Diane Dungey
Diane Dungey, senior deputy managing editor of the Daily Herald and the highest-ranking woman in the newsroom, is calling it a career after 40 years.
Editor John Lampinen and managing editor Jim Baumann announced in an email Tuesday Dungey will retire from full-times duties November 12. She will take on an unspecified post-retirement role with the newsroom, they said. Continue reading
Alexis McAdams
Robservations on the media beat:
Brittany Garzillo
Alexis McAdams, who’s been a per diem reporter at ABC-owned WLS-Channel 7 since 2018, today is expected to be named a New York-based correspondent for Fox News Channel. McAdams, who grew up in northwest suburban Palatine and graduated from William Fremd High School and Illinois State University, previously worked for Fox/CBS affiliates WXIN/WTTV in Indianapolis and ABC affiliate WTVO in Rockford. She is the niece of Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart. “Alexis has done a terrific job here at ABC 7,” said Jennifer Graves, vice president of news at ABC 7. “She’s excelled at breaking news and at digging into the day’s top story. We’ll miss the energy and enthusiasm with which she tackled every assignment.” Her last day at ABC 7 was Friday. As reported here earlier, also joining Fox News as a New York-based correspondent is Brittany Garzillo, a reporter and fill-in news anchor at Fox-owned WFLD-Channel 32 since early 2020. She previously worked for WGAL, the NBC affiliate in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Continue reading
A Century of Radio (Photo: Museum of Broadcast Communications)
The Smith-Corona typewriter Larry Lujack used to write his famed “Animal Stories” bits on WLS Radio and Edgar Bergen’s original ventriloquist dummies — Charlie McCarthy, Mortimer Snerd and Effie Klinker — are among treasures on display in a new exhibit celebrating radio’s centennial.
Now in previews, "A Century of Radio” officially opens October 28 at Chicago’s Museum of Broadcast Communications, 360 North State Street. Admission is free through the end of the year. (Here is the link.) Continue reading
ESPN Chicago
On the same day the Chicago White Sox opened their playoff series, a top management change suddenly unfolded behind the scenes at the team’s radio home, WMVP 1000-AM.
Debbie Brown, vice president of marketing at Good Karma Brands and a 22-year veteran of the company, was named interim market manager of the ESPN Chicago sports/talk station. Continue reading
Amy Freeze
Robservations on the media beat:
Fox Weather
Remember Amy Freeze? From 2007 to 2011 the aptly named weather forecaster gained a wide following at Fox-owned WFLD-Channel 32, where she was the first female chief meteorologist on Chicago TV. Now she's just been hired as an anchor for Fox Weather, a new 24/7 advertiser-supported video-on-demand streaming weather service, set to debut October 25. (Here is the link.) Freeze signed off Sunday after 10 years as weekend meteorologist at WABC, the ABC-owned station in New York. Before joining Fox 32, Freeze worked for stations in Philadelphia, Denver and Portland, Oregon. The native of Provo, Utah, is a graduate of Brigham Young University and the University of Pennsylvania. Continue reading
Eric Ferguson
While embattled Radio Hall of Famer Eric Ferguson faces allegations of misconduct from a growing number of former co-workers, he'll be off the air at least through the end of the month.
In court documents filed Tuesday Melissa McGurren, former morning co-host on WTMX 101.9-FM, became the third woman to publicly accuse Ferguson of inappropriate behavior at the Hubbard Radio hot adult-contemporary station. “For many years, Ferguson has grossly abused his power, and his conduct was the major reason the station became a hostile working environment,” she said in the filing. Continue reading
Melissa McGurren and Eric Ferguson
Melissa McGurren, former morning co-host at WTMX 101.9-FM, has become the third former employee of the station to file documents in court alleging misconduct by veteran morning host Eric Ferguson.
McGurren worked for 22 years at the Hubbard Radio hot adult-contemporary station, where she rose from traffic reporter to co-host of Ferguson’s morning show before she left in 2020. At the time she posted a video on social media saying the company's version of events was "not accurate" and added: "The truth will come out." Continue reading
Gabe Ramirez and Nina Hajian
Robservations on the media beat:
After three years on the dawn patrol at Audacy Top 40 WBBM 96.3-FM it's over and out for Gabe Ramirez and Nina Hajian. Last week the company posted a job opening for a new morning team. (Here is the link.) Station bosses declined to comment on their plans for the show. Hajian has been off the air without explanation since August. Look for Ramirez soon to follow. For now he's still listed solo on B96's website. The duo first united in 2018 under morning host Kevin "Drex" Buchar, who left the following year. It's been "The Gabe and Nina Show" since then. In the latest Nielsen Audio survey B96 tied for 22nd place in mornings with a 1.6 percent share and a cumulative weekly audience of 279,300. Continue reading
PatCassidy
With veteran morning news anchor Pat Cassidy leading the way, WBBM 780-AM/WCFS 105.9-FM bounced back to first place in the latest survey of Chicago radio listenership.
In addition to ranking No. 1 overall, the Audacy all-news combo won in mornings with Cassidy, middays with Cisco Cotto and afternoons with Keith Johnson and Lisa Fielding, according to Nielsen Audio figures released Monday. Continue reading
Eric Ferguson (Photo: Hubbard Radio Chicago)
Now that a second woman has come forward with sexual misconduct allegations against Radio Hall of Famer Eric Ferguson, even his most ardent supporters have to wonder how long Chicago’s highest-paid morning host can survive a public pillorying over claims about his conduct off the air.
Ferguson, 54, has about three years left on his contract with WTMX 101.9-FM, sources said. His female-targeted morning show has been a top performer for the Hubbard Radio hot adult-contemporary station since 1996. Continue reading