David Greising

Chicago’s Better Government Association, the nonprofit investigation journalism and government watchdog organization, is about to expand dramatically, thanks to the largest gift in its 98-year history — a $10 million grant from the Robert R. McCormick Foundation.

Over the next five years, the grant will be used to more than double the investigative and enterprise reporting staff of the BGA and broaden its mission to encompass "solutions journalism" across a variety of platforms. Continue reading →

Bozo's Circus (1971)

Robservations on the media beat:

Big news for Bozo fans: "Bozo's Circus: The 1970s," a two-hour primetime special featuring clips from the beloved children's show that haven't been seen in nearly 50 years, will premiere December 19 on WGN-Channel 9. Among the cache of recently found tapes was a master recording from 1974 that no one knew was languishing in the Nexstar Media station's archive. Credit the discovery to George Pappas, program specialist and unofficial station historian at "Chicago's Very Own," who's producer and writer of the special. It'll be hosted by WGN entertainment reporter Dean Richards. For most of the show’s run from 1961 to 2001, "Bozo" was the hottest ticket in town, often boasting a waiting list as long as 10 years. Continue reading →

Lisa Dent

Lisa Dent, who's been a popular Chicago radio personality for two decades, will sign on as Monday-through-Friday afternoon host at WGN 720-AM in the new year.

The Nexstar Media news/talk station announced the move Thursday as part of a new weekday lineup starting January 3. Continue reading →

Solving for Chicago

The largest collaborative journalism effort ever assembled in Chicago spent the last year reporting on essential workers and how the COVID-19 pandemic reshaped work and employment throughout the region.

Now, thanks to increased support from the Solutions Journalism Network, the joint project dubbed Solving for Chicago has been renewed for another year. This time it will focus on how COVID-19 has prompted communities to rethink solutions to problems of housing, education, public safety, employment and public health. Continue reading →

Candace McCollum

Robservations on the media beat:

A five-part radio documentary series on more than 50 Black women and girls in Chicago who vanished without a trace will air on WVON 1690-AM, the Midway Broadcasting news/talk station. “The Invisible Ones: Voices of the Missing,” hosted and produced by WVON morning news anchor Candace McCollum, will premiere November 29 and air four times daily throughout the week. “I sought to humanize many of these women whose names we never knew,” said McCollum, who was born and raised in Naperville and graduated from Neuqua Valley High School and Columbia College. “I cannot name one Black woman whose name is etched in the psyche of America because she went missing.” Continue reading →

101.9 The Mix

For the first time in 25 years there’s an opening for a new morning host at WTMX 101.9-FM.

The job posting by Hubbard Radio Chicago comes two weeks after Eric Ferguson stepped down from the hot adult-contemporary station in the wake of sexual misconduct allegations and multiple lawsuits by former co-workers. Continue reading →

Julie Unruh

Robservations on the media beat:

Julie Unruh, midday news anchor at WGN-Channel 9, is signing off after 20 years at the Nexstar Media station. Her last day will be November 24. "I’ve been proud to work alongside you as I’ve watched Channel 9 grow from a few small, local newscasts each day to broadcasting nearly non-stop, earning our rightful place in a competitive news market. It’s been truly amazing to watch. Truly," Unruh wrote in an email to colleagues Thursday. "I’m looking forward to stepping aside and spending more time with my family. The time is right." A Chicago native and graduate of Regina Dominican High School in Wilmette and Indiana University, Unruh joined WGN as a general assignment reporter in 2001 after two years at CLTV, the former cable news channel. She was promoted to midday news anchor in 2020. No word yet on her replacement alongside co-anchor Dina Bair. Continue reading →

Lisa Fielding

Growing up in northwest suburban Lake Zurich, Lisa Fielding always thought of herself as a “theater kid.” Now a top-rated afternoon news anchor and reporter at WBBM 780-AM/WCFS 105.9-FM, she’s never lost touch with the performing arts.

Starting the week of December 6, Fielding will put it all together as host of "Backstage Chicago," a new weekly podcast on the local arts and cultural scene for the Audacy all-news station. Continue reading →

Maze Jackson (Photo: ABC Television Stations)

Days after his national star-turn on the Hulu documentary series “Being Blago,” Chicago radio personality and podcaster Maze Jackson became the victim of a carjacking on the city’s Near South Side Tuesday.

Jackson was at 24th and South State Streets before noon when he said he was struck from behind by a truck and attacked by an assailant who stole his Porsche Panamera. He told me he filed a police report on the incident. Continue reading →

Chad McCullough (Photo: Mark Sheldon)

Robservations on the media beat:

Public Radio Music Day

WDCB 90.9-FM, the west suburban College of DuPage station, will celebrate Public Radio Music Day Wednesday with a jazz concert and live radio broadcast. Trumpeter Chad McCullough and his quartet will perform a new interpretation of jazz trumpet legend Kenny Dorham's classic "Quiet Kenny" album, recorded in 1959. Fans are invited to attend the concert at Fulton Street Collective, 1821 West Hubbard Street, or listen live on WDCB from 6 to 7 p.m. (Here is the link for tickets.) "What better way to celebrate Public Radio Music Day than to bring a live jazz concert to the airwaves," station manager Dan Bindert said in a statement. "WDCB is driven by our live and local deejays who are deeply passionate about jazz. And we feel it's important to not only present the best recorded music, but also to present the creativity of our great Chicago musicians in a truly live setting as often as we can." Continue reading →