Jimmy deCastro

When Jimmy deCastro took over as president and general manager of WGN AM 720 in June 2013, he promised to have an impact on the Tribune Broadcasting news/talk flagship. "My hope is to bring a new energy to a classic institution,” he told the Chicago Tribune.

By any measure, that’s just what he’s done. Continue reading →

Ryan Chiaverini

News of Robin Williams’ suicide brings an unexpected timeliness — and even greater sense of urgency — to the release of Ryan Chiaverini’s new music video Tuesday.

The host of “Windy City Live” and former sports anchor at ABC-owned WLS-Channel 7 wrote the music and lyrics, recorded the song and stars in the video of “Chicago,” set to debut on both YouTube and iTunes. Continue reading →

Demetrius Ivory and Erin McElroy

There’s love in the air on WGN Morning News.

News anchor Erin McElroy and meteorologist Demetrius Ivory, who work together from 4 to 6 a.m. weekdays on Tribune Broadcasting WGN-Channel 9, are about to make news of their own: They’ve told friends they’re planning to be married in December. Continue reading →

Camron Smith

Robservations on the media beat:

Say hello to Camron Smith, new fill-in sports anchor at CBS-owned WBBM-Channel 2. A Chicago native and graduate of Southern Illinois University, he began working for CBS 2 in July. Smith has been a sports reporter for Comcast CN100 and commentator for Weigel Broadcasting’s high school basketball broadcasts on the U-Too. He also coached boys basketball at Gordon Tech High School. “It's truly a blessing to join @cbschicago as a fill-in sports anchor,” he tweeted. “My excitement is high for this new journey with CBS Chicago!” Continue reading →

Jesse Hamilton

Jesse Hamilton, executive producer of prime time hours at The Weather Channel in Atlanta, has been hired as executive producer of WLS-Channel 7’s morning news.

Starting September 22, he succeeds Doug Whitmire, who was promoted to executive producer of the ABC-owned station’s 10 p.m. newscast. “Excited to make Chicago my new home & work with a talented news team!” Hamilton tweeted Friday. Continue reading →

"General Hospital"

The long-running soap opera “General Hospital” and the syndicated “Inside Edition” and "Jeopardy!" will return to their old time slots this fall on WLS-Channel 7, as the ABC-owned station shuffles its daytime schedule for the third time in three years.

Blame it all on Katie Couric’s ill-fated daytime talk show, which debuted at 3 p.m. two years ago, disrupting ABC 7’s top-rated lineup and sending viewers scrambling to find “General Hospital” at 1 p.m. and the “Inside Edition” and "Jeopardy!" combo at 2 p.m. Continue reading →

John Gallagher

John Gallagher, who once ran WLS AM 890 for ABC Radio and Citadel Broadcasting, is returning to Chicago to oversee the three Hubbard Radio stations here.

The veteran broadcasting executive has been named vice president and market manager of Hubbard Radio Chicago, which includes hot adult-contemporary WTMX FM 101.9, classic hits WDRV FM 97.1 and adult contemporary WILV FM 100.3. Continue reading →

Trina Orlando

Trina Orlando, who spent six years as a reporter at CBS affiliate KDKA-TV in her native Pittsburgh, is the newest face on NBC-owned WMAQ-Channel 5.

Frank Whittaker, station manager and vice president of news at NBC 5, confirmed Thursday that Orlando started this week as a freelance general assignment reporter.

A graduate of the University of Southern California's Annenberg School for Communication with a double major in broadcast journalism and political science, Orlando joined KDKA in 2008. She previously anchored morning and noon newscasts at ABC affiliate WJET-TV and Fox affiliate WFXP-TV in Erie, Pennsylvania. Continue reading →

Tom Berman

Tom Berman, a 17-year veteran of The Associated Press, has been named Chicago-based editor of the 14-state central region for the worldwide news agency.

His appointment fills the vacancy created last April when David Scott was promoted to national political editor in Washington, D.C. Berman most recently has been deputy editor for the central region.

"Tom is the ideal person to build on the great foundation that we've built in the region," Brian Carovillano, managing editor for U.S. news, said in a statement. "He's an exceptionally smart and ambitious journalist. He is an excellent talent scout and mentor to all kinds of journalists. And he has a brilliant mind for looking at how we do what we do and thinking of ways to do it better. I'm really pleased to be adding him to an already great leadership team for U.S. news." Continue reading →

There’s a new nighttime lineup in Chicago, according to radio ratings released Monday for the period from June 19 to July 16.

Here’s a look at Chicago’s top 10 evening shows (as measured by Nielsen Audio among all listeners age 6 and older from 7 p.m. to midnight Monday through Friday), followed by average share of audience. Continue reading →