Mike North

Robservations on the media beat:

A movie on the life of Mike North? That’s the word from the former Chicago radio sports talk personality whose “outrageous and unconventional road to the top of the Chicago media world” is being developed and scripted by Chicagoan Jeremy Morrison in conjunction with writer/director Adam Rifkin. “It is an absolute honor and privilege to be given this opportunity,” Morrison said in a statement announcing the biopic, planned for production in 2019. “Growing up I absolutely idolized Mike and now to work side by side with him on this project is a blessing. I am thankful for not only Adam’s mentorship, but his entrusting me with the task of bringing Mike’s incredible story to life on screen.” Said North: “Be-Be and I are humbled and excited to be working on this project with Adam and Jeremy.” Continue reading →

Jerry Bryant

Robservations on the media beat:

JBTV

Friends and fans are pulling for Jerry Bryant, founder and producer of “JBTV,” the longest running music television show in the country. Bryant, 66, is being treated for Stage 4 colorectal cancer after undergoing two surgeries to remove tumors from his colon and lung, according to a statement released Sunday. "Jerry wants everyone to know that although these obstacles are difficult and there's a lot of trials to come, he's committed more than ever to helping artists and exposing new music," the statement said. Several fundraising events are being planned to help Bryant, who is recording his fight against cancer for an upcoming documentary on his life and love of music. "We continue to do our shows and Jerry, health permitting, will still be Jerry and doing all that Jerry does," said "JBTV" co-owner Michael Harnett. "He even edited another show yesterday — the man cannot be stopped even by cancer." The Emmy Award-winning Bryant was inducted in the Silver Circle of the Chicago/Midwest chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences in 2014. Continue reading →

Bill Kurtis/Chicago magazine

Robservations on the media beat:

Donna La Pietra and Bill Kurtis

Bill Kurtis, one of Chicago's most public media personalities for more than 50 years, reveals his private side in the September issue of Chicago magazine. The 77-year-old legendary anchorman, documentary producer, public radio host and commercial voice artist speaks candidly with senior writer Bryan Smith about his heartaches and disappointments, including the loss of his first wife and his 38-year-old son, and his washout as a CBS network news anchor in the 1980s. Smith's illuminating cover story also explores the epic romance and marriage of Kurtis and Donna La Pietra, and tells what goes on at Mettawa Manor, their 65-acre estate and nature preserve in Lake County. And how about that extraordinary, unmistakable voice (a "distinctive blend of gravitas and mellifluousness," as Smith describes it)? “If you wake Bill up at 2 in the morning from a sound sleep, he will sound exactly the same,” La Pietra says. Continue reading →

WGN

Robservations on the media beat:

Larry Wert

The collapse of Sinclair Broadcast Group’s merger cost executives of Tribune Media millions in bonuses they would have received. But they’re not totally out of the money. Despite the failure to complete the deal, the Chicago-based parent company of WGN-Channel 9 and WGN 720-AM will pay its top officials between $102,000 and $160,000, according to a Reuters report Tuesday. The bonuses “are being paid to the executives, like other recipients of unpaid retention bonuses, in recognition of the substantial efforts and time that each of them devoted to the company’s anticipated merger with Sinclair and their contributions to maintain and grow the company’s business,” the company said in a government filing. Among recipients is Tribune Broadcasting president Larry Wert, the former Chicago TV and radio station boss. Continue reading →

Ida B. Wells

Five notable Chicago women — including a mother and her daughter — have been named the first honorees in the new Chicago Women’s Journalism Hall of Fame.

All five will be inducted Wednesday by the Association for Women Journalists Chicago, founder of the online tribute to “individuals who have made outstanding career contributions to Chicago journalism in areas which uplift and support women.” Continue reading →

tronc

Robservations on the media beat:

Donerail Group, a new investment firm led by former hedge fund executive Will Wyatt, is reported to be in “advanced negotiations” to acquire Chicago Tribune owner tronc. According to Reuters, Donerail Group has secured financing for the deal and could conclude an agreement later this month. Earlier the Tribune and Politico reported that tronc was weighing an offer from a private equity firm, but did not identify it. Aaron Miles, vice president of investor relations for tronc, told analysts on a conference call Thursday: "The company is aware that reports have been published about tronc being in discussions about a possible sale of the company. The company has a longstanding policy of not commenting on market rumors." In addition to the Tribune, tronc owns the New York Daily News, Baltimore Sun, Orlando Sentinel and papers in six other cities. Continue reading →

Tom Skilling

News that Sinclair Broadcast Group's long-planned merger with Tribune Media crashed and burned this week isn’t the only thing they’re celebrating at WGN-Channel 9.

Utter relief that staffers won't be working for what Baltimore Sun critic David Zurawik called “the most hated company in America" added to the revelry already in the works over superstar meteorologist Tom Skilling's 40th year at "Chicago's Very Own." Continue reading →

Sinclair Broadcast Group

Ding, dong the deal is dead: Tribune Media has officially terminated its controversial and long-delayed merger with Sinclair Broadcast Group.

But wait, there's more: The Chicago-based parent company of WGN-Channel 9 and WGN 720-AM announced Thursday it was filing a lawsuit against Sinclair for breach of contract, claiming the Maryland-based company “engaged in unnecessarily aggressive and protracted negotiations” with the FCC. Continue reading →

Tamron Hall

Former Chicago news anchor Tamron Hall has signed with Disney/ABC to develop and host a new daytime talk show to be syndicated in the fall of 2019.

“I’m so thrilled to partner with Disney/ABC to create a daytime television show that’s unconventional, fun, intimate and sometimes even raw,” Hall said in a statement Wednesday. “My new partners appreciate and respect the relationship I’ve built with my audience and know that if we create television worth watching, they’ll join us for the ride. I’m so grateful and excited for this next chapter. The landing makes the leap of faith so worth it!” Continue reading →

Jorge Barbosa

Robservations on the media beat:

Jorge Barbosa, one of Chicago's premier Spanish-language broadcast journalists for more than three decades, is stepping down as 5 and 10 p.m. news anchor at Univision WGBO-Channel 66. His last night on the air will be Friday, according to Doug Levy, senior vice president and general manager of Univision Local Media Chicago. No successor has been named. His departure comes as parent company Univision Communications is undergoing a major restructuring. Barbosa, 66, a native of Veracruz, Mexico, and graduate of Northwestern University, spent 10 years as a news anchor and reporter at former Univision affiliate WCIU-Channel 26 before launching Noticias Univision Chicago at WGBO in 1995. In 2012 he was inducted in the Silver Circle of the Chicago/Midwest chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. Continue reading →