Irika Sargent

You read it here first: Irika Sargent, a Miami news anchor and Cornell-educated lawyer, has been hired to replace Kate Sullivan alongside Rob Johnson on the Monday-through-Friday anchor desk at CBS-owned WBBM-Channel 2.

Sargent, 35, most recently has been 5 and 11 p.m. anchor at CBS-owned WFOR-TV in Miami. Starting October 19, she’ll co-anchor the 5, 6 and 10 p.m. newscasts here with Johnson. Continue reading →

Irika Sargent

Robservations on the media beat:

Kate Sullivan

Are Kate Sullivan’s days numbered at WBBM-Channel 2? With ratings at an all-time low, the CBS-owned station is believed to be shopping for a new co-anchor to team with Rob Johnson. Adding to speculation is word out of Miami that Irika Sargent, 5 and 11 p.m. news anchor at WFOR-TV, the CBS-owned there, recently met with CBS 2 bosses in Chicago. Sargent, 35, a graduate of the University of Missouri and Cornell Law School, practiced law for four years in New York City before anchoring in Miami and Houston. Sullivan, 39, who still identifies herself as an “East Coaster” on her Twitter profile, has made little impact in the five years since she came from WCBS-TV in New York, where she anchored morning and noon newscasts. In August, CBS 2 barely registered at 10 p.m. with a 0.7 rating among viewers between 25 and 54. Continue reading →

"In The Loop"

The widely promoted season premiere of “In The Loop” on public television station WYCC-Channel 20 was abruptly canceled Thursday hours before it was to have aired a show focusing on problems with Chicago Public Schools.

Veteran news anchors Robin Robinson and Lauren Cohn were to have made their debuts on the weekly news program alongside returning co-hosts Chris Bury and Barbara Pinto. Continue reading →

Orion Samuelson

On the eve of his 55th year on the air at WGN AM 720, Radio Hall of Famer Orion Samuelson announced he will undergo heart surgery next week.

Samuelson, 81, legendary agriculture-business reporter for the Tribune Media news/talk station, said he’ll have surgery Monday at the University of Chicago Medical Center to repair or replace a leaky heart valve. Continue reading →

Sherman Kaplan

Veteran news anchor Sherman Kaplan, one of the most familiar voices on Chicago radio, is retiring after more than 46 years at CBS Radio all-news WBBM AM 780/WCFS FM 105.9.

His last day on the air will be September 22, according to Ron Gleason, director of news and programming at WBBM Newsradio, who announced the retirement Wednesday. Continue reading →

Torey Malatia

Without Torey Malatia, there would not be “This American Life,” and there would not be "Wait, Wait...Don't Tell Me.”  There also wouldn’t be this blog.

I can’t speak for Ira Glass or Peter Sagal, but I know I have Malatia to thank for the opportunity that changed my life and redefined my career as a digital journalist. Continue reading →

Ivan Paez, Diane Fong and Juan Cristobal

A new live, local morning show, billed as “Los Chavalones de La Ley,” debuted Tuesday on WLEY FM 107.9, the Spanish Broadcasting System regional Mexican station.

Meaning “young crew” in Spanish slang, “Los Chavalones” features Ivan "El Ivan" Paez, Diane "La Diane" Fong and Juan “El Pop” Cristobal. Paez and Cristobal previously hosted afternoons at KBUE in Los Angeles. Continue reading →

Natasha Korecki

Natasha Korecki, one of Chicago’s premier political reporters, is leaving the Sun-Times after 12 years to join Politico, the authoritative source for coverage of politics and government.

Korecki will serve as a Chicago-based senior political reporter and will be responsible for compiling the daily Politico Playbook on Illinois politics, starting in late September. Continue reading →

Jimmy deCastro, Bob Sirott, Marianne Murciano and Todd Manley (2014)

Even as WGN AM 720 was bidding farewell to Bob Sirott, Marianne Murciano and David Kaplan last week, the Tribune Media news/talk station was reaffirming its place in the market and its commitment to drive-time stars Steve Cochran and Roe Conn.

Cochran just started the second year of a four-year deal as morning host, and Conn just agreed to a contract extension through January 2017 to continue as afternoon host. Continue reading →

David Kaplan

Robservations on the media beat:

Look for Sarah Spain, Jeff Dickerson, Jonathan Hood and Ben Finfer to turn up with David Kaplan when “Kap & Co.” debuts September 16 on ESPN Radio sports/talk WMVP AM 1000. The new show will air from noon to 2 p.m. weekdays, shifting John “Jurko” Jurkovic and Carmen DeFalco to 9 a.m. to noon. After 20 years at Tribune Media news/talk WGN AM 720, Kaplan last week secured an early release from his contract to join ESPN 1000. “Kap is by far one of the most recognizable voices in Chicago, and few in the city have the breadth of knowledge and passion for sports and relationships with the people here that he has,” said program director Adam Delevitt, who first worked with Kaplan as an intern at WGN in 1998. Friday marks the final broadcast of Kaplan’s morning show on WGNplus.com and Comcast SportsNet Chicago with David Haugh, who continues as Chicago Tribune sports columnist. Continue reading →