Larry Yellen and Natalie Bomke

Robservations on the media beat:

Scott Schneider

After five years as weekend news anchor at WFLD-Channel 32, Larry Yellen is returning to full-time reporting duties at the Fox-owned station. Replacing him alongside Natalie Bomke on the 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday newscasts will be Scott Schneider, just hired from WXIX-TV, the Fox affiliate in Cincinnati, Ohio. A Los Angeles native and graduate of California Polytechnic State University-Pomona, Schneider spent 14 years at WFMJ-TV, the NBC affiliate in Youngstown, Ohio, before joining WXIX in 2013. Fox 32 insiders suspect he may not be on weekends for long. If Jeff Herndon splits, as has been rumored, look for Schneider to replace him at 9 p.m. weekdays alongside Dawn Hasbrouck. Either way, it’s back to a Monday-through-Friday work week for Yellen, an investigative reporter and legal analyst for Fox 32 since 1994. Continue reading →

Mike Caplan

Mike Caplan, former meteorologist at ABC-owned WLS-Channel 7, has been hired as Monday-through-Friday morning weatherman at Fox-owned WFLD-Channel 32.

Caplan will join the cast of “Good Day Chicago,” the low-rated morning show airing from 4:30 to 10 a.m. weekdays, according to an announcement to staff Friday by Fox 32 bosses. Continue reading →

Sandra Torres (Photo: Ronald Zachara)

Sandra Torres, a bilingual journalist who was born in Colombia and grew up in northwest suburban Buffalo Grove, has been hired as a general assignment reporter at CBS-owned WBBM-Channel 2.

Torres, who previously worked as a producer at NBC-owned WMAQ-Channel 5 and a reporter and fill-in weather anchor at Telemundo WSNS-Channel 44, joins CBS 2 Monday. Continue reading →

Dick Biondi

Dick Biondi, the Radio Hall of Famer and Chicago broadcast treasure, will now be heard Saturday and Sunday mornings on WLS FM 94.7.

The move is a step up that could result in a larger audience for the incomparable 83-year-old rock ’n’ roll radio legend, who’d been relegated to late nights for years at the Cumulus Media classic hits station. Continue reading →

Justin Bieber

For one day only, one of Chicago’s leading hit music stations is calling itself "Bieber96.”

Starting at 2 p.m. Wednesday, CBS Radio temporarily rebranded Top 40 WBBM FM 96.3 to coincide with Justin Bieber’s sold-out concert at Allstate Arena and release of a new album. Continue reading →

NBC Tower

NBC Tower, home of WMAQ-Channel 5 since 1989, soon will house the consolidated studios and offices of Chicago’s four Cumulus Media radio stations.

The company has leased two floors of the 37-story office building at 455 North Cityfront Plaza Drive, according to Peter Bowen, vice president and Chicago market manager of Cumulus Media. The move is expected to be completed by July 1. Continue reading →

iHeart Media Chicago

Another Spanish-language Mexican regional music station is coming to Chicago next year.

iHeartMedia Chicago announced Tuesday it has signed a local marketing agreement with Show Time Media to broadcast the full-time music, entertainment and information format on 97.5 FM, starting February 1. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed. Continue reading →

Chicagoly

To be honest, “Chicagoly” sounds more like a board game than the name of a magazine. But at least there’s no confusing it with any other publication.

Back in August, 22nd Century Media announced plans to launch a magazine called The Chicagoan, billed as offering “insight, color and commentary on news topics and cultural issues important to the residents of America’s greatest city.” Continue reading →

Val Warner and Spike Lee

Robservations on the media beat:

Jennifer Hudson and John Cusack aren’t the only Chicagoans you’ll recognize in “Chi-Raq.” Val Warner, co-host of WLS-Channel 7’s “Windy City Live,” has a cameo role in director Spike Lee’s upcoming film spotlighting gang violence in Chicago. In a brief scene, she plays a TV news reporter who interviews Angela Bassett. How were Warner’s acting chops? “She was great,” Lee said in an on-air visit to the ABC 7 talk show last week. “She played herself.” After premiering November 22 at the Chicago Theatre, “Chi-Raq” opens December 4. Continue reading →

Chicago Tribune

More than three dozen Chicago Tribune editorial employees were approved for buyouts this week under Tribune Publishing’s voluntary separation program, sources said Friday.

The names of the employees were not released, but the company acknowledged they were part of a 7 percent reduction among an eligible 7,000 employees across its media portfolio. Continue reading →