Great Scott: Bright forecast for NBC 5 weather star

Cheryl Scott

Cheryl Scott

This may be Chicago’s coldest winter in years, but things are heating up for Cheryl Scott.

After just two and a half years as weekend meteorologist at WMAQ-Channel 5, Scott, 29, has become the NBC-owned station’s most talked-about personality, amassing a social media fan base of more than 31,340 on Facebook and 19,500 on Twitter (a following exceeded only by Tom Skilling and Jerry Taft among Chicago weather people). Continue reading

Amid more layoffs, Sun-Times rehires four photographers

Sun-TimesFour of the photographers who were fired when the Chicago Sun-Times eliminated its photography department last spring are rejoining the newspaper this week.

Rich Chapman, Brian Jackson, Al Podgorski and a fourth photographer whose name was not confirmed are expected to be rehired under terms of a contract settlement reached in November between Sun-Times Media and the Chicago Newspaper Guild.

But relief over their return was tempered by news of additional layoffs in the editorial ranks of the Sun-Times, the Post-Tribune of Northwest Indiana and the SouthtownStar. Continue reading

Winter-weary Ponce belts out winning number

Dan Ponce

Dan Ponce

If you’re as sick of Chicago’s endless winter as everybody else, check out this video parody of “Let It Go,” the Academy Award-winning song from the Disney movie “Frozen.”

"Let It Go (Chicago),” which debuted Monday, is the work of Chicago’s Very Own Dan Ponce, morning news anchor at Tribune Broadcasting WGN-Channel 9. While a student at Indiana University, Ponce founded the renowned a cappella group Straight No Chaser. Continue reading

Chicago fellowship brings Roger Simon home

Roger Simon

Roger Simon

Roll out the welcome mat for the great Roger Simon, chief political columnist for politico.com, who’s coming home to Chicago this spring.

Simon has been named one of six Fellows in Residence at the University of Chicago’s Institute of Politics, the public policy and public service institute founded and led by David Axelrod.

Starting later this month, Simon will spend the spring quarter on campus interacting with students and faculty, participating in public forums and leading a seminar on “the collision of media mayhem and political stagecraft.” Continue reading

Political guru Rich Miller joins Crain’s

Rich Miller

Rich Miller

Rich Miller, the Illinois political reporter, editor, blogger and pundit whose Capitol Fax newsletter has been a must-read among power brokers for more than 20 years, is joining Crain’s Chicago Business as a contributing columnist.

Starting Friday, Miller’s column will appear twice monthly on chicagobusiness.com and eventually will be seen in Crain’s weekly print publication as well. Continue reading

Investigative reporter brings ‘Survivor’ skills to NBC 5

Tammy Leitner

Tammy Leitner

Tammy Leitner, a Peabody Award-winning reporter who once appeared as a contestant on “Survivor,” is joining the expanded investigative unit at NBC-owned WMAQ-Channel 5 next week.

Her hiring will supplement a growing "NBC 5 Investigates" team that currently includes reporters Rob Stafford, Carol Marin, Lisa Parker, Phil Rogers, Dick Johnson, Marion Brooks and Chris Coffey. Frank Whittaker, station manager and vice president of news at NBC 5, confirmed that Leitner will start Monday.

Continue reading