Stephanie Zimmermann

Robservations on the media beat:

Stephanie Zimmermann, the nationally known consumer investigative reporter, is returning to the Sun-Times after a five-year run with ABC News. She’ll rejoin the paper next month to cover a wide-ranging consumer beat in print and online. "Stephanie's work when she was at the Sun-Times was always top notch, and her work at ABC has made her an even better journalist,” Sun-Times editor-in-chief Chris Fusco said in a statement. “We're thrilled to again call her a Sun-Times staffer and look forward to seeing her produce stories that continue to differentiate us from our competition." After 16 years at the Sun-Times, including a long run as “The Fixer” consumer columnist, Zimmermann joined ABC News as a reporter/producer with the network’s investigative unit. A graduate of Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism, she previously worked for the Daily Herald and the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Continue reading →

Mike Mulligan and Brian Hanley

It’s over and out for “The Mully & Hanley Show.” Friday will be Brian Hanley’s last day as morning co-host alongside longtime partner Mike Mulligan on Entercom sports/talk WSCR 670-AM.

As first reported here July 3, Chicago Tribune sports columnist David Haugh is expected to replace Hanley from 5 to 9 a.m. weekdays, starting Monday. Hanley, a 26-year veteran of The Score, will shift to fill-in and vacation-relief duties. Continue reading →

Sinclair Broadcast Group

Robservations on the media beat:

Ajit Pai

Despite heat from President Donald Trump, FCC chairman Ajit Pai isn't backing down from the action that doomed Sinclair Broadcast Group's acquisition of Tribune Media (including WGN-Channel 9 and WGN 720-AM). “I stand by our decision,” Pai told the House Energy and Commerce Committee at a hearing Wednesday. "So long as I have the privilege of serving as the chairman of the FCC, I’m going to find the facts, I’m going to follow the law and I’m going to call them like I see them.” On Tuesday, Trump blasted the Republican-dominated FCC, tweeting: "So sad and unfair that the FCC wouldn’t approve the Sinclair Broadcast merger with Tribune. This would have been a great and much needed Conservative voice for and of the People. Liberal Fake News NBC and Comcast gets approved, much bigger, but not Sinclair. Disgraceful!" Continue reading →

New York Daily News

Robservations on the media beat:

tronc

The bloodbath that wiped out half the editorial staff of the New York Daily News Monday will continue today at other units of Chicago-based parent company tronc. That’s the word from CEO Justin Dearborn, who told employees the cutbacks would “accelerate our company’s transformation into a truly digitally-focused enterprise — one that creates meaningful journalism, delivers it more quickly and more frequently, and develops new approaches to engage our reader.” Tronc bought the money-losing Daily News in 2017 for the token price of one dollar in what many saw as a grab for its printing plant and real estate. Dearborn acknowledged that further personnel cuts would be implemented today “to reduce expenses and contain costs.” While the latest job losses are expected to include a substantial number of positions at the corporate level and in other departments, a tronc spokeswoman said there would be no editorial layoffs in Chicago. The Chicago Tribune newsroom last underwent major downsizing in March. Continue reading →

Dennis Moore (Photo: Ken Carl)

A familiar voice on WFMT 98.7-FM — weekend host and onetime program director Dennis Moore — has been named morning personality at the Window to the World Communications classical music station.

Starting August 6, he’ll succeed Carl Grapentine, who’s retiring from the 6-to-10 a.m. weekday “Morning Program” Friday after three decades at WFMT. Continue reading →

WGN

Robservations on the media beat:

Tom Skilling

No matter how dead the deal may look, employees of WGN-Channel 9 and WGN 720-AM aren’t ready to speak out about the apparent collapse of Sinclair Broadcast Group’s acquisition of their Tribune Media parent company. Though many privately expressed relief that the FCC has derailed the $3.9 billion transaction, most declined to comment publicly. One exception was WGN’s superstar meteorologist, Tom Skilling, who said: “I don't know how final these latest developments are and want to be careful not to get out ahead on this. Ours is a very special television station and I work with an amazing group of people here. My hope is however this comes out that my fellow WGN employees feel secure and happy at the outcome.” Paul Rennie, president and general manager of WGN, was out of the country and could not be reached. Continue reading →

WGN

Robservations on the media beat:

FCC

The Federal Communications Commission officially pushed back on Sinclair Broadcast Group Thursday, citing the Maryland-based company for “misrepresentation and/or lack of candor” in its application to acquire Chicago-based Tribune Media, including WGN-Channel 9 and WGN 720-AM. Strongly questioning whether the $3.9 billion deal would be in the public interest, the FCC voted unanimously to refer the case to an administrative law judge, effectively blowing it up. A key point was the FCC’s concern over Sinclair's scheme to sell WGN to an auto dealer connected to Sinclair chairman David Smith, while maintaining control over the station’s programming, advertising and other operations. “Specifically, we question the legitimacy of the proposed sale of a such a highly rated and profitable station in the nation’s third-largest market to an individual with no broadcast experience, with close business ties to Smith, and with plans to own only the license and minimal station assets,” the FCC order read. “Indeed, one could argue that Sinclair’s proposal to divest what has been described as one of the ‘crown jewels’ of Tribune makes no sense from a business perspective unless that divestiture permitted Sinclair to maintain effective control over the station.” (Here is the link.) Tribune Media said in a statement: “We will be greatly disappointed if the transaction cannot be completed, but will rededicate our efforts to running our businesses and optimizing assets.” Continue reading →

Chance the Rapper

Chance the Rapper has acquired the assets of Chicagoist, the local digital news site that’s been dormant since last fall.

In a deal with New York Public Radio’s WNYC, Chance the Rapper’s Social Media LLC picked up Chicagoist's archives, internet domain and social media channels. Terms were not disclosed. Continue reading →

Start TV

From the folks who brought you Me-TV, H&I and the Decades Network, now comes Start TV, a new digital network featuring “strong and resourceful female leading characters” in a lineup of procedural dramas.

Chicago-based Weigel Broadcasting unveiled plans for the new network Wednesday in conjunction with the CBS Television Stations, including WBBM-Channel 2 in Chicago. Start TV will debut September 3 on CBS 2’s digital tier along with stations covering 42 percent of U.S. households. Continue reading →

WGN TV

While the future of “Chicago’s Very Own” WGN-Channel 9 and WGN 720-AM hangs in the balance, Sinclair Broadcast Group isn’t giving up yet.

The Maryland-based broadcaster still hopes to salvage its $3.9 billion agreement to acquire Chicago-based Tribune Media, parent company of WGN and 41 other stations nationwide, despite a move to derail the long-delayed deal Monday by the Federal Communications Commission. Continue reading →