Joe Donlon

Joe Donlon, who stepped down last month after a stint at Chicago-based cable news startup NewsNation, has been hired as main news anchor at CBS-owned WBBM-Channel 2. Starting May 2, Donlon will anchor the 5, 6 and 10 p.m. Monday-through-Friday newscasts with Irika Sargent.

Brad Edwards, who held the top anchor job at CBS 2 since 2019, will shift to primary anchor for CBS News Chicago, the station’s 24/7 streaming news service, and continue as an investigative reporter. Continue reading →

Bruce St. James

Bruce St. James, a Phoenix radio import who never caught on as morning personality at WLS 890-AM, is out after 16 months at the Cumulus Media news/talk station. Wednesday was his last day on the air.

Marv Nyren, vice president and market manager of Cumulus Chicago, confirmed that St. James was no longer hosting mornings. Chicago radio veteran Ramblin’ Ray Stevens will be filling in “until we find a permanent replacement,” according to Nyren, who declined further comment. Continue reading →

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 →

MeTV and Story Television

Robservations on the media beat:

Frndly TV

All five of Chicago-based Weigel Broadcasting’s digital broadcast networks — including MeTV and the brand-new Story Television — are available in live streaming for the first time. Thanks to a carriage agreement announced this week, the Frndly TV streaming service adds Weigel's MeTV, Story Television, H&I (Heroes & Icons), Decades and Start TV to its lineup. “We welcome the subscribers of Frndly TV into the family-friendly world of MeTV and our full array of entertaining and engaging networks,” said Neal Sabin, vice chairman of Weigel Broadcasting. “The warmth of 'Andy Griffith,' the thrill of all five original 'Star Trek' series, newer and classic crime and court dramas are just a part of what our networks are bringing to Frndly, and we are thrilled to be with this well-positioned service.” Launched in 2019 by former Dish Network executives, the Denver-based Frndly markets itself as “the most affordable live TV streaming service in America,” offering cord-cutters more than 35 channels for $6.99 a month. Continue reading →

Ed Curran (Photo: CBS Chicago/2021)

Three months after receiving a kidney transplant that saved his life, veteran meteorologist Ed Curran will return Saturday to his weekend weather duties at CBS-owned WBBM-Channel 2.

"I look forward to coming back healthier than I’ve been in a long time," said Curran, 66, who disclosed his ordeal in a social media post Wednesday, publicly thanking his sister for donating one of her kidneys.

"There are simply no words to express my love and appreciation for my sister, Patti Orthwein," he said. "It took months of tests and many four-hour commutes each way to Northwestern Memorial Hospital with her supportive husband, Wayne, to accomplish this life-saving organ donation. Thank you. I’m humbled." Continue reading →

Casey McCabe and Jenny Valliere

Robservations on the media beat:

Lisa Allen

Lisa Allen will move back to her longtime midday shift at WTMX 101.9-FM when the Hubbard Radio hot adult-contemporary station debuts a new afternoon show April 18. Casey McCabe, formerly of KAMP and KROQ in Los Angeles and host of the syndicated “Alternative Soundcheck,” will team with Jenny Valliere, who's been working as midday personality and music director at The Mix since last April. Afternoons had been co-hosted by Allen and Chris Petlak until January when Petlak moved to mornings. “I’m thrilled at all the great talent we have at The Mix, and I’m looking forward to each of them realizing their full potential,” said Jimmy Steal, vice president of brand and content at Hubbard Radio Chicago. In the latest Nielsen Audio survey, The Mix tied for 10th place in afternoons with a 3.1 percent share and a cumulative weekly audience of 459,700. Continue reading →

David Kaplan (Photo: NBC Sports Chicago)

David Kaplan, a preeminent voice of sports in Chicago, is about to host a new Monday-through-Friday sports talk show on NBC Sports Chicago.

Starting April 4 “Unfiltered with David Kaplan” will air at 6 p.m. weeknights. After a 20-month hiatus, it will mark a return to nightly TV for Kaplan, who hosted “Sports Talk Live” on the regional sports network for more than 16 years. Continue reading →