Steve Cochran

Three years after he left WGN AM 720, Steve Cochran was back on the Tribune Broadcasting news/talk station Tuesday.

Filling in for vacationing morning host Jonathon Brandmeier, Cochran picked up where he left off without missing a beat: "This morning I'm just walking by [Tribune Tower], minding my own business," he joked with overnight host Bill Leff. "The lights are on, I know the security guys, so I come in, plug in some headphones and figure I'll do a show. What's so wrong with that?"  Continue reading →

Susan Carlson

Former CBS 2 morning news anchor Susan Carlson is joining WLS 890 AM as news anchor for Roe Conn and Richard Roeper's afternoon show, starting later this month. She will succeed the legendary Jim Johnson, who retired Friday after 45 years at the Cumulus Media news/talk station.

It's a return to her radio roots for the Chicago native, who worked for a variety of local stations, including WLS where she served as a news anchor for Conn's afternoon show from 1998 to 2002.

"We are thrilled to have Susan back," Conn told me. "She was an instrumental part of our run in the late '90s and we're looking forward to a great future." Continue reading →

Brooke Hunter

Chicago radio veteran Brooke Hunter signs on today as midday personality at WLIT 93.9 FM, the Clear Channel adult contemporary station recently rebranded 93.9 My FM.

Hunter, who will be heard from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays, previously hosted middays on CBS Radio's former Fresh 105.9 FM. Earlier, she held various shifts on Q101, The Mix and The Zone. Continue reading →

In one fell swoop, Tribune Broadcasting nearly doubled in size Monday, increasing the number of television stations it owns from 23 to 42.

With the acquisition of Local TV, the Cincinnati-based company once headed by former Tribune Co. CEO Randy Michaels, Tribune becomes the largest television station owner in the country. The $2.725 billion deal adds 19 stations in 16 markets. Continue reading →

Steve Cochran

Chicago radio veteran Steve Cochran has signed off from WIND AM 560 after nearly two years as afternoon personality.

Cochran, whose last day on WIND was Thursday, notified bosses of the Salem Communications news/talk station that he would not accept a renewal of his contract. Since October 2011, he has been hosting from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday. His bio no longer appears on the station's website.

His departure was confirmed by WIND in an email sent to advertisers Friday: "Effective today, Steve Cochran will no longer be hosting our afternoon drive show AM 560. This decision is a mutual one between Steve and the radio station. Steve has decided to pursue other opportunities, and we are parting ways amicably. We greatly appreciate the hard work that Steve has invested in the radio station and into his show. We wish him well in his future endeavors." Continue reading →

Jim Nayder

Deeply saddened by the passing of Jim Nayder, a 36-year veteran of Chicago Public Radio, and the creator, host and producer of "The Annoying Music Show" and "Magnificent Obsession: True Stories of Recovery." He was 59.

He was found in his Rogers Park apartment Friday. Cause of death is not known. Continue reading →

Steve Dahl and Garry Meier

Twenty years after their legendary partnership broke up, Steve Dahl and Garry Meier will be united again in the National Radio Hall of Fame.

As a duo, the two will be inducted into the Chicago-based shrine along with six other broadcast veterans. The black-tie ceremony, hosted by Larry King, will be November 9 at the Museum of Broadcast Communications, which houses the Radio Hall of Fame.

Other inductees for 2013 are: broadcasters Blair Garner, John Lanigan, Paul W. Smith, Eddie "Piolin" Sotelo and Charley Steiner, and (posthumously) radio manufacturer Powel Crosley Jr. Continue reading →

Jim Kirk

Veteran Chicago journalist Jim Kirk is expected to be named publisher of the Chicago Sun-Times, sources said.

Kirk, 48, who has served as senior vice president and editor-in-chief since April 2012, will become editor and publisher of the Sun-Times, the SouthtownStar, the Joliet Herald News and the Northwest Indiana Post-Tribune, with responsibility over all business and editorial operations.

His promotion, expected to be announced this week, will mark the first time the roles of editor and publisher have been combined at the Sun-Times. Continue reading →

Sylvia Perez and Linda Yu

Chicago's top-rated television station is dropping its 11 a.m. Monday-through-Friday newscast after more than 20 years this fall to make room on its daytime schedule for the syndicated "Live with Kelly and Michael" and retain the locally produced "Windy City Live."

Linda Yu and Sylvia Perez have been anchoring ABC 7's late-morning newscast since it debuted in September 1992. At the time, they were the first two women to anchor a newscast together in Chicago. Initially a half-hour newscast at 11:30 a.m., it later expanded to a full hour. Continue reading →

It's a new day for the Chicago Sun-Times: On Wednesday, the paper unveiled a change in its nameplate to "Chicago Sun-Times.com," a redesign of the opening pages of the print newspaper, and a refreshed website. A full-blown redesign is expected to follow.

"We are rolling out a new contemporary design in print that we believe will help you navigate the paper better while better connecting related information and content on our website," editor-in-chief Jim Kirk wrote in a note to readers. "In fact, that enhanced integration with our digital content is now reflected on our front page."

Under the ownership of Wrapports LLC since late 2011, the Sun-Times has been struggling to achieve profitability by means of severe cutbacks and conversion to a fully digital news operation. Continue reading →