Katie Kim

Robservations on the media beat:

Katie Kim, a reporter at NBC-owned WMAQ-Channel 5, has been promoted to weekend morning news anchor. While continuing to work with the NBC 5 Investigates unit during the week, she'll join anchor Susan Carlson on Saturday and Sunday mornings, according to an announcement Wednesday by Frank Whittaker, station manager and vice president of news at NBC 5. "Katie has done a great job filling in, and did a wonderful job for us reporting from the Winter Olympics earlier this year," Whittaker said. A southern California native and magna cum laude graduate of the University of Southern California, Kim joined NBC 5 in 2014 from KRQE-TV, the CBS affiliate in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Continue reading →

Steve Seaver

A three-way tie for first place in afternoon drive pretty well sums up how tightly compacted the Chicago radio scene has become.

Nielsen Audio figures released Tuesday show afternoon personalities Steve Seaver of Hubbard Radio classic rock WDRV 97.1-FM, Ron Parker of Cumulus Media classic hits WLS 94.7-FM, and Joe Soto of iHeartMedia urban adult-contemporary WVAZ 102.7-FM tied for the top spot in the August survey. That's never happened before. Continue reading →

NBC Tower

Robservations on the media beat:

Cardinal Blase Cupich

WMAQ-Channel 5 is defending itself against criticism that the NBC-owned station unfairly edited an interview last week with Cardinal Blase Cupich. The cardinal called reporter Mary Ann Ahern's story "misleading" because he said it "gave the false impression that Pope Francis and I consider the protection of children to be less important than other issues, such as the environment or immigration. Nothing could be further from the truth." (Here is the link to Cupich's statement.) In response, NBC 5 said: “We believe our story to be accurate in that Cardinal Cupich was referring to the memo about sexual abuse allegations in question. The cardinal was making a point that until accusations are verified, the Pope shouldn’t respond.” The station posted the full unedited interview on its website. (Here is the link to the unedited video.) Continue reading →

WGN

The surprise resignation of Jennifer Lyons as news director of Tribune Broadcasting WGN-Channel 9 and a surge in the ratings by Hubbard Radio classic rock WDRV 97.1-FM and Cumulus Media classic hits WLS 94.7-FM led the top 10 most-read stories here in August.

To read the full posts, click on the headlines: Continue reading →

WGN

Sinclair Broadcast Group fired back Wednesday against Tribune Media, countersuing the Chicago-based owner of WGN-Channel 9 and WGN 720-AM over the collapse of their proposed merger.

Sinclair’s response came three weeks after Tribune Media filed a $1 billion breach-of-contract lawsuit against Sinclair, alleging the Maryland-based broadcaster botched the original transaction through its “unnecessarily aggressive and protracted negotiations” with the Department of Justice and the FCC. Continue reading →

Brian Tallerico and Dann Gire

Robservations on the media beat:

Daily Herald film critic Dann Gire is stepping down after 22 years as president of the Chicago Film Critics Association, the organization he co-founded and continues to serve as a director. "The time has come for me to hand it off to someone younger and more resilient," he said. Succeeding Gire as president is Brian Tallerico, editor of RogerEbert.com, and the group's current vice president. The association hosts an annual film festival and awards presentation. Gire also started this week in his new role as adjunct instructor at Loyola University's School of Communications, where he's teaching a course on business speaking. In November Gire took a buyout after 42 years as a full-time employee of the Daily Herald, but retained the title of film critic on a freelance basis. Continue reading →

tronc

Robservations on the media beat:

Patrick Soon-Shiong

Patrick Soon-Shiong, the biotech billionaire who paid $500 million to buy the Los Angeles Times from Chicago-based tronc, may have his sights on acquiring the rest of the Chicago Tribune’s parent company. Business Insider reports that Soon-Shiong is seeking to join an investor group that’s been in talks with tronc since early August. Soon-Shiong reportedly would team with Donerail Group, the private equity firm led by hedge fund manager Will Wyatt. With a nearly 25 percent stake in tronc, Soon-Shiong already is the company’s second-largest shareholder. (The largest shareholder, Michael Ferro, has a nearly 26 percent stake.) In addition to the Tribune, tronc owns the New York Daily News, Baltimore Sun, Orlando Sentinel and papers in six other cities. Continue reading →

Chicago Sun-Times

Editorial employees of the Chicago Sun-Times approved a new one-year contract this week that provides increased health insurance benefits but no raises in salaries.

By a 39-5 vote, newsroom staffers represented by the Chicago News Guild ratified the agreement, effective September 1. The previous contract expired in December 2017, although it remained in effect while negotiations proceeded with management. Continue reading →

Carly Henderson

Robservations on the media beat:

Carly Henderson, a Los Angeles entertainment journalist, TV host and video producer, has been named co-host of “The Jam,” the morning news, talk and entertainment show on Weigel Broadcasting WCIU-Channel 26. Starting in mid-September she’ll join co-hosts Felicia Lawrence and Jordan Cornette from 6 to 8 a.m. Monday through Friday. Henderson, 28, who's worked for E! News, MTV and Hollywire, was nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award for her work on mtvU's "Half of Us" college suicide prevention campaign. Saying she was "beyond thrilled" to join "The Jam," Henderson said: "All my experiences — whether on the red carpet, reporting from music festivals, or co-hosting in the studio — have prepared me for this exciting opportunity. Six years ago, I connected with the love of my life while walking around the city. So for me, Chicago is where dreams come true.” Steve Bailey, head of local programming and creative for The U, said in a statement: "We are so happy to welcome Carly to 'The Jam' team. Her natural charm, warmth and enthusiasm for life are part of the many reasons why she is a great fit with the team." Henderson replaces Danielle Robay, who left the show in June. Continue reading →

Lisa Allen and Jerry Nunn

Robservations on the media beat:

Lisa Allen, the popular midday personality on Hubbard Radio hot adult-contemporary WTMX 101.9-FM, is the latest to join the podcast parade. Since July Allen has been hosting “Non-Stop with Lisa and Jerry,” co-hosted by Jerry Nunn, a writer and photographer from Windy City Times. Together they interview celebrities, recap concerts and events, and share backstage stories about the Chicago and suburban hot spots they visit. (The latest episode recounts their exploits at Lollapalooza.) “We’ve had a great response so far and we’re just getting started,” Allen said. With new shows added every other week, "Non-Stop” can be accessed on The Mix website, The Mix app, iTunes and other podcast platforms. Hubbard Radio has an ownership stake in the PodcastOne podcasting network. Continue reading →