Larry Lujack and Dick Biondi (1983 photo)

Robservations on the media beat:

Illinois Museum of Rock & Roll

Chicago radio legends Larry Lujack and Dick Biondi have been named charter inductees in the Hall of Fame of the new Illinois Rock & Roll Museum on Route 66 under construction in Joliet. Lujack, who died in 2013, was elected by museum members in the DJ category. Biondi was named recipient of the Founder's Lifetime Achievement Award and also will be inducted in the Hall of Fame. Ceremonies will be March 29 at the Renaissance Center in Joliet. (Here is the link.) Other inaugural inductees include Chicago, Cheap Trick, Ides of March, Muddy Waters, Buddy Guy, Buckinghams and REO Speedwagon as performers; and WLS Radio, Chess Records and Thirsty Whale in non-performer categories.

Gordon Wittenmyer

Gordon Wittenmyer, Chicago Cubs beat writer for Sun-Times since 2007, is leaving to join NBC Sports Chicago. Starting in early March, he'll become the new Cubs Insider for the regional sports network. With a week to go before the start of spring training, the Sun-Times posted an opening Friday for Wittenmyer's position. He's expected to continue as a contributor to Entercom sports/talk WSCR 670-AM. Before joining the Sun-Times, the University of Washington graduate worked for the South Florida Sun-Sentinel and Seattle Times.

Andrew Herrmann

Pleased to report that Andrew Herrmann, former managing editor of the Sun-Times and former senior editor of DNAinfo Chicago, is returning to daily journalism. Starting today, he'll be Chicago-based news editor for the multi-platform news network Newsy, working with writers, producers and reporters evaluating stories for focus, structure, style and journalistic integrity. Newsy, a subsidiary of the E.W. Scripps Company, can be seen on cable and multiple streaming services. Over 28 years at the Sun-Times, the Southern Illinois University graduate rose from reporter, editorial writer and columnist to Sunday editor and managing editor. Herrmann most recently was communications director for Friends of the Chicago River, a non-profit environmental group. "I am very happy to be back in a newsroom with a growing company working with terrific, award-winning journalists," he told me.

Paul Sullivan

Chicago Tribune baseball writer Paul Sullivan, one of a dwindling number of sports columnists left at the newspaper, has been designated as its "In the Wake of the News" columnist. The title most recently was held by David Haugh, whose freelance position was eliminated last month. "Sullivan joins a list of Chicago's great journalists in becoming the 18th sports columnist to hold the distinguished title in the newspaper's 172-year history," said a note to readers Sunday. Sullivan, a graduate of the University of Missouri at Columbia, joined the Tribune in 1981. He's president of the Baseball Writers Association of America.

Marquee Sports Network

There's still no deal with Comcast Xfinity, but Marquee Sports Network has signed an agreement with the streaming service Hulu to carry the new television home of the Cubs. “We are thrilled to partner with Hulu and add them to our growing list of over 30 affiliates who will carry the network,” Mike McCarthy, general manager of Marquee, said in a statement. The addition of Hulu + Live TV provides a viable alternative to cable cord cutters, according to Broadcasting and Cable. Starting Saturday, the joint venture of the Cubs and Sinclair Broadcast Group will begin airing all preseason and regular season games. Additional programming is expected to include "The Sports Reporters," a weekly roundtable reminiscent of "The Sports Writers on TV," and a monthly talk show hosted by Ryan Dempster.

Friday’s comment of the day: Chad Rubel: If you own a media outlet or work for a media outlet, you don't contribute to politicians. That should be a no-brainer. I am a Keith Olbermann fan; when we found out he contributed to politicians, I wrote a story about how he shouldn't have done that. Doesn't matter if you like a politician; it smells bad for a reason.