Chicago

After years of declining revenues — including double-digit losses in 2014 — Chicago radio leveled off in 2015.

Income from all sources totaled $376.048 million — down just barely from the previous year’s $376.231 million, according to figures supplied by the major station groups and compiled by the accounting firm of Miller, Kaplan, Arase & Co. Continue reading →

Ethan Renoe and Tahman Bradley

Robservations on the media beat:

Tahman Bradley, whose interview with shirtless jogger Ethan Renoe last December became a viral sensation, has been named a full-time general assignment reporter at WGN-Channel 9. Bradley, a former Washington-based ABC News correspondent, has been a freelancer at the Tribune Media station since last summer. “As a network reporter, Tahman covered some pretty big breaking news stories: The Boston Marathon Bombing, Sandy Hook school tragedy and the protests in Ferguson,” WGN news director Jennifer Lyons wrote in a memo. “Tahman is one of Chicago’s Very Own and we are happy he’s decided to make WGN-TV his home.” The Chicago native and graduate of Rich Central High School and Howard University was a political reporter/producer for ABC News and a reporter for ABC NewsOne, the network's affiliate news service. Continue reading →

Ron Magers

Ron Magers, anchorman of Chicago’s top-rated newscasts at 5 and 10 p.m. and one of the city’s most respected newsmen for more than three decades, is planning to retire this year, sources said.

Insiders at ABC-owned WLS-Channel 7 said Magers, 71, could step down as soon as this summer, if all goes as planned. The move is believed to be entirely voluntary by Magers, who’s widely regarded as the best in the business and still at the top of his game. Continue reading →

Michael Ferro

Chicago’s two daily newspapers may have moved a step closer to common ownership Thursday with the stunning announcement of a $44.4 million investment in Tribune Publishing by Michael Ferro, a principal owner of the Sun-Times.

With Ferro’s Merrick Media becoming the largest shareholder of Tribune Publishing stock and Ferro being named non-executive chairman of the board, the eventual merger of the Chicago Tribune and the Sun-Times would appear inevitable. Continue reading →

Doug Buffone

Doug Buffone, the former Chicago Bears linebacker who became a beloved broadcaster for WSCR AM 670, will be honored posthumously this spring with a Ring Lardner Award for Excellence in Sports Journalism.

Also named recipients of the prestigious award Wednesday were veteran sportswriter Ron Rapoport and Chicago Blackhawks announcer Eddie Olczyk. Continue reading →

A cameraman for WBBM-Channel 2 was robbed at gunpoint Tuesday night while on assignment in San Francisco for the CBS-owned station.

Marcus Richardson, who was covering preparations for the upcoming Super Bowl, reported he was photographing a “beauty shot” (TV news slang for a scenic image) when a gunman held him up. Continue reading →

Window to the World Communications

Two senior management positions at WTTW-Channel 11 were eliminated this week in response to a budgetary shortfall at parent company Window to the World Communications.

Parke Richeson, senior vice president of WTTW National Productions and a 27-year veteran of the company, and Mark Jahnke, vice president and chief technology officer at WTTW, were the highest profile employees affected by the latest reductions. Continue reading →

Juan Thompson

A former Chicago journalist has been linked to a “pattern of deception” involving fabricating quotes and creating fake email accounts while writing for The Intercept, a New York-based online publication.

Juan Thompson, whose employment as a staff reporter for The Intercept ended last month, previously worked as an intern at Chicago Public Media WBEZ FM 91.5 and at DNAinfo.com Chicago. (In his bio, he exaggerated his roles with both Chicago companies.) Continue reading →

Rob Hart

For the second time in five years, Rob Hart has left WGN AM 720 to jump to an all-news radio station in Chicago.

This week Hart exited the Tribune Media news/talk station to join CBS Radio WBBM AM 780/WCFS FM 105.9 as a fill-in part-time reporter and news anchor. He began training Monday, according to Ron Gleason, director of news and programming at WBBM Newsradio. Continue reading →

Chicago Tribune

Robservations on the media beat:

The field of political newsletters in Chicago keeps getting more crowded. Latest to enter the race for readers is the Chicago Tribune. Morning Spin, the Tribune’s political briefing posted online every weekday, is now available as an email newsletter. Monday also marks the official launch of Crain’s On Politics, a Monday-through-Friday political newsletter from Crain’s Chicago Business. Other notable players include Politico Illinois Playbook from politico.com, Daily Tip Off from RebootIllinois.com, and the subscription newsletters Aldertrack.com and CapitolFax.com. Think this might be an election year? Continue reading →