Anchorman Ruddle sets sail as novelist

Jim Ruddle

Jim Ruddle

Twenty-eight years after Jim Ruddle hoisted anchor and left local television news to sail the seas, he’s as happy as ever about the course he navigated.

Although Chicago lost an anchorman and commentator of exceptional intellect and gravitas, Ruddle found he had little tolerance for the trivialities of the business and little patience for bosses who chafed at the strong opinions he expressed. As always, he was ahead of his time. Continue reading →

ABC 7 loses two key news executives

Janet Hundley

Janet Hundley

Janet Hundley resigned Friday after more than 12 years as assistant news director at ABC-owned WLS-Channel 7 to become news director of WTMJ-TV, the NBC affiliate in Milwaukee.

“I am absolutely thrilled for Janet,” Jennifer Graves, vice president and news director of ABC 7, told staffers in a memo. “She’s wanted to run her own newsroom again for some time and she’s found a position that’s a great fit at a company with a long tradition of journalistic integrity and excellence.”

Hundley’s exit closely follows the resignation of Richard Maginn, executive producer of ABC 7’s 10 p.m. weekday newscast and a 19-year veteran of the station. Continue reading →

Sun-Times editor joins expanded Tribune news service

Zach Finken

Zach Finken

Zach Finken, a 20-year Chicago newspaperman who ran the copy desk and layout desk for the Sun-Times, has been hired as associate editor of Tribune Content Agency, the syndication and licensing arm of Tribune Publishing.

No word yet on Finken’s replacement as assistant managing editor for news at the Sun-Times, where he had worked since 2001.

Confirmation of Finken’s move Thursday followed the announcement that Tribune Publishing had acquired McClatchy Company’s 50 percent ownership stake in McClatchy-Tribune Information Services, which will be added to the products of Tribune Content Agency. With the addition of the wire service, the newly expanded Tribune Content Agency will provide content to 1,200 media clients and digital entities worldwide. Continue reading →

‘Late Show’ announcer wants your attention

Alan Kalter

Alan Kalter

Late-night viewers rarely take Alan Kalter seriously in his role as announcer and blowhard comedy foil on “Late Show with David Letterman.” But now Illinois broadcasters are hoping his words will be heeded.

Kalter is latest celebrity voice to record a series of public service announcements promoting disaster preparedness throughout the state.

Sponsored by the Illinois Emergency Management Agency, Kalter’s 30-second and 60-second messages began airing this week on more than 200 radio stations affiliated with the Illinois Broadcasters Association. Past participants in the campaign include the former team of Larry Lujack and Tommy Edwards (reprising their "Animal Stories" routine), TV and radio personality Steve Harvey, and actress Marion Ross. Continue reading →

Marketing and sales top Wert’s agenda

Sixteen months into Larry Wert’s tenure as president of Tribune Broadcast Media, what’s the most important thing on his to-do list? Marketing and sales for his 41 stations across the country.

“Our current agenda is to put together a marketing and sales organization for all of our stations and all of our digital properties,” Wert told TVNewser at its show and job fair in New York last week. “We’re working on that right now as a priority.” Continue reading →

Sun-Times joins Rivet News Radio

RIvetChicago-based startup Rivet News Radio, the mobile app designed to deliver personalized local, national and world news along with traffic and weather to smartphone users, just added content from the Sun-Times to its playlist.

The agreement between the Sun-Times and Rivet News Radio’s parent company, HearHere Radio Inc., marks the latest content partnership for the fledgling news service. Other contributors include Chicago Public Media WBEZ FM 91.5 (featuring Jerome McDonnell’s “Worldview”), Crain’s Chicago Business and the Associated Press. Continue reading →