Oprah meets the press: Writers Gordon Walek, Mary Gillespie and Robert Feder with Oprah Winfrey (March 14, 1990)

Oprah Winfrey announced Tuesday that she’s closing Harpo Studios and consolidating her production operations in California. “I’ve spent more time there than anywhere else,” she said in a statement, referring to the Near West Side complex that once housed her eponymous talk show — and many of her dreams. “I am so proud of what we created.”

Winfrey’s announcement brought back memories of a morning in March 25 years ago when she opened the doors of Harpo Studios to members of the press for the first time. TV critics and writers from around the country flocked like pilgrims to the Chicago media mecca. Continue reading →

Vince Gerasole and Erin Kennedy (via selfie stick)

Feature reporter Vince Gerasole is the latest anchor du jour alongside Erin Kennedy as WBBM-Channel 2 moves to recast its weekday morning newscast yet again.

Friday was the last day at the CBS-owned station for Kris Gutierrez, who never lost his homesickness for Texas and packed it in after three years to join KXAS-TV, the NBC-owned station in Dallas. Don't worry if you never heard of him. You're not alone. Continue reading →

Peter Bowen

Peter Bowen, a star sales executive for CBS Radio and a veteran of the Chicago broadcasting community, has been named vice president and Chicago market manager of Cumulus Media.

Bowen will replace Donna Baker overseeing the company’s four stations here, including news/talk WLS AM 890, classic hits WLS FM 94.7, classic rock WLUP FM 97.9 and alternative rock WKQX FM 101.1. Cumulus Media is sending Baker back to Kansas City, where she started with the company in 2007. Baker will oversee Cumulus station operations in Kansas City, Minneapolis, and Des Moines. Continue reading →

With new call letters, new branding and an enhanced adult-contemporary format, Hubbard Radio is putting a fresh coat of paint on WILV FM 100.3.

Starting at 10 a.m. Monday, the station will become WSHE and refer to itself on the air and in its marketing as “SHE.” It will continue to target adult women, specifically between the ages of 35 and 44, with a playlist of familiar artists. Continue reading →

John Cody

The incomparable John Cody, regarded by many of his peers as the best radio reporter in Chicago, is retiring after 50 years in the business.

Cody, 71, told colleagues Friday his last day as a general assignment reporter at CBS Radio all-news WBBM AM 780/WCFS FM 105.9 will be March 13. He joined WBBM Newsradio in 1967 after two years at City News Bureau of Chicago. Continue reading →

Andrew Patner (1988)

The life of Chicago journalist and arts critic Andrew Patner will be celebrated March 18 in Orchestra Hall at Symphony Center, 220 South Michigan Avenue. Starting at 7 p.m., the event is free and open to the public.

Patner, who was critic-at-large at classical WFMT FM 98.7 and a contributing critic on classic music for the Sun-Times, died February 3 from a bacterial infection at age 55. Continue reading →

Chicago Sun-Times (Photo: Seth Anderson)

Fifteen editorial employees of the Sun-Times are leaving the newspaper after accepting voluntary buyouts, sources said Friday.

All 15 are represented by the Chicago Newspaper Guild, which was formally notified that the buyouts had been approved. All will be gone from the Sun-Times newsroom by Monday. Continue reading →

Erich Mancow Muller

Erich Mancow Muller wraps up his weeklong tryout as morning personality at WLUP FM 97.9 Friday knowing just one thing for certain: He won’t be back on Monday.

Other than that, the longtime Chicago radio personality swears he has no idea whether the job will be offered to him permanently — or whether he and his agent can come to terms with bosses of the Cumulus Media classic rock station if they do. Continue reading →

Jonathon Brandmeier

Culminating a day of Chicago radio bombshells, Cumulus Media has signed Chicago radio veteran Jonathon Brandmeier to a partnership agreement that will bring his show to WLS AM 890 and syndicate it nationally, the company announced Thursday.

“The Jonathon Brandmeier Show” will air from 9 to 11 a.m. Monday through Friday on the Cumulus Media news/talk station, starting sometime in March. It will replace John Kass and Lauren Cohn, whose final show aired on WLS Thursday. Continue reading →

Lauren Cohn

Lauren Cohn, whose midday show with John Kass was abruptly canceled Thursday, could be shifting to a new role at WLS AM 890 as a contributor to Big John Howell's morning show.

Both Kass and Cohn, whose show aired from 9 to 11 a.m. Monday through Friday, were called in for meetings with management of the Cumulus Media news/talk station after they got off the air Thursday. While Kass was told he was finished at WLS, Cohn was given the option of trying out for a spot with Howell, sources said. Continue reading →