Laura Thoren

Laura Thoren, granddaughter of a legendary journalist and diplomat from Sweden, has been hired as a per diem reporter at ABC-owned WLS-Channel 7.

Thoren, a general assignment reporter and fill-in news anchor at KOAT-TV, the ABC affiliate in Albuquerque, New Mexico, joins ABC 7 August 31. Continue reading →

Radio Disney

Nearly a year after Radio Disney announced it was pulling the plug on its 24 stations nationwide, the company has found a buyer for its former Chicago outlet.

Polnet Communications, Chicago-based owner of four ethnic and foreign language stations here, has agreed to buy WRDZ AM 1300 for $3.45 million, according to an application filed Wednesday with the Federal Communications Commission. Continue reading →

Jim O'Shea

It takes real chutzpah to publicly shame a guy for practically wrecking journalism and then hit him up for a donation to help bankroll a journalist.

But Jim O’Shea has an explanation for his wayward pitch to Sam Zell. Continue reading →

Brian Thomas

Cumulus Media is dispatching a seasoned corporate program executive from New York to become the new program director of WLS FM 94.7.

Brian Thomas starts August 1 as program director of the classic hits station here, according to an internal announcement Monday by Peter Bowen, vice president and Chicago market manager of Cumulus Media. Continue reading →

John Records Landecker

John Records Landecker, one of Chicago radio’s most celebrated disc jockeys, is calling it quits. His last show as evening host on Cumulus Media classic hits WLS FM 94.7 will be Friday.

Landecker, 68, who’s been working without a contract since he started in January 2012, said the decision to leave was entirely his own. Continue reading →

Natalie Bomke and Ed Zwiderski

Wedding bells rang high atop Chicago Saturday night for Natalie Bomke, weekend news anchor at Fox-owned WFLD-Channel 32, and Ed Swiderski, a former contestant on ABC’s “The Bachelorette.”

The two were married in an outdoor civil ceremony amid the flying buttresses of Tribune Tower's 25th floor in the private rooftop veranda known as The Crown. The reception was held at Howells & Hood, the restaurant on the building’s ground floor. Continue reading →

Suzanne Nance

Chicago’s classical music station is losing its afternoon voice.

Suzanne Nance resigned Friday after two years at WFMT FM 98.7 to join All Classical Public Media KQAC in Portland, Oregon, where she will double as program director and on-air host. Continue reading →

Chuck Schaden on WLTD (1974)

As Chicago’s preeminent broadcast historian, Chuck Schaden brought listeners back to the golden age of radio every Saturday afternoon for four decades. Now he’s taking a nostalgic journey of his own.

On Friday Schaden will join afternoon host Milt Rosenberg as a guest from 4 to 6 p.m. on Kovas Communications news/talk WCGO AM 1590. They’ll be in the same Evanston studio and on the same frequency where Schaden started “Those Were the Days” in 1970. Continue reading →

Two former Chicago radio executives were among the latest casualties of massive cutbacks sweeping across CBS Radio stations nationwide.

Harvey Wells and Dave Robbins were among five senior vice president/market managers forced out Thursday as the company continued to thin its ranks and reduce expenses. Continue reading →

WWD

Some readers of the Chicago Tribune soon will be receiving a bonus with their newspaper — WWD, the magazine many regard as the bible of the fashion industry.

Tribune Publishing this week announced a content distribution deal with Penske Media Corp., owner of the 105-year-old fashion and beauty publication formerly known as Women’s Wear Daily. Continue reading →