Sean Compton

Robservations on the media beat:

Nexstar Media Group

Sean Compton, the Chicago broadcasting executive who reprogrammed news/talk WGN 720-AM and launched the "News Nation" primetime newscast on WGN America, has been rewarded with a new title by parent company Nexstar Media Group. Under a "strategic operational realignment" effective November 1, Compton will move up from executive vice president to president/networks overseeing WGN America, AntennaTV, and WGN Radio. Under the restructuring, which is designed to reduce expenses, Nexstar will combine its broadcast and digital operating subsidiaries and rename Nexstar Broadcasting simply Nexstar. The Texas-based company acquired the former Tribune Media — including WGN-Channel 9, WGN Radio and WGN America — in a $6.4 billion transaction last year. Compton, who had been president of strategic programming and acquisitions for Tribune Broadcasting, shifted to Nexstar in September 2019. Continue reading →

Ron Britain

Ron Britain, a gifted radio performer with a brilliantly creative mind and a sensitive soul, left a legacy of laughter for generations of Chicago listeners.

"King B," as he was known to fans around the world, died Sunday at home in Louisville, Kentucky, according to his son, Mark Magel, who confirmed that Britain took his own life. He was 86.

Friends said Britain was inconsolable after losing his wife and constant companion of 62 years. Helen Louise “Peach” Magel, 83, died October 19 after falling ill at home. Her burial will be today. Continue reading →

Michelle Lopez

For the second time in a month the Chicago Tribune has added a woman to its masthead.

On Thursday Michelle Lopez, manager of editorial operations for Tribune Publishing, was named director of content for the Chicago Tribune. In a role equivalent to associate managing editor, she will report to editor-in-chief Colin McMahon.

"Michelle is universally respected and admired for her skills, patience and collaborative nature," McMahon wrote in an email to staff. "Those talents and that background will be critical as Michelle leads an audience team charged with widening our reach, super-serving subscribers and leveraging the excellent journalism produced across Tribune Publishing." Continue reading →

Joel Daly

Joel Daly was a modern day Renaissance man — a lawyer, actor, author, pilot, country singer and champion yodeler.

But his most famous role was as a news anchor, including a 38-year run at ABC-owned WLS-Channel 7, where he was part of one of Chicago’s most successful and influential news teams of all time. Continue reading →

Chicago Reporter

Robservations on the media beat:

A chorus of powerful voices has joined the outcry over the survival of The Chicago Reporter. A letter signed by 80 prominent civic, religious, advocacy and community leaders calls on the nonprofit Community Renewal Society to resume publication of the Reporter and restore its editorial independence. (Here is the link.) The fate of the 48-year-old investigative news organization has been in limbo since Fernando Diaz was ousted as editor-in-chief and publisher. The loss of the Reporter "would leave the metropolitan area without crucial reporting and data that we rely upon in our efforts for equity and justice,” the letter said. Noting that no new content has been published since September 15, Thom Clark, co-founder of Community Media Workshop/Public Narrative, said: “Any halt in publication damages the Reporter's reputation and its ability to function as an independent, professional news organization.” The uproar comes on the heels of an open letter from more than 100 current and former employees also fighting to save the Reporter. Waltrina Middleton, executive director of Community Renewal Society, dismissed the controversy as “manufactured hysteria” and said the Reporter was “restructuring.” Continue reading →

Jennifer Keiper

Come November a lot more people will be hearing Jennifer Keiper every day.

The highly regarded Chicago radio news veteran, who now works for Entercom all-news WBBM 780-AM/WCFS 105.9-FM, has been hired as a national news anchor for CBS News Radio, starting November 9.

Based in Chicago, Keiper will be heard on the network’s hourly newscasts, which air on WBBM Newsradio and more than 1,000 affiliates nationwide. Continue reading →

Hannah Boufford, Hillary Flores and María Guerrero

Robservations on the media beat:

A free coronavirus information hotline is being launched today by Block Club Chicago, the nonprofit digital news godsend. The hotline — (312) 248-4876 — will be staffed from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, with the public invited to call or text with questions. (After hours, callers can leave a message.) Assistance in Spanish will be available from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. Question topics may range from symptoms, city rules and testing access to housing aid, unemployment benefits, free food and other resources for those out of work. “We field dozens of coronavirus-related questions from readers each week," said Stephanie Lulay, Block Club managing editor and co-founder. "As Chicago grapples with a second surge of the virus, this hotline will allow us to match readers with the information they need in real time.” Hannah Boufford, a former Block Club intern, has joined the staff full-time as hotline manager. "We’re excited to launch this hotline to remind Chicagoans they are not alone," she said. Hillary Flores and María Guerrero, editor in chief and managing editor, respectively, of La DePaulia, the Spanish-language arm of DePaul University’s student newspaper, will work with Boufford on the hotline. Block Club’s afternoon coronavirus newsletter, written and managed by director of strategy Jen Sabella, reaches nearly 100,000 people daily. Continue reading →

Bill Leff

Bill Leff, the affable Chicago radio personality, stand-up comedian and improv actor, will host a national one-hour weekday morning cartoon show on MeTV, the Chicago-based network for nostalgic television.

Starting in early January, “Toon In With Me” will feature Leff and a few other characters performing original comedy sketches leading into the best of the Warner Bros. Merrie Melodies and Looney Tunes animated classics, including Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, Tweety and Road Runner. Continue reading →

Vaughn McClure

Chicago sports media colleagues were stunned and saddened Thursday to learn of the death of ESPN reporter and former Chicago sportswriter Vaughn McClure. He was 48.

McClure died at home in Atlanta, according to ESPN, where he covered the Atlanta Falcons for NFL Nation. No cause of death was released.

The Chicago native and graduate of Northern Illinois University joined ESPN in 2013 after working for the Chicago Tribune as Chicago Bears beat writer. He also covered the Chicago Bulls in postseason. Continue reading →

Vi Nguyen

Robservations on the media beat:

Vi Nguyen, who’s been a per diem reporter for CBS-owned WBBM-Channel 2 since 2018, has been hired full-time as a multimedia journalist and general assignment reporter for NBC-owned WMAQ-Channel 5. She’ll start October 26, according to Frank Whittaker, station manager and vice president of news at NBC 5. The crosstown move was negotiated by agent Mort Meisner. Before joining CBS 2, Nguyen was a reporter and multimedia journalist for WISH, the CW affiliate in Indianapolis. Earlier she worked for stations in Oklahoma City; Wichita, Kansas; and Rockford. The Southern California native, who graduated from Joliet West High School and DePaul University, began as an intern at ABC-owned WLS-Channel 7 and the former Tribune Broadcasting WGN-Channel 9. Continue reading →