Marquee Sports Network Bear Essentials
Robservations on the media beat:
Cole Wright
What does a baseball network show when there's no baseball? In the case of Marquee Sports Network, the answer is football. Starting tonight, the new Chicago Cubs cable network will air "Bear Essentials," a weekly Chicago Bears highlights show hosted by Marquee studio host and sports reporter Cole Wright. It will be followed each week by a two-hour "director's cut" of the Bears' most recent game. Tonight "Bear Essentials" will air at 7 p.m., with a rerun of the October 8 Bears vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers matchup at 7:30 p.m. "The opportunity to build on our Chicago Cubs foundation with the addition of unique Bears content and weekly game carriage is tremendous," said Mike McCarthy, general manager of Marquee. "We're thrilled to partner with the iconic Chicago Bears organization and serve Chicago sports fans more original content." McCarthy said former Bears Dan Hampton and Tom Thayer will rotate as guests on the show among others.
Angela Ingram
Angela Ingram, senior vice president of communications for the Chicago region of iHeartMedia Markets Group, has taken on the added role of director of local advocacy and engagement for BIN: Black Information Network, the 24/7 audio news service launched in June. Her duties will include working with affiliate stations to increase local advocacy efforts and engagement with community leaders and organizations. Ingram held marketing and promotions positions for the company’s stations in Louisville, Kentucky, and Charlotte, North Carolina, before joining the Chicago station group as director of marketing in 1995.
Elliott Ramos
Elliott Ramos, former digital editor and data reporter for Chicago Public Media WBEZ 91.5-FM, has been hired by NBC News Digital as a Chicago-based data reporter on its data graphics team. He's among the first hires under the regional reporting initiative announced in July by Cesar Conde, chairman of NBCUniversal News Group. "So excited to be joining this team!" Ramos tweeted. The Columbia College graduate, who also holds a certificate in data journalism from Columbia University in New York, previously worked for the Wall Street Journal, New York Daily News and Chicago Tribune.
Matt Dietrich
Matt Dietrich, public information officer for the Illinois State Board of Elections, will be keynote speaker for the virtual awards celebration of the Northern Illinois Newspaper Association October 29. Journalists, freelance writers and supporters are invited to attend the Zoom event, which starts at 7 p.m. (Here is the link to register.) Dietrich, a former reporter and editor with the Better Government Association, Politifact Illinois and Reboot Illinois, will highlight what journalists should expect from the upcoming November elections and "touch upon the corrosive and disruptive influences of social media and the distrustful sources impacting journalists today."
Mark Krieschen
Mark Krieschen, former vice president and general manager of news/talk WGN 720-AM under Tribune Broadcasting ownership, announced his retirement Tuesday as vice president and market manager of Cox Media Group’s Houston stations, effective October 23. Over his 20 years at WGN, the Chicago native and Southern Illinois University graduate rose from sales account executive to director of sales to VP/GM before moving to Houston in 2005. “It’s been an honor and a privilege to work in this business, to shape people’s careers, to help local businesses and serve our communities,” Krieschen said.
Tuesday’s comment of the day: Carrie Williams: Congratulations, Whitney Reynolds! Not only will a national audience have the chance to learn about the inspiring journeys of your guests, but your expanded reach might lead to even more moving stories from all over the country. You and your guests shine a light so others can see their way out of the darkness.