WBEZ

It didn't take long for Crain's Chicago Business to land a new radio partner after getting the heave-ho from news/talk WGN 720-AM.

Starting this Monday, reporters from the weekly business publication and digital news operation will appear on Chicago Public Media WBEZ 91.5-FM. Continue reading →

Mike Adamle

Robservations on the media beat:

Kim Adamle does most of the talking in the first half of a new documentary about her husband's struggles with the symptoms of chronic traumatic encephalopathy. But it's the sad and haunting look on the face of Mike Adamle that viewers will remember. NBC Sports Chicago spent a year chronicling their lives together in "The Adamles: Mind Over Matter," a half-hour documentary premiering at 7 p.m. Monday. There's some encouraging news for the former Chicago TV sports anchor and NFL star as Mike Adamle is shown responding favorably to treatments ranging from Ketamine infusions to dancing lessons. Produced, written and edited by NBC Sports Chicago’s Sarah Lauch, Ryan McGuffey and Matt Buckman, it's hosted by David Kaplan. “Mike and Kim’s story is one that we felt needed more than just one interview . . . we needed to experience their challenges with them over the course of a year to better enable us and our viewers to fully understand what they are going through on a daily basis,” said Kevin Cross, senior vice president/general manager of NBC Sports Chicago. “We couldn’t be more thankful to Mike and Kim for opening their doors and hearts to us and we are honored to tell this amazing story about their unwavering determination and love.” Continue reading →

Mark Grace

Robservations on the media beat:

Elise Menaker

With 10 days to go before its launch as TV home of Chicago Cubs broadcasts, Marquee Sports Network has added former Cubs first baseman Mark Grace to its roster of part-time on-air personalities. He'll provide pregame, in-game and postgame analysis for the network while continuing as an analyst for Arizona Diamondbacks games on Fox Sports Arizona. Also joining Marquee Sports Network is Big Ten Network reporter and host Elise Menaker, who'll produce feature stories and other content for Marquee and contribute as a field reporter and host. Menaker, who'll continue to work for BTN, is a former sports anchor and reporter at NBC affiliate WTMJ in Milwaukee and the younger sister of Chicago radio personality Michelle “Showbiz Shelly” Menaker. “We are excited to bring Mark back home to Wrigley Field to share his knowledge and passion for baseball and the Cubs, and in Elise, we have someone who will instantly bring a fresh and unique sports perspective to the broadcasts,” said Mike Santini, Marquee's senior vice president of programming and production. Continue reading →

John Records Landecker (Photo: Silvia Saether)

John Records Landecker, the Chicago radio icon who inspired a generation of rock 'n' roll disc jockeys across the country, has been selected for induction into the Broadcasting Hall of Fame of the National Association of Broadcasters.

"All I can say is thank you," Landecker told me Monday. "I am totally humbled by this incredible, unexpected honor.” Continue reading →

Marquee Sports Network

Robservations on the media beat:

Marquee Sports Network, set to debut February 22 as TV home of Chicago Cubs broadcasts, will air a weekday morning sports betting show — "Follow The Money" with Mitch Moss and Pauly Howard — produced by Vegas Stats & Information Network. “That’s our toe in the water in the gaming space, but I would expect more to come from us,” Mike McCarthy, general manager of the regional sports network, told Cablefax.com. The joint venture between the Cubs and Sinclair Broadcast Group kicks off a major promotional campaign today in hopes of building awareness — with or without Comcast Xfinity onboard. “We’re going to tap into and drive home awareness of all the brand benefits using imagery and emotion and what fans go through when they’re watching nine innings of Cubs baseball,” marketing vice president Amy McDevitt told Broadcasting & Cable. Continue reading →

Bill Geist

Robservations on the media beat:

Bill Geist, who retired in 2018 after 31 years as a correspondent for "CBS Sunday Morning," will be inducted this spring in the Illinois Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame. Born and raised in Champaign, Illinois, Geist graduated from the University of Illinois and was awarded a Bronze Star for his service as a combat photographer in Vietnam. He began his career as a reporter and columnist for the Suburban Trib and later became a New York Times columnist and bestselling author. “Bill Geist’s career is a blueprint for every aspiring journalist,” said John Idler, president and general manager of ABC-owned WLS-Channel 7 and board chairman of the IBA. "As a renowned broadcast and print journalist and award-winning war photographer, Bill’s legacy is one of excellence." Geist will be inducted June 11 at the IBA's annual conference in Bloomington-Normal. Continue reading →

Illinois Rock and Roll Museum Hall of Fame

Robservations on the media beat:

With the opening of the Illinois Rock and Roll Museum on Route 66 in Joliet set for this summer, voting is under way on the first Hall of Fame class. Charter members have until February 14 to cast their ballots in five categories — including competition between Larry Lujack and Steve Dahl as disc jockeys, and WLS and WXRT as radio stations. (Here is the link.) The inaugural Hall of Fame induction ceremony will be March 29 at the Renaissance Center in Joliet. Billed as "a vibrant and dynamic cultural center, spanning age, race and musical genres," the museum is being completed at a three-story, 15,000 square-foot building at 9 West Cass Avenue (at "the crossroads of Route 66 and the Lincoln Highway") in downtown Joliet. Continue reading →

Greg Kot

Greg Kot, the nationally renowned authority on popular music for the Chicago Tribune, is leaving the newspaper after 40 years — including the last 30 as music critic.

Kot, 62, is the highest-profile personality so far to announce his departure from the Tribune under a voluntary buyout plan offered to employees of Tribune Publishing newspapers. His last day will be Friday. Continue reading →

CBS 2 Chicago

Robservations on the media beat:

Look for CBS-owned WBBM-Channel 2 to roll out a 24/7 streaming news service this spring. Branded as CBSN Local, it will feature locally anchored programming, live breaking news coverage and archived, on-demand local news content. Already operating at CBS stations in New York, Los Angeles, Boston, San Francisco, Minneapolis and Philadelphia, it's an outgrowth of CBSN, the streaming video news channel originated by CBS News and CBS Interactive in 2014. Derek Dalton, president and general manager of CBS 2, said he expects to launch CBSN Local here by the end of March. Considering that the station's news operation is already stretched to the limit, I'd love to know how it will allocate resources for the new venture. Continue reading →

Bill Leff and Wendy Snyder

Robservations on the media beat:

Bill Leff and Wendy Snyder, who were forced out as midday co-hosts at Nexstar Media Group news/talk WGN 720-AM in November, just launched a podcast for Cumulus Media Chicago. There are no broadcast plans for "The Bill and Wendy Show" at this time, but it's a foot in the door for the duo at WLS 890-AM, the Cumulus news/talk station. On Monday Leff couldn’t resist taking a shot at WGN for its recently added Sunday morning showcase for Frank Sinatra tunes. "Wendy and I will do a podcast with new episodes coming several times a week,” Leff said. “Our listeners talked us into it. It's going to be crazy fun. Then, on the weekends, we'll play Sinatra music. But not Frank Sinatra. Frank JUNIOR. Maybe some Nancy too. That's still up in the air. Sinatra. All day Sunday." Continue reading →