Tina Sfondeles

Robservations on the media beat:

Tina Sfondeles, a general assignment reporter at the Sun-Times, will be promoted Thursday to full-time political reporter for the paper. Her new role essentially consolidates the duties formerly held by political writers Natasha Korecki, who left for politico.com, and Dave McKinney, who resigned in protest and works for the Midwest bureau of Thomson Reuters. Before joining the Sun-Times in 2007, Sfondeles was a news writer at CBS Radio all-news WBBM AM 780 and a production assistant for “The Steve Dahl Show.” She’s a graduate of Lemont High School and holds degrees from Loyola University and Columbia College.  Continue reading →

Mike Adamle

For the second time in four years, veteran Chicago sportscaster Mike Adamle is out of commission at WMAQ-Channel 5 with no word on when he'll back.

Adamle, 66, has been off the air since March 13 when he anchored his last “Sports Sunday” broadcast for the NBC-owned station. Continue reading →

Michael Phillips

Michael Phillips just landed a third gig on Chicago radio. Not bad for a guy talking about movies.

The veteran Chicago Tribune film critic has signed on as a weekly contributor to Pete McMurray and Dan McNeil’s morning show on Hubbard Radio classic hits WDRV FM 97.1. Continue reading →

Matt Piacente

Matt Piacente, a former executive producer at NBC-owned WMAQ-Channel 5, is coming home to Chicago to become news director of Fox-owned WFLD-Channel 32.

Piacente, who most recently has been vice president of news at WVIT, the NBC-owned station in Hartford, Connecticut, will succeed Tom Doerr, who’s stepping down for “personal family reasons” after three years at Fox 32. Continue reading →

Lauren Magiera

Lauren Magiera, a native Chicago sports fan who most recently co-hosted the Green Bay Packers pre-game show, has been hired as a sports anchor and reporter at Tribune Media WGN-Channel 9.

Starting later this month, she will succeed Chicago sportscasting veteran Rich King, who last January announced plans to retire June 15. Continue reading →

Michael Savage

Robservations on the media beat:

Mark Levin

The start of White Sox baseball on WLS AM 890 Monday also will bring a new weeknight lineup to the Cumulus Media news/talk station. Michael Savage, whose syndicated talk show previously aired from 6 to 9 p.m., is trading places with syndicated talker Mark Levin, who’s been on from 9 p.m. to midnight. On nights when the shows are preempted by White Sox broadcasts, they’re expected to stream online in their entirety. Peter Bowen, vice president and Chicago market manager of Cumulus Media, called the timeslot swap “an internal programming decision,” but declined further comment. In the latest Nielsen Audio survey, WLS ranked 17th in evenings with a 2.5 percent share and cumulative weekly audience of 122,900. Continue reading →

“An Afternoon with Janet Davies and ABC 7 Reunion"

More than 60 current and former employees of WLS-Channel 7 will assemble at the Museum of Broadcast Communications April 23 to reminisce about their experiences and record an oral history of the ABC-owned station.

“An Afternoon with Janet Davies and ABC 7 Reunion” from 1 to 3:30 p.m. at the museum, 360 North State Street, will be open to the public. Tickets are on sale for $15 at museum.tv. Continue reading →

WGN Radio

Robservations on the media beat:

Ryan Dempster and Kerry Wood

Just in time for Opening Day next week, former Chicago Cubs pitchers Kerry Wood and Ryan Dempster have been hired as baseball analysts at Tribune Media news/talk WGN AM 720. Throughout the season Dempster will appear Thursday mornings on Steve Cochran’s show, and Wood will appear Thursday afternoons on Roe Conn’s show. “Woody and Dempster are the perfect pair to drive the conversation during a year loaded with great story lines,” said Todd Manley, vice president of programming and content at WGN. “Baseball’s in our DNA, and we can’t wait to get this season rolling.” Also at WGN, morning producer Kevin Powell has shifted to afternoon sports anchor, succeeding Connor McKnight, who jumped to Cumulus Media news/talk WLS AM 890. Continue reading →

Linda Yu

Linda Yu, who’s been a mainstay of Chicago television news for more than 36 years, is stepping down from the 7 p.m. Monday-through-Friday newscast produced by ABC-owned WLS-Channel 7 and airing on Weigel Broadcasting WCIU-Channel 26.

Yu, 69, will continue to co-anchor ABC 7’s 4 p.m. weekday newscast with Alan Krashesky for the time being, but the move marks the first step toward her eventual retirement from the station, according to insiders. Continue reading →

Bill Zwecker

Janet Davies and Bill Zwecker, two of Chicago’s best known entertainment reporters, will be honored for their work by Cinema/Chicago and the Chicago International Film Festival.

The two will be saluted April 20 at the 52nd Chicago International Television Awards, culminating a three-day event of special screenings and panel discussions celebrating excellence in television. Continue reading →