Ji Suk Yi (Photo: ABC 7)

Ji Suk Yi, who signed off earlier this month as a contributor to “Windy City Live,” has been hired as a feature reporter for the Sun-Times.

Starting today she will create local content for the Sun-Times, including its online entertainment platform and WeekendPlus entertainment section on Fridays, according to an announcement by Carol Fowler, senior vice president of digital news products. “Ji is quick on her feet and versatile,” Fowler wrote in an email to staff Sunday. Continue reading →

WGN Television Opening Night (April 5, 1948)

Robservations on the media beat:

WGN

WGN-Channel 9 will celebrate its 70th anniversary with a one-hour special hosted by star meteorologist Tom Skilling. “WGN-TV: 70 Years as Chicago’s Very Own,” airing at 8 p.m. April 5, also will feature Dan Roan on WGN’s sports history, Micah Materre, Larry Potash, Robin Baumgarten and Paul Konrad on major news events WGN has covered, Dean Richards on legendary children's programs, and Lourdes Duarte on the station’s community involvement. The Tribune Broadcasting flagship debuted April 5, 1948, with a grand opening program from Tribune Tower. Will this turn out to be a requiem? With parent company Tribune Media slated for sale to Maryland-based Sinclair Broadcast Group, “Chicago’s Very Own” may not belong to Chicago much longer. Continue reading →

Jeff Kiernan

It’s back to Milwaukee for Jeff Kiernan after nine years of dismal ratings as vice president and news director at CBS-owned WBBM-Channel 2.

Kiernan announced Thursday that he’s leaving to rejoin WTMJ, the NBC affiliate in Milwaukee, as senior director of local content. A graduate of Marquette University, Kiernan began his career in radio news in Milwaukee and joined WTMJ in 1990, where he rose from news assignment manager to news director during 13 years there. Continue reading →

Chicago Tribune (Photo: Stephen Battaglio)

Robservations on the media beat:

If you’re wondering how the Chicago Tribune will continue to cover the White Sox and the Blackhawks without dedicated beat writers, you’re not alone. As part of the latest wave of editorial job cuts at the newspaper, the layoffs of sportswriters Chris Kuc and Paul Skrbina leave the two teams without a full-time Tribune reporter assigned to travel with them. So what’s the plan? I tried to ask Tribune managing editor Peter Kendall, associate managing editor for sports Joe Knowles, and sports editor Tim Bannon, but couldn’t get an answer. I did receive this statement from a tronc spokesperson: “The Chicago Tribune is fully committed to covering the Chicago White Sox and the Chicago Blackhawks. We value and understand the importance of covering sports both for fans and our readers.” Hope that clears everything up. Continue reading →

Dr. Laura Berman

Robservations on the media beat:

Dr. Laura Berman, Chicago’s famed love, sex and relationships expert, has just landed a suburban outlet for her syndicated radio show. “Uncovered with Dr. Laura Berman” debuted this week from 9 p.m. to midnight weeknights on Waukegan-based WXLC FM 102.3, the Alpha Media hot adult-contemporary station. “Chicago has been my home and where I’ve raised my family for 15 years,” she said in a statement. “I am beyond thrilled about joining the WXLC family to bring my best voice and my best advice about love and relationships to my hometown.” Continue reading →

Michael Ferro (Photo: Christopher Michel)

Robservations on the media beat:

#MeToo, Michael? Now we know the real reason Michael Ferro retired Monday as chairman of tronc, parent company of the Chicago Tribune. Hours after his announcement, Fortune published allegations by two female entrepreneurs that Ferro had made inappropriate sexual advances toward them. (Here is the link.) Fortune also quoted former Sun-Times staffers who recalled Ferro making “sexual comments about women’s clothing and appearance” during the time he owned the paper. For a man who had done so much to undermine two Chicago news organizations (including the elimination of more than 1,125 newspaper jobs companywide in the last two years), it seemed fitting that Ferro would be brought down by the power of journalism. Continue reading →

Me-TV FM

Days after parent company iHeartMedia filed for bankruptcy protection, urban adult-contemporary powerhouse WVAZ FM 102.7 remained firmly entrenched as the top-rated radio station in the Chicago area.

But far bigger news in the Nielsen Audio survey released Monday was the growth of Weigel Broadcasting’s WRME FM 87.7, the soft-rock oldies station known as Me-TV FM. Jumping from 21st place to sixth in one month, it delivered its highest total audience share ever. In middays the station ranked No. 2 overall — behind only V103. Continue reading →

Michael Ferro (Photo: Christopher Michel)

In an unexpected move, Michael Ferro announced his retirement Monday as chairman of tronc, parent company of the Chicago Tribune and newspapers in nine other cities.

CEO Justin Dearborn was named to succeed Ferro as chairman of the Chicago-based media company. Continue reading →

Tribune Tower

Robservations on the media beat:

Chris Kuc

One day after the Chicago Tribune axed a dozen journalists, parent company tronc disclosed raises and bonuses for chief executive officer Justin Dearborn and chief financial officer Terry Jimenez. The notice in the company’s annual report Friday followed the award of a $15 million consulting contract to Merrick Ventures, another company owned by tronc chairman Michael Ferro. Tronc still won’t confirm the names (or even the number) of Tribune employees who lost their jobs Thursday. But sources said there were 12, including sports writer Chris Kuc, who tweeted that he learned his fate while covering a team on the road. Kuc, the son of veteran Chicago sportscaster Jerry Kuc, began working at the Tribune while in high school at Hinsdale South. Among others laid off were Washington correspondent Kathy Skiba, education reporter Diane Rado, artist Phil Geib, visual editor Michael Zajakowski, and copy editors Jason Morris and Mark Misulonas. Continue reading →

Chicago Tribune

Chicago Tribune staffers bid farewell to more of their colleagues as another wave of layoffs hit the newsroom today.

“Everyone who walks out of the newsroom with their things gets a round of applause,” tweeted Tribune reporter Peter Nickeas. “Nobody has communicated to the newsroom about what's going on.” Continue reading →