Deerfield Village Hall

Robservations on the media beat:

The parent company of the Daily Herald is expanding its weekly newspaper operation into north suburban Deerfield. Starting Thursday, the new Deerfield Herald will be distributed free to every household in the village. The move follows the launch of weeklies in Glenview and Northbrook in 2020. "We believe Deerfield is a natural extension of our mission," said Colin O’Donnell, senior vice president and director of operations and strategic initiatives for Daily Herald Media Group. "As we have in our other weeklies, we will be locally focused on Deerfield and its residents, especially as it pertains to schools, prep sports and local businesses. We also, like in our other weekly papers, will have an expansive calendar of events. We think Deerfield deserves a local paper and we will provide it." It's moving in on Tribune Publishing's Deerfield Review, a hollow remnant of the once-distinguished Pioneer Press chain. Melynda Findlay-Shamie, editor of the Glenview Herald and Northbrook Herald, will add the Deerfield edition to her portfolio. (Disclosure: I am employed by Daily Herald Media Group.) Continue reading →

Refugees fleeing Ukrainian town after Russian airstrike (Photo: Associated Press)

Robservations on the media beat:

Illinois Broadcasters Association

TV and radio stations in the Chicago area and throughout Illinois are joining forces to provide humanitarian aid for children and families in Ukraine. Starting today and running through April 13, Illinois Broadcasters Association and Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art will seek to raise $1 million for UNICEF through a series of public service messages. (Here is the link to donate.) "Our members are proud to be joining hands to assist UNICEF in the enormous challenge they face to help as many children and families as possible whose lives have been so shattered by this brutal war,” Melody Spann-Cooper, chairwoman of the IBA, said in a statement. The campaign will culminate in a live 18-hour fundraiser April 13 starting at 5 a.m. at the Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art. Illinois Helps Ukraine is spearheaded by Steve Robinson, president of New Media Productions and former executive vice president and general manager of classical WFMT 98.7-FM. “Chicago’s TV and radio stations have always been devoted to public service and joining hands for a joint fundraising campaign to assist UNICEF in this emergency speaks to that commitment,” Robinson said. Continue reading →

Lauren Jiggetts

A candid conversation with "WGN Morning News" anchor Lauren Jiggetts and a remembrance of former Chicago TV executive Bob Ramsey led the top 10 most-read stories here in March.

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

Jeff Reisman (Photo: Salem Media Group)

No one would say running a station like WIND 560-AM is a breeze, but Jeff Reisman makes it look easy.

From studios and offices in Elk Grove Village, Reisman calls the shots for the conservative news/talk station known as “AM 560 The Answer" as well as WYLL 1160-AM, the Christian talk and teaching station also owned by Salem Media Group.

Reisman, 55, grew up in Northbrook, where he and his wife still live with their three children — all of whom attended Glenbrook North High School, as did their dad. Continue reading →