Natasha Korecki (Photo: WTTW/Chicago Tonight)

Robservations on the media beat:

Politico Illinois

Natasha Korecki, whose Illinois Playbook newsletter is a daily must-read for followers of politics and government, has been promoted to national correspondent for Politico. She’ll continue to be based in Chicago while covering the 2018 midterms and 2020 presidential campaign. "Launching Illinois Playbook, seeing it grow and building a new community of engaged readers from across the state has been one of the most gratifying experiences of my career," Korecki said in a statement. "While I hope to remain some part of it, I’m also beyond thrilled for an opportunity to cover the 2020 race and this incredible moment in national politics." Korecki joined Politico as senior political reporter in 2015 after 12 years as chief political writer and federal courts reporter at the Sun-Times. Before that, the University of Illinois graduate spent seven years as a reporter at the Daily Herald. No word on who’ll succeed Korecki as writer of Illinois Playbook. Continue reading →

VSiN studio

WSCR 670-AM is about to become the first radio station in the country to broadcast daily reports on sports betting from VSiN — the Vegas Stats & Information Network.

Starting Friday, the Entercom sports/talk station will air Chicago-focused gambling segments during the 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. hour of Danny Parkins and Dan McNeil's afternoon show each weekday. The one-minute “Score Action Updates” will originate from VSiN studios at the South Point Hotel, Casino and Spa in Las Vegas. Continue reading →

John von Rhein (Photo: Chicago Tribune)

Robservations on the media beat:

Howard Reich

After more than 40 years as classical music critic of the Chicago Tribune, John von Rhein announced Wednesday he’ll retire on July 1. “It’s been a great ride, but the time has come to move off into other ventures and give somebody else a shot at one of the best jobs in journalism,” von Rhein, 72, wrote in a letter to readers. He joined the Tribune in 1977 from the Akron Beacon Journal. Succeeding him on the classical music beat will be veteran arts writer (and Van Cliburn biographer) Howard Reich, who’ll also continue as jazz critic. “I wish my longtime colleague the very best in his work going forward,” von Rhein wrote. Continue reading →

WLS Studio

Cumulus Media, parent company of three Chicago radio stations, has found a way out of bankruptcy.

The nation’s second largest radio operator announced Tuesday that its financial restructuring plan has been approved by U.S. Bankruptcy Court in New York, a move that will allow Cumulus to erase more than $1 billion in debt and emerge from Chapter 11 reorganization before the end of the quarter. Continue reading →

Sinclair Broadcast Group

Controversy over the impending sale of WGN-Channel 9, WGN 720-AM and other Tribune Media stations to Sinclair Broadcast Group, and the return of morning personality Kevin “DreX” Buchar to Chicago radio led the top 10 most-read stories here in April.

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

Corey McPherrin and Dawn Hasbrouck

Robservations on the media beat:

WFLD-Channel 32 has begun the May sweep as close as ever to WGN-Channel 9 in key adult demographics at 9 p.m. Monday through Friday. In April, the Fox-owned station’s late news, anchored by Corey McPherrin and Dawn Hasbrouck, averaged a 1.4 rating among adults between 25 and 54 — just one-tenth behind the Tribune Broadcasting station, anchored by Micah Matere and newcomer Joe Donlon (who started April 23). Ratings analysts attribute Fox 32’s upswing to a surge in its 8-to-9-p.m. lead-in — up 30 percent in the adult demo from last year. WGN still leads in total viewership with a 3.8 rating (or 125,388 households) to Fox 32’s 2.5 rating (or 82,492 households). The current ratings period runs through May 23. Continue reading →

Dan Mihalopoulos (Photo: WTTW/Chicago Tonight)

Dan Mihalopoulos, who’s been a star investigative journalist for two Chicago newspapers, is joining WBEZ 91.5-FM, the Chicago Public Media station announced Friday.

Mihalopoulos, who most recently has been an investigative reporter and weekly political columnist for the Sun-Times, will report on politics and government for the public radio station, starting May 28. Continue reading →

Sanda Cordova Micek

Sandra Cordova Micek, a brand-building corporate marketing executive with no experience as a broadcaster, has been named president and CEO of the parent company of public television WTTW-Channel 11 and classical radio WFMT 98.7-FM.

Micek, 48, a Wilmette resident, most recently was senior vice president of global brands for Chicago-based Hyatt Hotels Corp. She previously held marketing positions with USA Today, NBC Universal, Yahoo! and Turner Broadcasting Sales. She also was a management consultant with Accenture. Continue reading →

Diana Steele

Robservations on the media beat:

104.3 Jams

Diana Steele, a prominent voice-over artist and former announcer for “The Arsenio Hall Show,” is joining WBMX 104.3-FM as midday personality. Starting today, she’ll be heard from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the Entercom classic hip-hop and R&B station. Steele, who grew up in Elk Grove Village and graduated from the University of Illinois, previously worked for rhythmic/urban stations in Los Angeles and San Francisco. Until a permanent midday host is named later this year, Steele will broadcast for 104.3 Jams from her studio in the Bay Area. “We’re thrilled to welcome this legendary voice and mother of two boys and two dogs to the new 104.3 Jams,” said program director Todd Cavanah. With mornings, middays and evenings filled, the station is expected to announce an afternoon host soon. Continue reading →

Chicago Tribune

Robservations on the media beat:

Chicago INC.

The original INC. column, at its best a catty mix of celebrity news and juicy gossip, was a popular staple of the Chicago Tribune for 20 years until its demise in 2001. The latest version lasted less than two. On Tuesday Tribune editors pulled the plug on the page 3 Chicago INC. franchise and reassigned its trio of reporters. Kim Janssen will work on “strategic newsroom analytics.” (“This is something I've wanted to do for a long time,” said Janssen, who recently got an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business with a concentration in econometrics and statistics. “It's why I went to [business] school, so I'm excited.”) Tracy Swartz will cover entertainment (including Chicago-related news on television and movies) for the arts and entertainment section, and Phil Thompson will report on sports and pop culture for the sports section. Continue reading →