marketing tech company. At NBC 5 Schiltz succeeds Diane Hannes, who was promoted in May to president and general manager of WVIT, the NBC-owned station in Hartford, Connecticut. Continue reading →