Alan Krashesky and Cheryl Burton

Robservations on the media beat:

There won't be the traditional procession down Michigan Avenue this year, but that's not stopping ABC-owned WLS-Channel 7 from producing its annual Magnificent Mile Lights Festival to kick off the holiday season. News anchors Cheryl Burton and Alan Krashesky will host the nationally syndicated special to air on ABC 7 at 6 p.m. Sunday (and repeat at 4 p.m. November 29). Janet Davies will contribute to the one-hour extravaganza, taped on a fantasy winter wonderland set in Pioneer Court. Musical performers will include Jennifer Hudson and Heather Headley. Look for Mickey and Minnie Mouse to give the cue to light up a million twinkling lights along the Mag Mile — just in time for a visit from Santa. Continue reading →

Erich Mancow Muller

Saying he was tired of doing “radio without joy” during a pandemic, Erich Mancow Muller is leaving WLS 890-AM after two years as morning host. His last day on the Cumulus Media news/talk station will be November 25.

“Much of the enjoyment I had left doing radio has been sucked out of it,” Muller, 54, said Monday. “Alone in an office building with no guests and endless rules is not my idea of a creative process. . . . For me, no interaction has been the radio kiss of death. Talking during this political season and hearing endless tales of woe from my listeners has been radio without joy." Continue reading →

Jennifer Lenzini

Robservations on the media beat:

Jennifer Lenzini, a 26-year-old TV news reporter who grew up in northwest suburban Crystal Lake, was killed in a motorcycle accident Saturday in North Port, Florida. Lenzini, a graduate of Prairie Ridge High School in Crystal Lake and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, had just joined NBC affiliate WBBH/ABC affiliate WZVN in Fort Myers, Florida, in July after four years with NBC affiliate KTIV in Sioux City, Iowa. She was riding on the back of a BMW motorcycle Saturday afternoon in Sarasota County when the driver lost control of the vehicle and hit a tree, according to police reports. “Jenny covered stories that mattered most to our community in Charlotte County and Lee County. She was always diligent in her work and made sure you knew how grateful and thankful she was to be reporting in Southwest Florida,” her station posted Sunday. “She idolized Diane Sawyer growing up and loved being around people.” Continue reading →

Burt Constable, Dahleen Glanton and Laura Washington

Robservations on the media beat:

Three prominent Chicago area columnists are in the running for this year's Dorothy Storck Award from the Chicago Journalists Association. Burt Constable of the Daily Herald, Dahleen Glanton of the Chicago Tribune, and Laura Washington of the Sun-Times and ABC-owned WLS-Channel 7 were named finalists Thursday. The prestigious honor, which carries a $1,000 prize, will be presented at the group's virtual awards ceremony November 20. It's named for the late syndicated columnist and Pulitzer Prize winner who died in 2015. (To receive a free Zoom link to the event, respond to: chicagocja@gmail.com.) As reported earlier, David Jackson of the Better Government Association will receive this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award, and Chris Fusco, former executive editor of the Sun-Times (and now executive editor of Lookout Santa Cruz), will serve as keynote speaker. Continue reading →

ESPN Chicago

It's official: Chicago White Sox baseball will air on sports/talk WMVP 1000-AM under a multiyear agreement announced today.

The deal marks a return for the White Sox to the ESPN Radio station, which had been the team's radio home from 1999 to 2005 — the year they won their last World Series Championship. Continue reading →

Marcus Betts

Robservations on the media beat:

Marcus Betts, assistant vice chancellor for external engagement at the University of Illinois at Chicago, has been named chair of a newly expanded board of directors at Public Narrative. He’ll lead board members Catherine Rabenstine, Ryan Schermerhorn, Anita Banerji, Katie O’Malley, Paul O’Connor and Katanya Raby in advancing the Chicago-based nonprofit group’s mission to provide media literacy services through projects, partnerships and training series under president and executive director Jhmira Alexander. “It is evident that our collective efforts are needed, now more than ever, to defend our democracy at the intersections threatened most,” Betts said. Founded in 1989 as Community Media Workshop, the group also presents the Studs Terkel Community Media Awards. Continue reading →

Karen Hawkins and Tracy Baim (Photo: GlitterGuts)

Robservations on the media beat:

Chicago Reader

Karen Hawkins, co-editor in chief of the Chicago Reader, has been named co-publisher of the alternative newspaper. “I am so excited to be joined by Karen as co-publisher,” said Tracy Baim, who's been publisher since 2018. “We worked together 20 years ago at Windy City Times, and have worked to pivot the Reader these past two years. Karen’s leadership and vision will provide a critical role as we seek to navigate the next few years in community media.” The new leadership structure coincides with the Reader's move to a nonprofit business model. Hawkins, who was founding editor and publisher of Rebellious Magazine for Women, joined the Reader as digital managing editor in 2018 and moved up to co-editor (with Sujay Kumar) in 2019. “After two years at the Reader, I believe more now than ever that nonprofit, community-focused local journalism is the future of the industry,” she said. Poised to mark its 50th anniversary in 2021, the Reader publishes daily online and biweekly in print. Continue reading →

David Jackson

Robservations on the media beat:

David Jackson, the esteemed senior investigator for the Better Government Association, will be honored with this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award from the Chicago Journalists Association. The group’s 2020 virtual awards ceremony will stream live via Zoom from 8 to 9 p.m. on November 20. Jackson, a Chicago native and Pulitzer Prize winner, joined the nonprofit government watchdog group in August after 29 years at the Chicago Tribune. In addition to his monumental work as an investigative reporter, Jackson spearheaded a valiant effort to find a benevolent owner for the Tribune before he resigned in July. Keynote speaker at the awards ceremony will be Chris Fusco, former executive editor of the Sun-Times, now founding executive editor of Lookout Santa Cruz in California. Continue reading →

"News Nation"

Robservations on the media beat:

In a week that saw some cable networks and digital sites set viewership records, "News Nation," the Chicago-based startup launched in September by Nexstar Media Group, barely registered. At the height of Election Night coverage Tuesday, "News Nation" delivered only 95,000 viewers from coast to coast on WGN America. Compare that to 14 million viewers for Fox News, 9.3 million for CNN and 7.5 million for MSNBC. Even WGN-Channel 9, also owned by Nexstar, outdrew "News Nation" with 241,000 viewers — and that was in the Chicago area alone. Adding insult to injury, news/talk WGN 720-AM simulcast "News Nation" audio in lieu of the usual local coverage. It marked the first time in its 96-year history WGN Radio outsourced reporting presidential election returns. Continue reading →

93.9 Lite FM

With 50 days to go until Christmas WLIT 93.9-FM is ready to become “Chicago’s Christmas Music Station.” Starting at 4 p.m. Friday holiday music will begin airing around the clock for the 20th straight year.

The tradition has proved to be a fan favorite and a ratings bonanza every year without fail for the iHeartMedia adult contemporary station. The earliest they’ve flipped the switch was November 2 in 2006 and 2007. Continue reading →