Media Burn Independent Video Archive

Robservations on the media beat:

Chicago's Media Burn Independent Video Archive has received a $459,150 grant from the Council on Library Resources to collaborate with the University of Chicago on digitizing hundreds of previously unseen videotapes from the 1970s. In addition to Media Burn's content, the new Guerrilla Television Network will include work from Appalshop, Community TV Network, Experimental TV Center, Kartemquin Films and New Orleans Video Access Center. The grant marks a significant expansion for the nonprofit treasure founded in 2003 by legendary Chicago producer Tom Weinberg. Executive director Sara Chapman said it's vital to preserve and make available guerrilla videotape from the 1970s because "it represents such innovative and singular content that is imminently going to be lost and forever forgotten," adding: "It will be a significant step towards elevating these under-recognized works to the place they deserve in cultural history." Continue reading →

Chicago Tribune

Maryland hotel magnate Stewart Bainum and Swiss billionaire Hansjörg Wyss appear to have topped the bid of hedge fund Alden Global Capital to win full control of Tribune Publishing, the Wall Street Journal reported Sunday.

According to the report, Bainum and Wyss submitted a bid worth $680 million — well over Alden’s $635 million offer for full control of the parent company of the Chicago Tribune. Continue reading →

WMBI transmitter site in Addison (1927 photo)

WMBI 1110-AM, radio flagship of Chicago’s Moody Bible Institute since 1926 and the oldest noncommercial Christian radio station in the country, has been sold, according to a Federal Communications Commission filing.

El Sembrador Ministries, a Spanish-language Catholic network based in Chatsworth, California, agreed to pay $1.6 million for the daytime-only AM station along with a construction permit for a translator at 106.3 FM. Continue reading →

Cheryl Burton and Mark Giangreco (Photo: Matt Smith)

The firing of veteran sports anchor Mark Giangreco from ABC-owned WLS-Channel 7 after he referred to news anchor Cheryl Burton as someone who could “play the ditzy, combative interior decorator” on a do-it-yourself show led the top 10 most-read stories here in March.

To read the full posts, click on the headlines: Continue reading →

Ed Farmer and Darrin Jackson (2013 photo)

Robservations on the media beat:

Darrin Jackson

For Darrin Jackson it's more than Opening Day as he starts his 22nd season as color analyst for Chicago White Sox baseball broadcasts. Today also marks the one-year anniversary of the death of Ed Farmer, Jackson’s close friend and longtime partner in the radio booth. “This has been the longest year in so many ways,” Jackson told me. “The state of the world, the state of our nation, and we’ve all dealt with personal trials and tribulations. But for me, the loss of Ed’s friendship and love can’t be replaced. I’m sure that I’m one of at least a thousand people who feel this way. Ed was a person who made our world better. There hasn’t been a day that’s gone by where I don’t miss him. He was great for the White Sox and better for the community. Other than that, he was just little Eddie Farmer from Chicago.” Farmer, 70, died April 1, 2020, following a long battle with polycystic kidney disease. After an abbreviated 2020 season alongside play-by-play voice Andy Masur, Jackson is teaming with new partner Len Kasper on a new station — Good Karma Brands ESPN sports/talk WMVP 1000-AM. Continue reading →