Allison Payne (Photo: Jennifer Girard)

News of the death of Allison Payne, who was a prominent news anchor at WGN-Channel 9 for 21 years, led the top 10 most-read stories here in September.

To read the full posts, click on the headlines: Continue reading →

Luis Felipe Godinez

Robservations on the media beat:

Univision Communications has tapped the news director of its station in Sacramento, California, to lead the news operation of WGBO-Channel 66, Chicago's top-rated Spanish-language station. As vice president of news, Luis Felipe Godinez succeeds Teri Arvesu, who shifted to a new corporate role. A graduate of San Francisco State University, Godinez worked as assistant news director and executive producer at KDTV in San Franciso before joining KUVS in Sacramento in 2020. Earlier he worked in Las Vegas, Denver and Amarillo, Texas. "Luis is a forward-thinking journalist who brings with him with a wide range of experience including multimedia journalist, executive producer and five years as assistant news director in San Francisco," Doug Levy, president and general manager of Univision Chicago, told staffers in an email. "With so many amazing professionals working here in Chicago, I am excited to see how Luis will help to shape our newsroom to best position us for growth and success in the future." Continue reading →

Chicago Sun-Times/WBEZ Chicago

The Chicago Sun-Times would become a subsidiary of Chicago Public Media, nonprofit parent company of WBEZ 91.5-FM, under a “historic partnership” being pursued by the two legacy media organizations.

Confirming a report here, the board of Chicago Public Media voted Wednesday to approve a non-binding letter of intent to “explore joining together as one organization to grow and strengthen local journalism in Chicago.” Target for completion of the merger is the end of this year. Continue reading →

Christine Taylor

Passed over last month for the top editor’s job, the highest ranking woman in the Chicago Tribune newsroom resigned Wednesday.

Christine Taylor, who has overseen daily news coverage as managing editor since 2018, will leave the Tribune October 8. Continue reading →

Matt Moog

Top executives of the Chicago Sun-Times and the parent company of public radio station WBEZ 91.5-FM confirmed a report here Wednesday that talks are underway on a partnership agreement between the two organizations.

In separate emails to their staffs, the chief executive officers of the Sun-Times and Chicago Public Media acknowledged their negotiations. Continue reading →

Chicago Sun-Times/WBEZ Chicago

Robservations on the media beat:

Michael Sacks

The Chicago Sun-Times and public radio station WBEZ 91.5-FM would combine ownership under an agreement that could be announced this week, sources said. The board of Chicago Public Media, nonprofit parent company of WBEZ, is expected to vote on the plan in a closed meeting Wednesday night. Board approval is not assured, sources said, and the deal could still fall through. Officials of Chicago Public Media would not respond to requests for comment. Spearheading the proposal is Michael Sacks, the Chicago businessman who’s been principal investor in the Sun-Times since 2019. While continuing to cover the newspaper’s financial losses, Sacks is said to have been looking for a compatible partner to take over the company. Details of the arrangement — including whether the two newsrooms would continue to operate independently — could not be confirmed. Continue reading →

Tom McNamee (Photo: WTTW/Chicago Tonight)

Tom McNamee, a pillar of Chicago journalism who rose from general assignment reporter to editorial page editor of the Sun-Times, is stepping down after four decades at the newspaper.

His retirement, effective in mid-October, was announced to the staff Monday by Steve Warmbir, interim editor-in-chief of the Sun-Times. Continue reading →

Eric Ferguson

Radio Hall of Famer Eric Ferguson, longtime morning personality at WTMX 101.9-FM, is being sued by a former assistant producer of his show over allegations of an “unwelcome sexual relationship” in 2004.

Cynthia DeNicolo, who worked for the Hubbard Radio hot adult-contemporary station until last year, filed the Cook County Circuit Court lawsuit in May, the Chicago Tribune reported Monday. Continue reading →

Chicago Reader

Robservations on the media beat:

Chicago Reader (first issue October 1, 1971)

The venerable Chicago Reader will honor its 50th year of publication with special anniversary issues on October 14 and October 28, featuring its origin story and articles focused on the past half-century of award-winning work. As part of the ongoing celebration, a multimedia exhibit of stories, photographs, cartoons and other archival material will be featured at Chicago's Newberry Library, 60 West Walton Street. “The Chicago Reader at 50: A half-century of revolutionary storytelling” will run from October 6 to January 22. The Reader also will mark the milestone with a 50-day giveaway, including theater tickets, a souvenir Reader newsbox, Ben Platt concert tickets, Chicago restaurant vouchers and other items. Founded by four college friends — Bob McCamant, Bob Roth, Tom Yoder and Tom Rehwaldt — and first published on October 1, 1971, the free alternative weekly shifted to nonprofit status in 2020. “We continue to be honored to helm this legendary Chicago newspaper,” co-publishers Tracy Baim and Karen Hawkins said in a joint statement. “And we are very happy to start the 50th anniversary celebrations October 1 with 50 days of 'Reader Giving.' This has not been an easy journey to nonprofit status during a pandemic, but we are grateful to our staff, freelancers, supporters, readers and advertisers for staying the course.” Continue reading →

Zoraida Sambolin

Robservations on the media beat:

Days after Zoraida Sambolin returned as morning news anchor to WMAQ-Channel 5 following a four-month leave of absence, she’s calling it quits. Sources said next Friday will be her last day at the NBC-owned station. It’s not clear why she’s leaving, but in a Facebook video Monday she said she had been “taking a deep dive into my physical and mental health [and] I just need to take a minute to take care of me. If you know my history, you know I have been sick in the past and I just want to make sure that I stay healthy.” (Here is the link.) Except for a two-year stint with CNN in New York, Sambolin, 56, has been the face of morning news at NBC 5 since 2007. She joined the station as a free-lance weekend news anchor in 2002. Sources said her contract runs through July 2022 so her resignation means she cannot work on the air in Chicago until after that. Continue reading →