CBSN Chicago

With little fanfare, CBS-owned WBBM-Channel 2 today launched a 24/7 streaming news service featuring content recycled from the station's local newscasts.

Branded as CBSN Chicago, it's the ninth market since December 2018 to unveil a CBSN Local franchise under CBS Television Stations and CBS Interactive. (Here is the link.) It follows similar rollouts in New York, Los Angeles, Boston, San Francisco Bay Area, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Philadelphia, Denver and Pittsburgh. Continue reading →

Tommy Edwards

Robservations on the media beat:

I Grew Up Listening to You

Tommy Edwards, the Chicago radio icon whose illustrious career spanned more than five decades, has just published his long-awaited memoirs. Available in paperback on Amazon, "I Grew Up Listening to You": Stories From Behind the Mic includes tales of his adventures as a personality and program director at Top 40 powerhouse WLS 890-AM and as public-address announcer for the Chicago Bulls. Of course there's also a chapter devoted to Li’l Tommy's legendary "Animal Stories" partnership with Larry Lujack. "It has taken a couple of years to get it done, but I was able to do it the way I wanted," he said of the book, which also will be available on Kindle. (Here is the link.) "The term 'I Grew Up Listening to You' is something I’ve heard from people all over the country for decades, and my book is about my life and my career. It starts with a kid with a daydream who was able to live that dream in cities like New York, Los Angeles and Chicago." Edwards, who now lives in L.A., retired from local radio in 2014 and from the Bulls announcing job in 2019. Continue reading →

Chicago Headline Club

Robservations on the media beat:

The Chicago Headline Club Foundation, philanthropic arm of the Chicago Headline Club, has announced it is offering grants of up to $500 for at least 100 Chicago-area journalists who are laid off, unemployed or under-employed during the coronavirus shutdown. Students and new college graduates are not eligible for the program. (Here is the link to apply.) "We felt like we needed to do something direct and immediate to help our local community," said Robert K. Elder, president of the organization. "This is unprecedented for us, during an unprecedented time." Continue reading →

Paul Harvey

For more than five decades the most listened-to voice in America belonged to Paul Harvey. Now it will be heard again on WGN 720-AM — longtime Chicago flagship of his vast radio empire.

Starting April 27, the Nexstar Media Group news/talk station will rebroadcast classic episodes of “The Rest of the Story,” historical vignettes Harvey hosted five days a week from 1976 until his death in 2009. They’ll air during Bob Sirott’s morning show on WGN. Continue reading →

Cisco Cotto

The first radio ratings to reflect the coronavirus shutdown showed substantial increases for three of Chicago's news and news/talk stations.

By a wide margin, Entercom all-news WBBM 780-AM/WCFS 105.9-FM finished first overall as well as first in mornings, middays, afternoons and evenings, according to audience shares released Wednesday. Continue reading →

Weigel Broadcasting

Robservations on the media beat:

In response to the coronavirus shutdown and loss of employment for thousands, Weigel Broadcasting is launching a weekly show to help viewers find work. “Job Hunt Chicago,” hosted by Felicia Lawrence of "The Jam," will focus on openings from major employers and recruitment agencies in Chicago. Starting this weekend it will air at 10 a.m. Saturday on The U (WMEU-Channel 48.1/WCIU-Channel 26.2), and at 2:30 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. Sunday on WCIU-Channel 26. "'Job Hunt Chicago' serves as an easily accessible resource during these difficult times,” Steve Bailey, head of local programming and creative, said in a statement. “We’re rolling up our sleeves and doing the digging to uncover local jobs across all industries." Weigel Broadcasting also recently debuted "Chicago Food To Go," spotlighting takeout food from across the city and suburbs. It airs four times each weekend on The U and CW 26. Continue reading →

Chicago magazine

A veteran City Hall reporter, an investigative news editor, and two local media executives are among The 50 Most Powerful Women in Chicago, according to rankings published in the May issue of Chicago magazine and posted online today. (Here is the link.)

Not surprisingly, the top spot on the list is held by Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot. But after that, the editors compiled a wide range of women with clout "from all over the city and from every field." Continue reading →

Heather Cherone

Robservations on the media beat:

Chicago media dynamo Heather Cherone has joined WTTW-Channel 11 after two years as managing editor and City Hall reporter for The Daily Line, the subscription newsletter on state and local politics. The Window to the World Communications public television station announced today that Cherone has been hired as a digital news reporter covering City Hall. A native of Chicago’s Edgewater neighborhood and graduate of Kenwood Academy and Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism, Cherone previously worked for DNAInfo/Chicago and the Chicago Tribune, where she helped launch TribLocal in the south and west suburbs. Earlier she covered politics and government for the Los Angeles Daily News and the Oakland Tribune. Cherone recently moderated Chicago Journalism Town Hall 2020 with Ken Davis, and was cited here among the 25 Most Powerful Women in Chicago Journalism. Continue reading →

Chuck Goudie

Chuck Goudie thought he’d be in Walt Disney World this week with his family to celebrate his 40th year at ABC-owned WLS-Channel 7. At least that was the plan.

Instead the renowned chief investigative reporter for Chicago’s top-rated station is confined to his west suburban Hinsdale home where he’s been broadcasting I-Team reports live up to four times a day from a workstation in his living room. Continue reading →

Jeffrey Dubow, Brooke Fox and Jose Bolanos

Jubal Fresh, who’s been missing for more than three months from the syndicated morning show that bears his name, has officially parted company with Hubbard Radio.

Effective April 20, the company announced today, “Brooke and Jubal” will be rebranded as “Brooke and Jeffrey in the Morning,” with executive producer Jeffrey Dubow promoted to permanent co-host alongside Brooke Fox. Jose Bolanos continues as a regular contributor. Continue reading →