Amara Walker

Imagine going from the worst local news operation in Chicago to the international anchor desk of CNN in one move.

That’s the story of Amara Walker, who bailed out last December from Fox-owned WFLD-Channel 32, where she had been a weekend news anchor on the rise. She quit to move with her husband, plastic surgeon Thomas Walker, who'd landed a new position in Atlanta. Continue reading →

Sue Ontiveros

Sue Ontiveros, a versatile editor, talented writer and respected mentor to fellow journalists, is resigning after 30 years at the Sun-Times.

Ontiveros told colleagues Monday that she will step down April 1 as deputy features editor, the post she has held since 2006. She will continue her association with the newspaper by writing a weekly editorial page column about social issues and blogging about nutrition, fitness, wellness and food for suntimes.com on a free-lance basis. Continue reading →

While much of what passes for news on local television has hit the skids, fortunately there’s still something to be said for solid, old-fashioned investigative reporting in Chicago.

Exhibit A is the I-Team at WLS-Channel 7, where chief investigative reporter Chuck Goudie, a 34-year veteran of the ABC-owned station, heads a franchise that has expanded its brand, doubled its personnel and elevated local TV to a new competitive level in recent months. Continue reading →

Ira Glass

Contrary to my report here Saturday, Ira Glass says he doesn’t have a deal with Public Radio Exchange to distribute “This American Life,” his popular weekly radio program.

“We haven't begun negotiations with PRX or anyone else to distribute the program,” Glass told me in a statement Monday, adding that he has “no idea what terms PRX would offer and [that] there are lots of other options.”

Glass, the host and executive producer of “This American Life,” is seeking a new distribution plan for the show, which is severing ties after 17 years with Public Radio International, as of July 1. Continue reading →

Paul Agase

After 24 years in sales and management positions at CBS Radio Chicago, Paul Agase is changing station identification and jumping to rival Cumulus Media Chicago.

As vice president of sales under Cumulus market manager Donna Baker, Agase will oversee advertising for news/talk WLS AM 890 and classic rock WLUP FM 97.9. He began his career as an account executive and sales manager at WLS in 1981. Continue reading →

Ira Glass

Just as Ira Glass promised, it didn’t take long for “This American Life” to land a new distributor. Sources tell me it’s going from PRI to PRX.

After 17 years with Public Radio International, the award-winning weekly radio program announced Thursday that it was severing ties with the Minneapolis-based outfit that oversees sales, marketing and transmission of the show to 587 stations nationwide.

Although all parties involved are keeping mum (host and executive producer Glass will say only that he’ll have an announcement “sometime soon”), insiders said Friday an agreement is expected with Public Radio Exchange, another distributor of public radio programming, based in Cambridge, Mass. The current deal with PRI expires on July 1. Continue reading →

The whoring out of local television news continues without letup — this time courtesy of Fox-owned WFLD-Channel 32.

Thursday’s “Good Day Chicago” featured a satellite interview with actress and model Shari Belafonte, who turned up to hawk a diet pill called Qsymia. Presented in the form of a Q&A with news anchor Natalie Bomke, the segment was paid for by biopharmaceutical company Vivus Inc., which hired Belafonte to promote the weight-loss drug. Continue reading →

Ryan Baker

It won’t be opening in early spring as originally planned, but a River North restaurant backed by three Chicago sportscasters is still very much on track.

Sports anchors Ryan Baker, Lou Canellis and Kip Lewis (of Comcast SportsNet) are partners in Reverie, a two-story restaurant and lounge under construction at 414 North Orleans Street. Despite the prominent placement of large-screen televisions, it’s not being labeled a sports bar.

Chef Rodelio Aglibot is designing a menu that will be “contemporary American with Asian accents,” according to Adam Cisek of Chicago-based Premium Themes Inc., another partner in the venture. Continue reading →

Jerry Angelo

Former Bears general manager Jerry Angelo has signed an exclusive agreement to appear as lead football insider on Tribune Broadcasting sports/talk WGWG LP 87.7.

Starting this week, Angelo will join midday hosts David Kaplan and David Haugh at 10:25 a.m. every Wednesday on The Game 87.7 FM. Continue reading →

Jon Hansen

In the latest expansion of DNAinfo.com Chicago, the hyperlocal news operation is about to add an audio news service to its digital platform.

Starting Wednesday, DNAinfo Radio will be streamed through an audio player on the home page of the website. Programming for the all-news format will originate from a studio at the 233 North Michigan Avenue offices of DNAinfo Chicago. Continue reading →