Wrapports takes its brand off Sun-Times

Chicago Sun-Times

Chicago Sun-Times

Pick up a copy of the Sun-Times these days and you’ll no longer find any reference to Wrapports LLC, the media holding company that’s owned the paper since 2011.

Gone from the front page, the masthead and everywhere else is the corporate name once meant to signify the "rapport" of new technology and the "wrapping" of a traditional print newspaper. A “Wrapports” sign recently was removed from the entrance to the Sun-Times. New security badges issued to employees now say “Sun-Times” instead of “Wrapports.” Continue reading →

Tribune Media communications exec exits under the radar

Christa Robinson

Christa Robinson

While no one was looking, Tribune Media quietly abolished the job of its New York-based chief communications officer.

Christa Robinson, a former CNN corporate communications chief and Clinton White House aide, was hired in November 2013 to help guide senior management through what was called a “transformative” period for Tribune Media.

Her tenure lasted 16 months.

Gary Weitman, senior vice president/corporate relations, confirmed Monday that Robinson’s position had been eliminated and that she left the company more than a month ago. Robinson’s social media pages also reflect her status as former chief communications officer. Continue reading →

Karyn Esken joins Tribune Content Agency

Karyn Esken

Karyn Esken

Karyn Esken, former director of Radio Disney Station Group and a highly regarded veteran of Chicago media, has been named vice president for business development at Tribune Content Agency.

In the newly created position, Esken will head sales efforts in traditional markets and will be responsible for developing sponsorships for the rapidly expanding syndication and licensing unit of Tribune Publishing, according to Joyce Winnecke, president of Tribune Content Agency.

The appointment, announced Monday, is effective immediately. Continue reading →

J. Fred MacDonald 1941-2015

J. Fred MacDonald

J. Fred MacDonald

J. Fred MacDonald, one of Chicago’s preeminent broadcast historians, is being remembered as an influential teacher, mentor and film archivist.

A professor of history for 27 years at Northeastern Illinois University, MacDonald wrote six books on media history, including One Nation Under Television: The Rise and Decline of Network TV; Blacks and White TV: African Americans in Television Since 1948; Television and the Red Menace: The Video Road to Vietnam; and Don’t Touch That Dial! Radio Programming in American Life from 1920 to 1960. Continue reading →

Rahm’s spinmeisters recommend ‘a few reporters’ — and here’s the list

Mayor Rahm Emanuel

Mayor Rahm Emanuel

Shortly before the Chicago mayoral election, the Columbia Journalism Review published a hard-hitting look at Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s rocky relations with the local media.

Written by Jackie Spinner, the publication’s Chicago correspondent and an assistant journalism professor at Columbia College Chicago, How Chicago’s press corps is dealing with ‘Washington Rahm’ recounted four years of conflict with City Hall reporters. Among those quoted about their difficulties covering Emanuel were reporters Mary Ann Ahern, Laura Washington, Brian Slodysko, Ben Joravsky and Carol Marin and photographer Alex Garcia. Continue reading →

WBBM Newsradio hires Robin Robinson

Robin Robinson

Robin Robinson

Robin Robinson, who was a star news anchor on Chicago television for three decades, is about to turn up on the city’s top-rated all-news radio station.

The former principal news anchor at Fox-owned WFLD-Channel 32 began training this week as a part-time and fill-in anchor at CBS Radio WBBM AM 780 and WCFS FM 105.9. Julie Mann, managing editor of WBBM Newsradio, welcomed Robinson in a memo to the staff Thursday. Continue reading →