Robservations: ABC 7's Ryan Chiaverini 'super surprised' to catch COVID

Ryan Chiaverini

Robservations on the media beat:

Ryan Chiaverini can’t catch a break. In July he got word that “Windy City Live,” the daily talk show he’s been co-hosting for the past 10 years on ABC-owned WLS-Channel 7, had been canceled effective September 3. Then last week he returned from officiating at co-host Val Warner’s wedding in Cancun to learn he had tested positive for COVID-19 despite being fully vaccinated. “Here I am, one of the many breakthrough cases that we’re seeing in our state and across the country,” Chiaverini told ABC 7 news anchor Judy Hsu. “I do really believe that because I am vaccinated the severity of my symptoms have been much less and I’ve been able to recover much faster. My fever only lasted about six hours or something like that,” adding: “I was super surprised and it is disappointing. . . . I’ll be the first to admit I was back out giving hugs and handshakes and living our lives like we wanted to get back to, but this thing is real.” P.S. Warner tested negative.

Lucy Kim

Lucy Kim, vice president of development at the Brookings Institution, has been hired as chief advancement officer at Chicago Public Media, starting in September. In the newly created position she will lead fundraising and member/donor initiatives for the parent company of NPR news/talk WBEZ 91.5-FM. Earlier Kim held fundraising and management posts at Harvard University's Faculty of Arts and Sciences and Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study. She holds degrees from Harvard, Boston University and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Tom "Tommy B" Bickham

Tom "Tommy B" Bickham signed off Friday as afternoon host at WXLC 102.3-FM, the north suburban Alpha Media adult contemporary station. "I send my love and thanks to all of you who have supported me since Day 1 here in Lake County!" he wrote on Facebook. "I've had so much fun these past 7 years, I'll miss you Lake County!" The South Side Chicago native and Eastern Illinois University graduate began as a promotions assistant at 102.3 XLC. He continues to host mornings on Froggy 102.7 based in Mishawaka, Indiana.

WCPT 820

WCPT 820-AM, the Newsweb Radio progressive talk station, is one of 18 Chicago-area companies named a recipient in the inaugural Diversity in Business Awards presented by The Daily Herald Business Ledger. "WCPT has been built on equality, social justice and inclusion for all," said Melissa Ryzy, director of sales. "We practice diversity every day in the workplace, on the air and in our community." (Here is a complete list of winners.) Honorees will be profiled in a special edition of the Business Ledger on September 13.

Friday’s comment of the day: Gloria Picchetti: There isn't anyone nicer than Andy Avalos. All the pets he saved love him also.