Andi McDaniel (Photo: Jeffrey Watts, American University)

Andi McDaniel, an innovative public-radio executive who grew up in Schaumburg, is coming home to take on the top job at Chicago Public Media, parent company of NPR news/talk WBEZ 91.5-FM.

Culminating a seven-month search, McDaniel, 39, was hired Tuesday as president and CEO of Chicago Public Media. Since 2015 she has been chief content officer at WAMU, the NPR station at American University in Washington, D.C., where she developed the widely syndicated show “1A.” Continue reading →

Amy Jacobson at Reopen Illinois rally (Photo: AM 560 The Answer)

Amy Jacobson, the Chicago radio talk show host and former TV news reporter, has been barred from attending Governor J.B. Pritzker’s daily coronavirus media briefings after she spoke at a rally protesting the governor’s stay-at-home order.

Jacobson, who co-hosts mornings with Dan Proft on Salem Media news/talk WIND 560-AM, was among speakers at a Reopen Illinois rally Saturday outside the Thompson Center in Chicago. Continue reading →

Robert Feder (undated photo)

Forty years ago this week I began covering the media in Chicago. Where did the time go?

On May 19, 1980 — two years out of journalism school and two days after my 24th birthday — I started at the Sun-Times, where I worked as legman for Gary Deeb, the legendary syndicated columnist who was the paper’s TV and radio critic.

First as a reporter and since 1982 as a columnist, I’ve spent every day of my working life following the ups and downs of the media business in my hometown. I couldn’t imagine a more fun or fitting career for a kid who grew up idolizing Walter Cronkite and subscribing to every trade publication around. Continue reading →

Lolly Bowean

It's the biggest day of the year for Chicago journalism — and it's all happening online.

In lieu of the annual banquet tonight at the Union League Club of Chicago (which was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic), winners of this year's Peter Lisagor Awards have been announced in a "virtual celebration" online. Continue reading →

Rod Blagojevich

Rod Blagojevich, the disgraced and unrepentant former governor of Illinois, has just been signed to host a weekly podcast for Cumulus Media news/talk WLS 890-AM.

Starting Wednesday, “The Lightning Rod” will be available each week online at wlsam.com and on iTunes. Continue reading →

Radio Hall of Fame

Robservations on the media beat:

Radio Hall of Fame

Nominations open today for the 2020 class of the Radio Hall of Fame. Fans are invited to submit suggestions online for nominees in six categories. (Here is the link.) This year's induction ceremony, which will coincide with the 100th anniversary of the radio industry, is expected to be held in late October. “We are excited to welcome the Radio Hall of Fame back to its hometown of Chicago,” said David Plier, board chairman of the Museum of Broadcast Communications. “However, we continue to monitor the COVID-19 guidelines daily. If the state of Illinois cannot reach the goals of a Phase 5 reopening for large gatherings, we will seek other alternatives, including holding the event outside of Illinois.” Continue reading →

WTTW WFMT

David C. Blowers, a Northern Trust executive and vice chair of the Window to the World Communications board of trustees, is moving up to board chair of the parent company of public TV WTTW-Channel 11 and classical music radio WFMT 98.7-FM.

Effective July 1, Blowers will succeed outgoing chair James W. Mabie, who has headed the board since 2014. Continue reading →

Felicia Middlebrooks

Felicia Middlebrooks, the trailblazing broadcaster who’s been a star of morning-drive radio in Chicago for more than 35 years, announced today she’s leaving WBBM 780-AM/WCFS 105.9-FM, the No. 1-rated Entercom all-news powerhouse.

Middlebrooks, 62, said her last day on the air will be May 29. To her credit, she’s going out on top — and on her own. Continue reading →

NBC Tower

Robservations on the media beat:

David Doebler

Faced with unprecedented plunges in advertising revenue at NBC-owned WMAQ-Channel 5 and Telemundo Chicago WSNS-Channel 44, employees of the two NBCUniversal stations are bracing for imminent layoffs. At a virtual town hall last week, David Doebler, president and general manager of the stations, announced the staff reduction plans in response to the coronavirus shutdown. Doebler, who did not say how many positions would be affected, declined to comment further. Earlier the company said it was reducing the pay of senior management by 20 percent and rolling back pay by 3 percent for employees making more than $100,000. Other cuts include elimination of overtime and makeup services. Continue reading →

Felicia Middlebrooks

As radio continued to redefine its role in the lives of listeners sheltering in place, WBBM 780-AM/WCFS 105.9-FM widened its first-place lead in Nielsen Audio ratings released Monday.

With a cumulative weekly audience of 938,400, the Entercom all-news combo again finished first overall, and led in mornings with Felicia Middlebrooks and Pat Cassidy, afternoons with Keith Johnson and Lisa Fielding, and evenings with Bob Conway and Andy Dahn. Continue reading →