WBBM Newsradio
Robservations on the media beat:
Rachel Williamson
Nothing is official yet, but look for Rachel Williamson, a New York-based media and marketing executive, to succeed Jimmy de Castro as senior vice president and market manager of Entercom Chicago. De Castro announced Friday he’s stepping down next month after two years overseeing the seven-station group. Since 2016 Williamson has been president of Gamut, the advertising, marketing and promotion services arm of Cox Media Group (which is about to be acquired by Apollo Global Management private equity funds). She previously worked as director of digital revenue development for Cox Media Group and director of national sales for Cumulus Media. She also held sales positions with Nielsen Audio and Hubbard Radio Chicago. Entercom Chicago includes all-news WBBM 780-AM and WCFS 105.9-FM; sports/talk WSCR 670-AM; Top 40 WBBM 96.3-FM; adult album alternative WXRT 93.1-FM; country WUSN 99.5-FM, and classic hip hop WBMX 104.3-FM.
Alex Salvi
Alex Salvi, a 28-year-old journalist who grew up in northwest suburban Hawthorn Woods, just landed his own one-hour nightly show on One America News Network. Originating from San Diego, "After Hours With Alex Salvi" airs at 9 p.m. Monday through Friday on OANN (and DirectTV Channel 347). "It seems as if every single day, there's a year's worth of headlines," he said, adding that he would "help you distinguish what's news from what's noise." Salvi graduated from Carmel Catholic High School in Mundelein, DePaul University and Valparaiso University School of Law. After law school he earned a master's degree in broadcast journalism from the University of Southern California.
Angela Ingram
Angela Ingram, senior vice president of communications for iHeartMedia Chicago, was honored last week for her commitment to "providing women across the Chicagoland area with pathways and opportunities to reach for the stars." In addition to serving as keynote speaker at the Dress for Success Worldwide Central event, Ingram received the group's Luminary Leadership Award. It was preceded by a video tribute from her colleagues, sister and husband. Ingram joined the Chicago station group as director of marketing in 1995.
Joe Aaron
Journalism peers and the Chicago Jewish community were saddened to learn of the death in Jerusalem Saturday of Joe Aaron, 64, founder, publisher and editor-in-chief of the Chicago Jewish News. With immense passion and dedication, Aaron wrote a weekly column for the newspaper, which recently marked its 25th anniversary. Earlier he served as editor of JUF News, the monthly magazine of the Jewish United Fund. As young journalists, Joe and I were colleagues at the Lerner Newspapers and classmates at Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism. His funeral was Monday in Israel. May his memory be for a blessing.
Leah Hope, Bryan Smith and Elise Marie
Hearty congratulations to Leah Hope, reporter and former news anchor at ABC-owned WLS-Channel 7, and husband Bryan Smith, senior writer at Chicago magazine, on becoming first-time parents. And welcome to the world to Elise “LiLi” Marie.
Monday’s comment of the day: Dave Reidy: Wonderful [Dahl] family, and I have been very lucky to work with both Patrick and Michael over the years. Matt has also created some amazing content for the White Sox. Janet and Steve should be very proud. All three sons are very talented and each a class act all around.