Lou Canellis

It’s go time for Reverie, the new River North restaurant and sports bar backed by three Chicago sportscasters.

Ryan Baker of CBS-owned WBBM-Channel 2, Lou Canellis of Fox-owned WFLD-Channel 32, and Kip Lewis of Comcast SportsNet Chicago are partners in the two-story restaurant and lounge set to open in the next few days at 414 North Orleans Street. Continue reading →

2014 Corvette Stingray

Robservations on the media beat:

The biggest local radio promotion in years kicks off Monday, with a $73,000 Corvette Stingray as grand prize. Hubbard Radio classic hits WDRV FM 97.1 will award “The Drive’s Dream Machine” to one of 50 listeners who qualify during the five-week promotion. Twice each weekday through September 5 those who identify the artist of the day can enter for a chance to win $500 and a shot at the car. “We want to make it as easy as possible for listeners to qualify and win, so the daily artists and hours they air will be no secret,” said program director Curtiss Johnson. “The calendar will be on WDRV.com, the artist and hours will be posted each day on our Facebook page and sent out on our Twitter feed.” Continue reading →

Robin Robinson

Robin Robinson signed off Monday after 27 years at WFLD-Channel 32.

Her final story on the Fox-owned station’s 9 p.m. newscast examined changing attitudes about prostitution. “Maybe it’s fitting that this is my last report here on Fox 32 News because it kind of proves the power of knowledge and new information,” Robinson told viewers. “Because that is what all the journalists here hope to achieve.” Continue reading →

Robin Robinson

Eight months after she was forced to step down as main news anchor at WFLD-Channel 32, Robin Robinson is ending her 27-year run at the Fox-owned station.

Tonight marks her final appearance as a reporter on Fox 32’s 9 p.m. newscast with a story on “the evolution of awareness about the true nature of prostitution.” Continue reading →

Jack Diamond

Jack Diamond, a longtime Washington, D.C., radio personality, appears to be in the cards as the new morning host at WLS FM 94.7.

All this week Diamond will be on the Cumulus Media classic hits station from 5:30 to 9 a.m. with current morning host Brant Miller. According to plan, insiders say, the arrangement could become permanent, with Diamond as host, Miller in a reduced role as co-host and weather reporter, and Marti Jones continuing as news anchor. Continue reading →

The last time I shared a list of my favorite films about the Fourth Estate in 2009, I heard from a lot of people.

Even my esteemed colleague Roger Ebert joined the conversation, questioning me for leaving out two contemporary newspaper movies, Zodiac (2007) and State of Play (2009).
Continue reading →

Anne Dias Griffin and Ken Griffin

If early media reports are any indication, the divorce of one of Chicago’s richest and most politically potent couples is unlikely to remain a private affair, as both sides are hoping.

Billionaire Ken Griffin, founder and head of Chicago-based hedge fund Citadel Investments, confirmed through the law firm Berger Schatz that he filed for divorce Wednesday from Anne Dias Griffin, his wife of 11 years and founder of the website Reboot Illinois. Continue reading →

Robservations on the media beat:

Steve Dahl

If you want to subscribe to Steve Dahl’s podcast by the year, it’s going to cost you more. Annual subscribers to the Steve Dahl Network had been paying $99.95 a year since Dahl began his paywall podcast in August 2011. But now they’ll be charged $119.40 a year — matching the rate of monthly subscribers, who pay $9.95 a month. “I’m not raising the price, I'm just not offering two free months anymore,” Dahl explained. “When the Network debuted three years ago, we only offered my daily show. Now we offer over 40 new shows a month from five different hosts (six if you count Steve and Garry). I am revising my business model, and devising other ways to reward our loyal subscribers. Just part of growing the business.” Continue reading →

Kathy Hart and Billy Baruth

The female half of radio’s most popular morning team is about to become the Chicago area’s latest celebrity restaurateur.

Kathy Hart, co-host of the top-rated “Eric & Kathy Show” with Eric Ferguson on WTMX FM 101.9, confirmed plans to open a restaurant and music venue with her husband in Highwood. Continue reading →

Sarah Dunlap Burke

Sarah Dunlap Burke, a Chicago area native and veteran news producer who began as an intern at Tribune Broadcasting WGN-Channel 9, has been hired as assistant news director at ABC-owned WLS-Channel 7.

Burke, who most recently has been acting news director at WBZ-TV, the CBS-owned station in Boston, succeeds Janet Hundley, who resigned from ABC 7 in May to become news director of WTMJ-TV, the NBC affiliate in Milwaukee. Continue reading →