Abe Kanan
Cumulus Media is finally getting down to business in its search for a new morning personality at WLUP FM 97.9.
Starting Monday, the classic rock station will begin a series of four weeklong "tryouts," testing various potential hosts and inviting listeners to register their feedback. The morning slot has been open since last September when The Loop revamped its lineup and parted company with Benjamin Bornstein, who was known on the air as Maxwell. Continue reading
Carl Grapentine
Just in time for Groundhog Day, veteran morning host Carl Grapentine will make his long-awaited reappearance on classical WFMT FM 98.7 Monday. “I’ll pop out of my hole to return to the morning program!” he wrote on Facebook.
Grapentine, 65, has been out of commission since November when he underwent quadriceps tendon surgery on both legs. Wearing thigh-to-ankle casts he spent five weeks in hospitals and rehabs centers, and has been convalescing at home since mid-December. Continue reading
Gerry Kern
Seven years into his run as editor of the Chicago Tribune, Gerry Kern has assembled a new team of seasoned insiders to help lead the city’s premier news organization.
On Wednesday he announced the promotion of a new managing editor and a new associate editor — both considered viable contenders to succeed the 65-year-old Kern whenever he decides to retire as editor and senior vice president of Chicago Tribune Media Group. Continue reading
Marianne Murciano and Bob Sirott
In a throwback to one of the longest-running and most bizarre contests in Chicago radio history, Bob Sirott and Marianne Murciano are challenging listeners to guess the name they have locked inside a safe on display in their Michigan Avenue studio.
Whoever calls in to their WGN AM 720 midday show with the correct answer will win everything the Tribune Media news/talk station is giving away that day, along with all the DVDs, CDs, books and apparel in Sirott and Murciano’s office — and even the safe itself. Continue reading
Kyle Santillian
Listeners to WGCI FM 107.5 are about to wake up to a brand new morning show.
Kyle Santillian, a former morning host from Greensboro, North Carolina, will team up with former Chicago radio personality Kendra G and WGCI veteran Leon Rogers from 6 to 10 a.m. weekdays on the iHeartMedia urban contemporary station, starting Thursday. Continue reading
Maudlyne Ihejirika
Four distinguished Chicago journalists encompassing print, broadcast and digital platforms this week were named recipients of 2015 Studs Terkel Community Media Awards from the Community Media Workshop.
Cited for their work in covering Chicago’s diverse communities were: Maudlyne Ihejirika, urban affairs reporter and assistant city editor of the Sun-Times; Monica Eng, food policy, health and consumer producer/reporter for Chicago Public Media WBEZ FM 91.5; Sharon Cohen, Chicago-based national writer for the Associated Press; and Darryl Holliday, general assignment reporter/producer at DNAinfo Chicago and founder of The Illustrated Press. Continue reading
Frank Whittaker
Veteran Chicago television news executive Frank Whittaker will be taking a leave of absence as station manager and vice president of news at WMAQ-Channel 5 while being treated for prostate cancer, he told colleagues Monday.
Whittaker, 58, said he will undergo surgery Thursday and expects to be away from the NBC-owned station at least through the end of February. Continue reading
Dick Biondi
It’s been six weeks since Dick Biondi was sidelined from WLS FM 94.7, but if the legendary Radio Hall of Famer has his way, he’ll soon be riding the late-night airwaves again.
“To be very honest, I’m going crazy sitting here and waiting to go back to work,” Biondi said Monday in a phone conversation from home. Continue reading
Todd Manley and Roe Conn
Veteran Chicago radio personality Roe Conn won’t be the only new voice afternoon listeners will hear on WGN AM 720 starting this week.
Joining Conn and news anchor Judy Pielach from 3 to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday on the Tribune Media news/talk station will be traffic reporter Esmeralda Leon. Continue reading
Ryan Chiaverini
Viewers of WLS-Channel 7 news may do a double-take when they see who’s anchoring sports this weekend.
With Dionne Miller ailing and both Mark Giangreco and Jim Rose out of town, the ABC-owned station has drafted Ryan Chiaverini, host of “Windy City Live,” to fill in as sports anchor on its Saturday and Sunday newscasts. It’s a return to the role Chiaverini held before he began hosting the live daily talk show with Val Warner in 2011. Continue reading