Sun-Times drops theater critic Hedy Weiss

Hedy Weiss (Photo: Rich Hein/Sun-Times)

Eight months after the Chicago Sun-Times ran an editorial declaring “We support our theater critic, Hedy Weiss,” the paper is dropping the curtain on her.

"Today is Hedy Weiss’s last day as a Sun-Times employee," editor-in-chief Chris Fusco said Friday. "She's had a remarkable 33-year career covering the theater and arts scene in Chicago, and we wish her well. The Sun-Times is excited about Chicago's burgeoning arts community, and we look forward to rolling out new coverage plans in the future." Continue reading →

‘Good Day Chicago’ lineup tops most-read posts in January

“Good Day Chicago” front line (from left): Kristen Nicole, Michelle Alegria and Natalie Bomke

A couple of personnel changes at Fox-owned WFLD-Channel 32 led the top 10 most-read stories here in January. The addition of Michelle Alegria as traffic reporter (replacing Jenny Milkowski) and Brittney Payton as a contributor brought two familiar faces to Fox 32’s “Good Day Chicago.”

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

Cumulus hangs onto The Loop, 101 WKQX

WLUP studio

Cumulus Media will continue to operate classic rock WLUP FM 97.9 and alternative rock WKQX FM 101.1 under an agreement reached Thursday with Merlin Media, which owns the two stations.

Cumulus risked forfeiting the stations when it moved to nullify unprofitable contracts in a U.S. Bankruptcy Court filing last month. Among them were deals with Merlin to acquire The Loop and 101 WKQX, which Cumulus has been operating under a local marketing agreement since 2014. Continue reading →

Robservations: WXRT unplugs ‘Jazz Transfusion’ after 43 years

Barry Winograd (Photo: WDCB)

Robservations on the media beat:

“Jazz Transfusion,” a Sunday night staple on WXRT FM 93.1 for 43 years, is vanishing from the Entercom adult album alternative station. This weekend marks the final broadcast of the jazz showcase, which airs from 11 p.m. Sunday to 1 a.m. Monday. Since 1986 it has been hosted each week by Barry Winograd. “Barry Winograd will always be a part of the WXRT family, and we are keeping our relationship alive to hopefully have Barry return to the airwaves in the future for special features and special programming in the jazz genre,” Greg Solk, operations manager and program director of WXRT, told staffers Thursday. Starting February 11, Sunday nights will be hosted by ’XRT newcomer Don Davis, according to Solk. Said Winograd: “Thirty-two years doing commercial jazz on ’XRT, it’s pretty amazing, I think. It’s been a privilege to present music to people who wouldn’t have otherwise been exposed to it any other way.” Winograd, who was born in Chicago and grew up in Evanston, continues to host a weekday jazz show on the College of DuPage’s WDCB FM 90.9 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. He also hosts “When Jazz Was King” from 10 to 11 a.m. Saturdays on WDCB. Continue reading →

Robservations: Bulls shooting to land on The Score

United Center (Photo: Chuck Swirsky)

Robservations on the media beat:

The Chicago Bulls are close to a deal to move their radio broadcasts to WSCR AM 670, according to insiders. An agreement could be finalized this week that would put the games on the Entercom sports/talk station through 2021. The Bulls and Chicago White Sox are losing their current radio home on news/talk WLS AM 890 as owner Cumulus Media seeks to emerge from bankruptcy by shedding unprofitable contracts. No word yet on where the White Sox will land, but likely destinations appear to be Tribune Broadcasting news/talk WGN AM 720 or ESPN sports/talk WMVP AM 1000. Continue reading →

Sun-Times sidelines Roeper while investigating inflated Twitter account

Richard Roeper

The Chicago Sun-Times has benched Richard Roeper, the veteran columnist and film critic, in the wake of a New York Times report on the buying and selling of fraudulent social media followers.

Editor-in-chief Chris Fusco confirmed the Sun-Times was investigating Sunday’s New York Times story, which identified Roeper among numerous celebrities who bought Twitter followers from a company linked to a “black market” of bogus accounts.

"We became aware this weekend of issues relating to Rich Roeper's Twitter account,” Fusco said in a statement Monday. “We're investigating these issues. We will not be publishing any reviews or columns by Rich until this investigation is complete." Continue reading →

Michelle Alegria to join ‘Good Day Chicago’ as traffic reporter

Michelle Alegria

Michelle Alegria, who graced ABC-owned WLS-Channel 7 for nearly 10 years as a featured contributor to its “190 North” magazine show, is joining Fox-owned WFLD-Channel 32 as traffic reporter for “Good Day Chicago.”

Alegria is expected to be announced Monday as replacement for Jenny Milkowski, who left the weekday morning show last week after three years. Fox 32 contracts with Total Traffic Network for its traffic service and personnel. Continue reading →

Robservations: Jim Kirk returning to L.A. Times as editor-in-chief

Jim Kirk

Robservations on the media beat:

Ten days after Jim Kirk was named interim editor-in-chief of the New York Daily News, he’s being tapped to return to Los Angeles to become editor-in-chief of the Los Angeles Times, sources said Sunday. Tronc, Chicago-based owner of both newspapers (as well as the Chicago Tribune) will announce Monday that the seasoned Chicago journalist and media executive will replace Lewis D’Vorkin, who became L.A. Times editor in October. D'Vorkin, who’s been the target of staff complaints and the subject of highly critical stories, will shift to a new role as chief content officer of tronc. Kirk joined tronc in August as senior vice president of strategic initiatives after five years as publisher and editor-in-chief of the Sun-Times. Until his brief move to the Daily News, he had been interim executive editor of the L.A. Times. Continue reading →