Ben Joravsky

Ben Joravsky, the veteran journalist and distinguished political writer for the Chicago Reader, has joined Chicago’s progressive talk radio station as Monday-through-Friday afternoon host.

“The Ben Joravsky Show” will debut Monday, airing from 2 to 5 p.m. weekdays on Newsweb Radio WCPT AM 820. Joravsky succeeds Wayne Besen, whose show has been discontinued. Continue reading →

Tom Conradi

Tom Conradi, onetime publisher and longtime sales chief at Chicago magazine, is out after nine years at the tronc-owned monthly.

Conradi’s most recent position as general manager of sales and operations will not be filled, with sales now reporting directly to Susanna Homan, editor-in-chief and publisher of Chicago magazine. Continue reading →

Kenosha County, Wisconsin

Robservations on the media beat:

A new map for Chicago radio? Sources say there’s an effort underway among local broadcasters to eliminate Kenosha County, Wisconsin, from the Chicago metro market defined by Nielsen Audio. Along with the addition of Jasper County, Indiana, the proposal would more closely align the radio market with Nielsen’s Chicago television DMA (Designated Market Area). The biggest hit would be felt by Hubbard Radio classic rock WDRV FM 97.1 since it derives up to one-third of its ratings from its simulcast signal on WWDV FM 96.9, blasting into Kenosha and licensed to Zion. “This really is about creating a level playing field,” according to one source, who said the Kenosha boost gives The Drive an unfair edge over other Chicago FM stations. If nine out of 12 Nielsen subscriber groups vote to approve the change, the new boundaries could take effect later this year. Continue reading →

David DeJesus

Robservations on the media beat:

Look for former Chicago Cubs outfielder David DeJesus to be tapped as Cubs pre-game and post-game analyst on Comcast SportsNet Chicago, alongside host David Kaplan. He’ll replace Todd Hollandsworth, who was the network’s studio analyst for seven seasons before he was named color analyst for the Miami Marlins on Fox Sports Florida. DeJesus, who was traded to the Washington Nationals in 2013, later played for the Tampa Bay Rays and the Los Angeles Angels. Continue reading →

Ben Calhoun

For the second time in less than three years, Chicago Public Media is in the market for a new programming chief at WBEZ FM 91.5.

Ben Calhoun is leaving as vice president of content and programming, effective in April. He is expected to return to the staff of “This American Life,” where he spent five years as a producer and reporter for the public radio magazine show. Continue reading →

Jimmy deCastro

Jimmy deCastro, who stepped down last fall as president and general manager of Tribune Broadcasting news/talk WGN AM 720, is back in business.

The longtime Chicago media executive announced the launch Monday of After The Whistle LLC, a sports marketing company and representation firm. With offices to be located at 414 North Orleans Street, the new enterprise is an offshoot of The Content Factory, deCastro’s national syndication and new media company. Continue reading →

WGN Morning News

Chicago’s most entertaining morning news show is now its most popular one, too.

Results of the latest Nielsen sweep show WGN-Channel 9 winning every hour from 5 to 10 a.m. Monday through Friday with an average of 105,275 households.

WGN Morning News has led the advertiser-coveted 25-to-54 age demographic for six years, but February marked the first time the Tribune Broadcasting station surpassed ABC-owned WLS-Channel 7 in total morning viewership as well. Continue reading →

Roger Simon

Robservations on the media beat:

Six weeks after he retired as chief political columnist for politico.com the venerable Roger Simon is back in print. Starting Friday, he’ll write a monthly column exclusively for the Sun-Times. The freelance deal is a homecoming of sorts for the South Shore native, who first joined the Sun-Times in 1972 and spent 12 years as an investigative reporter and columnist. For his initial column, Simon says what he thinks of President Donald Trump’s budget and first weeks in office. Continue reading →

Dean Richards

Robservations on the media beat:

Dean Richards, longtime entertainment reporter and critic for Tribune Broadcasting WGN-Channel 9 and WGN AM 720, will be honored next week at the 53rd Chicago International Television Festival. Richards will receive Cinema/Chicago’s prestigious Chicago Award for his career achievements. “Since the founding of the Chicago International Film Festival, we have always saluted the extraordinary talent of those producing content for television," festival founder Michael Kutza said in a statement, calling Richards “a trusted resource for those seeking entertainment reviews and interviews that go beyond the superficial.” The award will be presented March 23 at AMC River East, 322 East Illinois Street. Also honored at the event will be famed commercial producer Joe Sedelmaier with the Chicago Legend Award, and Amazon Studios with the Commitment to Excellence in Television Production Award. Continue reading →

John Cruickshank

John Cruickshank, the Canadian journalist and media executive who earned respect and trust during seven years as an editor and publisher of the Sun-Times, is returning to Chicago as a diplomat for his country.

Cruickshank, 63, has been named consul general of Canada in Chicago. The Midwest consulate covers Illinois, Wisconsin, Missouri, Northwest Indiana and the Kansas City metropolitan area. He will assume the post in mid-April. Continue reading →