Greg Caputo

Greg Caputo leaves some pretty big shoes to fill at Chicago’s busiest TV news operation, but WGN-Channel 9 appears to be in no hurry to replace him.

No successor has been named for Caputo, who announced plans May 5 to retire as news director of the Tribune Broadcasting station. His last day on the job will be Friday.

While the position remains vacant (and the opening is still posted online), all eyes are on assistant news director Jennifer Lyons. A 20-year veteran of WGN, Lyons has taken a larger role in the news department since Caputo's announcement and will continue to oversee the department after next week, according to Greg Easterly, president and general manager. Continue reading →

Terri Hemmert (Photo: Don Pointer)

WXRT FM 93.1 is inviting listeners to help cheer up Terri Hemmert while the Chicago radio treasure is off the air and out of commission recovering from knee surgery.

The CBS Radio album adult alternative station has opened a “Get Well Soon Terri Hemmert!” page on its website with a form for fans to submit messages to her. Continue reading →

CBS 2 Mobile Weather Lab

The station that brought Chicago its first minicam technology more than 40 years ago just unveiled the city’s first mobile weather lab.

CBS-owned WBBM-Channel 2 rolled out a modified BMW X5 Thursday that it’s touting as the area’s “first highly-advanced weather station on wheels.” It’s sponsored by BMW, of course. Continue reading →

Ed Volkman and Joe Colborn (aka Eddie & Jobo)

Ed Volkman and Joe Colborn, the iconic Chicago radio duo known as Eddie & Jobo, could be headed for yet another comeback — this time on classic hits WLS FM 94.7.

Talks first began in May when the two met with John Dickey, co-chief operating officer and executive vice president of Cumulus Media, sources said. No agreement was reached, but negotiations are expected to start up again this week on plans to sign them for mornings. Continue reading →

Here’s a look at Chicago’s most popular radio stations during the weekend, according to ratings for the period from April 24 to May 21.

Following are the top-rated stations in the Chicago metro area as measured by Nielsen Audio among all listeners age 6 and older from 6 a.m. to midnight Saturday and Sunday, followed by format and average share of audience. Continue reading →

Emily Barr

Emily Barr, former president and general manager of ABC-owned WLS-Channel 7, will be honored as Broadcaster of the Year Wednesday by the Illinois Broadcasters Association.

Barr, who stepped down after 15 years at ABC 7 in 2012 to become president and CEO of Post-Newsweek Stations, twice served as board chairman of the state broadcast trade association. She later was elected to the lifetime board position of director emeritus.

“There is no broadcaster more deserving of this award than Emily,” Dennis Lyle, president and CEO of the IBA, said in a statement. “She clearly defines what local broadcasting means to the community it serves, and does so with unmatched enthusiasm and dedication for an industry she so loves.” Continue reading →

Curtiss Johnson

Curtiss Johnson, a former rock radio programmer in Sacramento and Phoenix, has been named program director of Hubbard Radio classic hits WDRV FM 97.1.

Starting Monday, Johnson will succeed Patty Martin, who announced last month that she was stepping down after 13 years at the Drive. Martin, a 34-year veteran of Chicago radio, cited health matters involving her husband, who soon may undergo a kidney transplant.

“Replacing Patty, the only programmer in our 13 rockin’ years, was daunting, but we believe we have hit the jackpot!” Greg Solk, senior vice president of programming at Hubbard Radio, told staffers in a memo Tuesday. “Curtiss is brilliant, but down to earth. He is artsy and scientific. He will not only make a great programming partner for me, but a terrific team player and coach for all of you.” Continue reading →

Dan Schmidt

Window to the World Communications, the nonprofit parent company of public television WTTW-Channel 11 and classical music WFMT FM 98.7, is facing harsh criticism from members of the community it’s licensed to serve.

Declaring that the public broadcaster “has not lived up to its potential as a local player for a long time,” an ad hoc citizens group called “Fix Channel 11” is calling on the management and board of trustees “to commit to changing directions and their assumptions about its future.” Continue reading →

June 17, 1994

On June 17, 1994, the opening ceremonies of the World Cup were held at Soldier Field in Chicago. That same day, President Bill Clinton delivered a speech to residents of Robert Taylor Homes on the South Side. Yet both stories got short shrift on the 10 o’clock news that night.

Instead, Chicago and the rest of the country were mesmerized by the slow-speed police chase of O.J. Simpson in his white Ford Bronco across 60 miles of Los Angeles freeways and city streets. Continue reading →

Broadcast legend Casey Kasem, who died Sunday at 82, was no stranger to Chicago.

Not only was his voice familiar to generations of listeners to “American Top 40” and viewers of “Scooby-Doo,” but Kasem was a frequent visitor to the National Radio Hall of Fame here. Continue reading →