Elroy Smith

Elroy Smith, the former Chicago radio programmer who led two urban stations to the top of the ratings, won’t be making a comeback here after all.

Eight months after he announced plans to pay Calvary Radio Network a record $4.6 million for a 10-watt translator atop Willis Tower, the deal has been scrapped. “I wanted you to know that Calvary Radio Network and I have mutually agreed to terminate the pending sale of translator W264BF Chicago,” Smith wrote in an email Saturday. Continue reading →

Molly Adams

Molly Adams, co-host of “The Morning AMp” call-in talk show on Vocalo, is leaving the Chicago Public Media community-based audio service this week to join TouchVision, the multiplatform news and information network.

Adams will be bringing what she calls her “critical, humorous, and amiable personality” to mornings on the video news operation founded by former Tribune Co. chief innovation officer Lee Abrams and based at Weigel Broadcasting studios, 26 North Halsted Street. Continue reading →

Erich Mancow Muller

With anything that involves Erich Mancow Muller, there’s always a little bit of truth and a whole lot of bull. Why should this be any different?

On Friday Cumulus Media officially announced the veteran Chicago radio personality would be joining classic rock WLUP FM 97.9 as morning host, starting March 30. That much is true. Continue reading →

Ben Finfer

The last time I heard from Ben Finfer, he was ripping me on the air as “a joke,” “a hack” and a number of other things that I don’t think were meant as compliments.

It was the afternoon of November 20, and I had just reported that his bosses were pulling the plug on The Game 87.7 FM and that he and most of his co-workers would soon be out of work.

Unfortunately, no one had told Finfer the news before he read it on my Twitter feed during his show. (Co-host Alex Quigley knew the night before but hadn’t mentioned it to his partner.) Appearing blindsided and bewildered, an angry Finfer lashed out at his Tribune Media bosses in a 10-minute tirade that became a worldwide sensation. Continue reading →

Bill Zwecker

Starting next week, readers of the Sun-Times will be seeing less of fan favorite Bill Zwecker in the paper.

The veteran celebrity columnist and entertainment reporter is one of four Sun-Times staffers whose work weeks are being cut in half as part of the latest cost-saving moves at the financially troubled daily, according to insiders. Continue reading →

Kate Grossman

Kate Grossman, deputy editorial page editor of the Sun-Times, has been awarded a fellowship at the University of Chicago Institute of Politics.

Grossman was one of eight fellows named Monday to the prestigious program focusing on current political and public policy topics for the spring quarter. Continue reading →

Felicia Middlebrooks and Pat Cassidy

With Felicia Middlebrooks and Pat Cassidy leading the way in morning drive, CBS Radio all-news WBBM AM 780 and WCFS FM 105.9 swept Chicago’s radio ratings in February.

Nielsen Audio figures released Monday for the period from January 29 to February 25 put the WBBM Newsradio combo at the top of the market overall as well as in all four dayparts — mornings, middays, afternoons and evenings. Continue reading →

Jenny Milkowski

The new face of traffic on “Good Day Chicago” is Jenny Milkowski, a 31-year-old writer, producer, reporter, blogger and actress who describes herself as “a pure-bred Polish chick.”

But YouTube viewers may know her better as Jenny Milk, the name she used as a lifestyle and entertainment host on a couple of sexy video blog series called “i Milk It” and “Milkin’ It.” Continue reading →

Justin Kaufmann (Photo: Bill Healy)

The man who made everyone sound better at Chicago’s public radio station is about to get a starring role of his own.

After more than 20 years as an award-winning producer at Chicago Public Media WBEZ FM 91.5, Justin Kaufmann has been hired to host and produce a new evening show at WGN AM 720, the Tribune Media news/talk station. Continue reading →

Natalie Perez

Natalie Perez, a news anchor and reporter for the Univision Spanish-language station in Tampa Bay, Florida, has been hired as a general assignment reporter at Univision-owned WGBO-Channel 66 here.

She’ll start on the air next week, according to Teri Arvesu, news director of Univision Chicago. Continue reading →