Date Archives → 2021

'Great leader' Julie Mann resigns as managing editor of WBBM Newsradio

Julie Mann (Photo: Bart Shore)

Julie Mann, the first-rate broadcast journalist who has led the newsroom of WBBM 780-AM/WCFS 105.9-FM as managing editor for more than a decade, is leaving after 25 years at the top-rated Audacy all-news station.

Mann's resignation, effective December 10, was announced to the staff Wednesday by Ron Gleason, brand manager and news director of WBBM Newsradio. A search is underway for her successor. Continue reading →

WTTW's Geoffrey Baer lifts viewers 'Beyond Chicago From the Air'

Geoffrey Baer

When Geoffrey Baer was promoted to vice president of original content production for television at WTTW-Channel 11 in 2019, fans may have wondered whether the veteran producer might be giving up his role as Chicago’s most genial tour guide.

Fortunately for us, Baer has continued to turn out the engaging and enlightening travelogues he’s been hosting at the Window to the World Communications station for more than 25 years.

Premiering at 7:30 p.m. tonight, his latest effort is a one-hour tour de force called “Beyond Chicago From the Air.” Continue reading →

Robservations: WGN in talks on Dan Roan’s retirement; Telemundo’s stolen news van recovered; Natasha Korecki joins NBC News

Dan Roan

Robservations on the media beat:

On second thought, let's not plan that retirement party for Dan Roan quite yet. In a late July interview for the folks back home in Keokuk, Iowa, the veteran sports anchor at WGN-Channel 9 told the Fort Madison Daily Democrat that he would be retiring in February, adding: “That’s pretty much going to be the end of it.” But when those comments surfaced here Monday, they came as a surprise to many at the Nexstar Media station. "Dan is an icon in Chicago television, with a tremendous impact on WGN for nearly 40 years," WGN news director Dominick Stasi told me. "We have had several discussions as Dan starts to look at the next chapter in his life. He has an eye on retiring sometime in 2022, but no exact date has been set.” Roan, 68, who began his career at WCIA, the CBS affiliate in Champaign, and joined WGN as sports director and sports anchor in 1984, preferred to let his bosses do the talking Monday. Continue reading →

Robservations: ABC 7 wins late-news ratings in November; Sports anchor Dan Roan talks up retirement; WGN Radio overlooks Dan Hampton arrest

Alan Krashesky and Cheryl Burton (Photo: ABC 7 Chicago)

Robservations on the media beat:

No need to parse the Nielsen numbers this time. Unlike the three-way tie that deadlocked the May sweep, November delivered a clear victory in late-news ratings for ABC-owned WLS-Channel 7. Fronted by news anchors Alan Krashesky and Cheryl Burton, “Eyewitness News” at 10 p.m. finished first in total households and first among viewers between 25 and 54, according to preliminary results released Sunday. Overall ABC 7 had 201,347 viewers at 10 p.m., followed by NBC-owned WMAQ-Channel 5 (152,746 viewers); CBS-owned WBBM-Channel 2 (86,787 viewers); Nexstar Media WGN-Channel 9 (79,844 viewers); Univision WGBO-Channel 66 (59,015 viewers); and Telemundo WSNS-Channel 44 (24,300 viewers). At 9 p.m. WGN led with 135,388 viewers, and Fox-owned WFLD-Channel 32 had 52,072 viewers. Continue reading →

WTTW promotes veteran producer Jay Smith to news director

Window to the World Communications

In what may be the least surprising promotion of the year, Jay Smith was named news director of WTTW-Channel 11 and executive producer of “Chicago Tonight” Wednesday.

Smith, a 32-year veteran of the Window to the World Communications public television station and senior supervising producer of WTTW News, has been serving as acting executive producer for nine months. Continue reading →

Another shakeup at Chicago magazine: Amy Carr steps down, Terry Noland returns

Amy Carr

For the second time in six months there’s been a change at the top of Chicago magazine.

Amy Carr, the former top features editor at the Chicago Tribune who succeeded Susanna Homan in June as editor-in-chief of the monthly magazine, is stepping down to join Time Zone One, a global creative communications agency.

On Tuesday Chicago Tribune Media Group named Terry Noland editor-in-chief of Chicago, starting in January. It’s a return to the magazine for Noland, who previously served seven years as executive editor. Continue reading →

Robservations: Janet Davies debuts showbiz podcast; George Papajohn named editor of ProPublica Midwest; Deborah Douglas wins Dorothy Storck Award

Janet Davies

Robservations on the media beat:

Broadway and Beyond

The stellar Janet Davies, who covered Chicago's entertainment scene with authority and style for 37 years at ABC-owned WLS-Channel 7, is back on the beat with her own weekly podcast. “Broadway and Beyond with Janet Davies” just launched on Apple Podcasts and soon will appear on other platforms. (Here is the link.) "Now that entertainment is roaring back, I have the opportunity to take my over four decades (yikes!) of reporting experience and focus on long-form interviews with creatives," she said. "Please check it out if you love performance, if you love Chicago and if you are curious what people really want to say after they do a short news soundbite." The premiere spotlights changes at The Second City, including interviews new executive producer Jon Carr and 109th revue director Anneliese Toft. Added Davies: "I think there cannot be enough coverage of arts and entertainment in Chicago." Continue reading →