Robservations on the media beat:
Yes, that was Siafa Lewis co-anchoring the weekend morning news Saturday with Michelle Relerford (and meteorologist Alicia Roman) on WMAQ-Channel 5. It was a first for the NBC-owned station's lead sports anchor. "I’m not leaving the sports chair," said Lewis, who joined NBC 5 from WNBC in New York in 2014. "This is just me seeing if I can expand my horizons. I’m multi-faceted, pretty eccentric and I hate being placed in a box." He's the latest Chicago sportscaster to try his hand at news, following Ryan Baker, Corey McPherrin and others. Frank Whittaker, station manager and vice president of news at NBC 5, said Lewis might turn up on the news desk again. "We’ll be giving opportunities to several of our people who’ve expressed interest in growing their skills," Whittaker said. There's an anchor opening on weekend mornings since Susan Carlson was cut back to reporting three days a week.
It's over and out for Mike Love as morning personality at WSRB 106.3-FM, the Crawford Broadcasting urban adult-contemporary station. Love joined Soul 106.3 as afternoon host in 2014 before moving up to "The Morning Mixtape with Mike Love" in 2017. He previously co-hosted "Bad Boy Radio" weekday evenings with Victor "The Dizz" Blackful on iHeartMedia urban contemporary WGCI 107.5-FM from 1997 to 2007. "I understand how radio works. If you know how life works, you know how radio works," Love said. "I am not only excited about the future, I welcome it. That's the first time I can honestly say that."
Emma Rimsa, who’s billed as “social jock” of Hubbard Radio classic rock WDRV 97.1-FM, has been named one of the industry’s “30 and Under Superstars” in the latest edition of Radio Ink magazine. Rimsa, who manages and creates video and social media content for The Drive, joined Hubbard Chicago as a promotions assistant in 2015 and later was promoted to social media manager for the three-station group. She’s a graduate of Naperville Central High School and Illinois State University.
Tammie Souza, former meteorologist for two Chicago stations, parted company this week with WCAU, the NBC-owned station in Philadelphia. Her contract was not renewed after three years in the top weather job there. With a six-year run at NBC 5 in between, Souza had two stints at Fox-owned WFLD-Channel 32, starting in 2000. No word yet on the next move for Souza, who's kept up ties with friends and fans in Chicago.
The Brat Stop in Kenosha, Wisconsin, is the place to be Friday in advance of Sunday's Bears-Packers game in Green Bay. From 5 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday Entercom sports/talk WSCR 670-AM and Milwaukee counterpart WSSP will broadcast live from the Kenosha venue. Former Bears and Packers players will appear throughout the day, and hosts from The Score and The Fan will turn up on each other's stations. “Bears-Packers is one of the best rivalries in sports and to bring these two great radio stations together for Brat Bowl 1 should be great content for both Chicago and Wisconsin listeners,” said Mitch Rosen, who doubles as program director of the two Entercom stations.
Monday's comment of the day: Pamela Enzweiler Pulice: Fantastic news! Bob [Sirott]'s warm and familiar voice and his knowledge of what's happening in Chicago, his delivery, and his approachable Midwestern vibe makes him one of Chicago's great media stars. Go Bob!