Dave Hoekstra

Dave Hoekstra, a respected journalist and celebrated storyteller who brings the heart of a newspaperman and the soul of a poet to everything he writes, exited the Chicago Sun-Times Friday in the latest round of staff cutbacks.

A 29-year veteran of the paper, Hoekstra, 58, negotiated a buyout after Sun-Times Media disclosed plans last week to eliminate five editorial positions covered by the Chicago Newspaper Guild, including one columnist/critic whose name was not disclosed. Hoekstra was one of 10 Sun-Times staffers in that classification.

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By and large over the last 30 years, Chicago was defined on the world stage by three personalities — Oprah Winfrey, Michael Jordan and Richard M. Daley. Since they all bowed out, the image of the city has been a lot less clear to those on the outside.

Until now.

With the debut tonight of “Chicagoland,” CNN’s extraordinary eight-part documentary series, a new Chicago emerges — a vibrant, vital and often violent 21st century metropolis — along with a new set of iconic figures (all of whom seem to be connected in one way or another to Mayor Rahm Emanuel). Remember the name Elizabeth Dozier in particular. Continue reading →

At WLS-Channel 7 they’re not just giving you the weather anymore. Now they’re giving you “ABC 7 First Alert Weather.”

The ABC-owned station this week unveiled the rebranding of weather segments on its newscasts and digital platforms and in a new weather-themed image campaign. Continue reading →

Cheryl Scott

This may be Chicago’s coldest winter in years, but things are heating up for Cheryl Scott.

After just two and a half years as weekend meteorologist at WMAQ-Channel 5, Scott, 29, has become the NBC-owned station’s most talked-about personality, amassing a social media fan base of more than 31,340 on Facebook and 19,500 on Twitter (a following exceeded only by Tom Skilling and Jerry Taft among Chicago weather people). Continue reading →

Four of the photographers who were fired when the Chicago Sun-Times eliminated its photography department last spring are rejoining the newspaper this week.

Rich Chapman, Brian Jackson, Al Podgorski and a fourth photographer whose name was not confirmed are expected to be rehired under terms of a contract settlement reached in November between Sun-Times Media and the Chicago Newspaper Guild.

But relief over their return was tempered by news of additional layoffs in the editorial ranks of the Sun-Times, the Post-Tribune of Northwest Indiana and the SouthtownStar. Continue reading →

Jarrett Payton and Harry Teinowitz

Jarrett Payton, former NFL running back and son of Bears legend Walter Payton, has been hired as afternoon co-host at Tribune Broadcasting sports/talk WGWG LP 87.7, station officials confirmed Monday.

Starting Wednesday, he’ll join Harry Teinowitz and Spike Manton from 3 to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday on The Game 87.7 FM. Continue reading →

Dan Ponce

If you’re as sick of Chicago’s endless winter as everybody else, check out this video parody of “Let It Go,” the Academy Award-winning song from the Disney movie “Frozen.”

"Let It Go (Chicago),” which debuted Monday, is the work of Chicago’s Very Own Dan Ponce, morning news anchor at Tribune Broadcasting WGN-Channel 9. While a student at Indiana University, Ponce founded the renowned a cappella group Straight No Chaser. Continue reading →

Roger Simon

Roll out the welcome mat for the great Roger Simon, chief political columnist for politico.com, who’s coming home to Chicago this spring.

Simon has been named one of six Fellows in Residence at the University of Chicago’s Institute of Politics, the public policy and public service institute founded and led by David Axelrod.

Starting later this month, Simon will spend the spring quarter on campus interacting with students and faculty, participating in public forums and leading a seminar on “the collision of media mayhem and political stagecraft.” Continue reading →

Here, in my estimation, are the 10 most notable Chicago media stories of the month.

Click on the arrows to advance the photos. To read the original posts, click on the headlines under each photo:
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Rich Miller

Rich Miller, the Illinois political reporter, editor, blogger and pundit whose Capitol Fax newsletter has been a must-read among power brokers for more than 20 years, is joining Crain’s Chicago Business as a contributing columnist.

Starting Friday, Miller’s column will appear twice monthly on chicagobusiness.com and eventually will be seen in Crain’s weekly print publication as well. Continue reading →