Ann Dwyer

Robservations on the media beat:

Craig Newman

Crain’s Chicago Business editor Michael Arndt fortified his staff Thursday with the promotion of Ann Dwyer to managing editor and the hiring of Craig Newman as assistant managing editor. Dwyer, a 21-year veteran of Crain’s, most recently was deputy managing editor, overseeing digital operations. She succeeds Steve Reiss, who resigned last month to join ESPN’s The Undefeated. Newman, who takes over digital and daily news operations from Dwyer, had been managing editor of the Sun-Times before his position was eliminated last August. Continue reading →

Robert Feder

Now hear this: For readers of my blog, there’s been a change for the better.

Chicago Tribune announced Thursday it was introducing a new “metered” approach that will give nonsubscribers access to up to 10 articles each month on chicagotribune.com before being asked to subscribe. That includes robertfeder.com and other premium stories previously designated as “digitalPlus” content. Continue reading →

Chicago Tribune

Throughout eight tumultuous years as editor of the Chicago Tribune, Gerry Kern championed investigative reporting and opinion leadership as hallmarks of the newspaper.

Both are assured of continuing under Bruce Dold, who was named Wednesday to succeed Kern, 66, who announced his retirement effective immediately. A Pulitzer Prize-winning 38-year veteran of the Tribune, Dold, 60, has been editorial page editor since 2000. Continue reading →

Me-TV FM

Any doubts about whether Me-TV FM is for real were put to rest Tuesday.

Just shy of a year after signing on as a soft rock/oldies station, Weigel Broadcasting’s WRME LP 87.7 delivered its highest audience share ever in the latest Nielsen Audio ratings. Continue reading →

Lester Holt and Stefan Holt

After five years as morning news anchor at NBC-owned WMAQ-Channel 5, Stefan Holt is leaving for WNBC in New York, where he’ll work in the same building as his famous father, “NBC Nightly News” anchor Lester Holt.

Stefan Holt, 29, will join the network’s flagship station in April as co-anchor of a new 4 p.m. weekday newscast, WNBC announced Tuesday. His last day at NBC 5 here will be March 25. Continue reading →

Megan Reed

As a Chicago radio personality for nearly three decades, Megan Reed exuded the same genuine warmth and optimism with listeners that she shared with friends and colleagues.

Reed, who was 52, died Sunday after a 17-month battle with cancer. She had been off the air since September 2014 when she went on medical leave as midday personality at Hubbard Radio adult contemporary WILV (now WSHE FM 100.3). Continue reading →

Chicago magazine

Robservations on the media beat:

It’s another dubious ranking of the city’s “most powerful” people from our friends at Chicago magazine. This year they’ve cut the list in half (“The Power 100” is now “The Power 50”). While Rahm Emanuel graces the cover of the March issue, the embattled mayor falls to second place behind Cook County Board president Toni Preckwinkle (who was No. 8 last year). Once again there’s not a working journalist — print, broadcast or digital — in the bunch, though there are two media moguls: Newsweb Corp. owner Fred Eychaner (No. 36) and newly ensconced Tribune Publishing chairman Michael Ferro (No. 49). “For better or worse, the fate of print journalism in this town rests largely in his hands,” Chicago says of Ferro, whom the magazine once pilloried. Now he’s the publication’s top boss. Continue reading →

Sarah Karp

Sarah Karp, the renowned journalist whose investigative work led to the federal indictment of Chicago Public Schools CEO Barbara Byrd-Bennett, has been hired as a reporter at Chicago Public Media WBEZ FM 91.5.

Karp, who most recently has been senior investigator at the Better Government Association, will join the education reporting team at WBEZ February 29. Continue reading →

V.J. McAleer

V.J. McAleer, a Peabody Award-winning journalist and a highly respected 36-year veteran of Chicago television, is the latest senior executive at WTTW-Channel 11 to be forced out in response to a budget shortfall.

A spokesperson for Window to the World Communications cited “budgetary reasons” Thursday for McAleer’s departure as senior vice president of community partnerships. For many years he was senior vice president of production at the public television station, overseeing such programming as “Chicago Tonight” and “Check, Please!” Continue reading →

Chicago Tribune Media Group has offered buyouts to editorial employees of its 32 suburban Pioneer Press weekly newspapers, a company spokesperson confirmed Wednesday.

Eligible employees have until February 16 to apply for buyouts, which include enhanced severance and extended health insurance benefits. Not all who opt in may be accepted. Continue reading →