See, hear: Cochran’s morning show adds video streaming

Steve Cochran

Steve Cochran

After seven months as morning personality on WGN AM 720, Steve Cochran is ready for his close-up.

Starting Tuesday, the Tribune Broadcasting news/talk station will add a live video stream of Cochran’s show to its website at wgnradio.com. From 5 to 9 a.m. weekdays, multiple cameras in WGN’s showcase studio will allow listeners to see what they’re hearing in real time. Continue reading →

Chicago magazine names exec editor

Terrance Noland

Terrance Noland

Terrance Noland, a former editor at Men’s Journal, Esquire and SmartMoney, has been named executive editor of Chicago magazine.

His appointment, effective April 14, was announced Thursday by editor in chief Beth Fenner.

As No. 2 editor at the Tribune Co.-owned monthly, Noland succeeds Cassie Walker Burke, a 12-year veteran who resigned last month to join Crain’s Chicago Business as an assistant managing editor. Continue reading →

Sun-Times adds bitcoin to its realm

Sun-Times signA recent Sun-Times business blog post acknowledged that bitcoin had been “battered by news of theft and volatility” lately. But that’s not stopping parent company Wrapports LLC from doubling down on the controversial digital currency.

On Thursday, the Sun-Times announced it was becoming “the first major newspaper” to accept bitcoin as payment. Customers in the Chicago area can now use bitcoin to pay for the subscriptions at bitcoin.suntimes.com. Continue reading →

Obama protester busts into Jay Levine report

Jay Levine

Jay Levine

A live report by WBBM-Channel 2’s Jay Levine on President Obama’s fundraising visit to Chicago Wednesday was disrupted by a protester shouting: “Obama is a war criminal.”

Levine, chief correspondent for the CBS-owned station, had just begun his report from River North on the 5 p.m. newscast when an unidentified man lunged for his microphone. A second view of the incident was captured by WMAQ-Channel 5’s Mary Ann Ahern, who was reporting live for the NBC-owned station nearby. Continue reading →

Still a ‘wonderful time’ for Linda Yu

Linda Yu

Linda Yu

Linda Yu, the Chicago television treasure whose amazing longevity is exceeded only by her popularity, marked her 30th anniversary at WLS-Channel 7 Wednesday by doing what she’s always done — anchoring a top-rated newscast on the ABC-owned station.

“It’s been a lucky, fascinating, learning, productive, wonderful time,” she told Facebook fans. “I’m grateful and humbled by your support all these years!” Continue reading →

Under new management, WBEZ ‘needs to do better’

Goli Sheikholeslami

Goli Sheikholeslami

“Chicago” may be the company’s first name, but when it came to choosing a new chief executive officer, Chicago Public Media had no qualms about going out of town.

In naming Goli Sheikholeslami to oversee public radio WBEZ FM 91.5 and its related enterprises Tuesday, the board of Chicago Public Media chose a veteran of New York and Washington media suites with no prior connection to Chicago — and no experience in radio for that matter. Continue reading →

Carlson moves up to full-time at NBC 5

Susan Carlson

Susan Carlson

Veteran Chicago newswoman Susan Carlson has been named a full-time reporter and fill-in news anchor at NBC-owned WMAQ-Channel 5.

Her promotion from part-time status, effective April 28, was confirmed Tuesday by Frank Whittaker, station manager and vice president of news at NBC 5.

“I’m extremely delighted that Susan will be joining us full-time,” Whittaker told me. “She’s a born and bred Chicagoan who knows our city and suburbs well. Her years of local reporting will be a great addition to our staff.” Continue reading →