Robservations: Decades documentary recalls golden era of Walter Cronkite

Robservations on the media beat:

On the eve of what would have been Walter Cronkite’s 101st birthday, the Decades Network will premiere an original documentary that couldn’t be more timely. “Eye on the World: The Rise of Walter Cronkite and The Evening News” is a masterful account of the legendary anchorman’s career at CBS News, culminating in his acclamation as “The Most Trusted Man in America.” With a wealth of footage from the network’s archive and interviews with colleagues, scholars and admirers (including yours truly), it chronicles a golden era of broadcast journalism before media fragmentation and allegations of “fake news” took hold. The two-hour documentary, produced and directed by Billy Miossi, airs at 7 p.m. Friday (repeated at 7 p.m. Monday) on Decades Network, the digital channel of CBS and Chicago-based Weigel Broadcasting. It’s seen here on Comcast Channel 338. Don’t miss it. Continue reading →

Cumulus names Marv Nyren boss of Chicago stations

Marv Nyren

Marv Nyren, who headed classic rock WLUP FM 97.9 and alternative rock WKQX FM 101.1 for seven years under Emmis Communications, is back in charge of both stations, now owned by Cumulus Media.

As the new vice president and market manager of Cumulus Media Chicago, Nyren will be running The Loop and 101WKQX in addition to news/talk WLS AM 890 and classic hits WLS FM 94.7, the company announced Wednesday. He succeeds Peter Bowen, who was released in September. Continue reading →

Daily Herald offers employee buyouts

Daily Herald

Employees of the Daily Herald are being offered voluntary buyouts to reduce staffing levels and operating expenses throughout the company, Paddock Publications announced Tuesday.

Staffers in all departments have until November 10 to apply for buyouts, which will provide one week of severance pay for each year of employment up to a maximum of 26 weeks, along with health benefits paid for three months. Continue reading →

Robservations: Fox 32 anchor moves raise questions

Robin Robinson and Darlene Hill

Robservations on the media beat:

The Chicago chapter of the National Association of Black Journalists is questioning the termination of two African-American female news anchors at Fox-owned WFLD-Channel 32. Sources said leadership of the group this week called for a meeting with station bosses to discuss the handling of Darlene Hill, whose contract recently was not renewed after 23 years, and Robin Robinson, who was forced out in 2014 after 27 years. At issue is whether they were treated differently than white male counterparts. Dennis Welsh, vice president and general manager of Fox 32, did not respond to a request for comment Monday. There’s been no acknowledgement of Hill’s absence from Fox 32’s “Good Day Chicago” morning show since late September. Continue reading →

Robservations: Jen Sabella leaves DNAinfo for The Onion

Jen Sabella (Photo: WTTW/Chicago Tonight)

Robservations on the media beat:

Jen Sabella resigned Thursday as deputy editor and director of social media at DNAinfo.com Chicago, the hyperlocal news source she helped start up in 2012. She’s joining The Onion in Chicago to work on a forthcoming website. “The last six years of my life have been pure magic thanks to the incredible team here, and watching the site become such a vital part of the Chicago media landscape has been incredible,” she told colleagues. Shamus Toomey, managing editor of DNAinfo, praised Sabella as “an outstanding leader, confidante, defender, cheerleader, fighter, innovator and motivator — a true Chicago journalist.” A South Side native and Columbia College graduate, Sabella previously was Chicago editor of Huffington Post and a wire reporter at the Sun-Times. She twice was named among the most powerful women in Chicago journalism by this blog. Continue reading →

Robservations: Cheryl Burton marks 25 years at ABC 7

Cheryl Burton

Robservations on the media beat:

Break out the silver. It’s 25 years at WLS-Channel 7 for news anchor Cheryl Burton. The South Side native and University of Illinois graduate called it “an honor and blessing” to work at the top-rated ABC-owned station. She signed on in 1992 from KWCH, the CBS affiliate in Wichita, Kansas. “To be able to cover and report stories in the city where I was born and raised has been a priceless gift,” Burton, 54, said Wednesday. “ABC 7 has given me the opportunity to report on such historic events as the inaugurations of the first African American president and enabled me to travel the globe covering the opening of Oprah Winfrey’s prestigious school for girls in South Africa. But my most memorable moments have come from sharing stories of ordinary Chicagoans doing extraordinary things in the rich and diverse neighborhoods that have shaped my life.” Continue reading →

Robservations: Sun-Times columnist roomed with congressman

Mark Brown (Photo: Chicago Newsroom)

Robservations on the media beat:

Luis Gutierrez

Let's at least give Sun-Times columnist Mark Brown credit for disclosing forthrightly that he shared a hotel room and rental car expenses with Luis Gutierrez while covering the Democratic congressman’s trip to Puerto Rico last week. Brown called it “an admittedly unorthodox decision . . . to reduce the logistical difficulties of following [Gutierrez] around to hurricane-damaged locations on the island,” adding: “That arrangement would not normally pass ethical muster from a journalism standpoint, but I thought it was the best way to get the story in this situation.” Sorry, that doesn't make it right. The Sun-Times never should approve a deal like that with any politician. If Brown couldn’t get another room, then I’d argue he shouldn’t have gone. Continue reading →