Melissa McGurren (Photo: Instagram/Melissa McGurren)

Robservations on the media beat:

Hours after her bosses publicly bade farewell to Melissa McGurren, the former co-host of Eric Ferguson’s top-rated morning show disputed their version of her departure from WTMX 101.9-FM. In a brief but emotional video posted on social media platforms, McGurren said the statement released by Hubbard Radio Chicago was "not accurate" adding: "The truth will come out." (Here is the link.) As reported here Wednesday, Jeff England, vice president and market manager at Hubbard Radio Chicago, said the company offered McGurren a contract extension but she declined. McGurren and her agent, attorney Steve Mandell, would not say what was inaccurate about the company's version and declined further comment. Continue reading →

Steve Alexander (Photo: WGN Radio)

Robservations on the media beat:

Orion Samuelson

When the legendary Orion Samuelson retires at the end of the month after 60 years at WGN 720-AM, he’ll turn over the agribusiness beat to Steve Alexander, who's been a news-and-business anchor and reporter at the Nexstar Media Group news/talk station since 2007. “Steve grew up on a farm and has the knowledge to know what is important to our audience of farmers, food producers and consumers,” Big O said of his successor. “I am delighted that he is available to continue the WGN tradition of serving this most important audience.” Alexander, who also co-wrote and published Samuleson’s 2012 autobiography, You Can't Dream Big Enough, said: “When I've filled in for Orion over the past 12 years, I've often joked that he gave me the key to the tractor, and I was able to keep it out of the ditch until he returned. Come next month, I'll try to keep the tractor upright and continue Orion's efforts to explain how important agriculture is to all of us.” Continue reading →

Melissa McGurren

Melissa McGurren, the pride of Portage, Indiana, who rose from traffic reporter to full-fledged co-host of Eric Ferguson’s top-rated morning show, is out after more than two decades at WTMX 101.9-FM.

Officials of the Hubbard Radio hot adult-contemporary station ended speculation today about McGurren's lengthy absence and announced a parting of the ways. She is expected to be paid through the end of the year, when her contract expires.

A statement released by the company alludes to a contract extension offer it says McGurren turned down, but it provided no other details. Continue reading →

Glenn Reedus (Photo: WTTW/Chicago Tonight)

Robservations on the media beat:

Chicago Reporter

Glenn Reedus, a longtime Chicago journalist and former editor at the Chicago Defender and Chicago Crusader, has been named interim editor and publisher of the Chicago Reporter. The future of the 48-year-old investigative news organization has been in doubt since September when Fernando Diaz was ousted as editor-in-chief and publisher, and the Reporter suspended publication. "The interim role gives me the opportunity to bring Chicago Reporter readers true in-depth journalism that digs deep for the facts, present them with balance and avoid conjecture and speculation as too often is the case today,” Reedus said in a statement. News of his hiring was hailed by alumni of the Reporter, who pressed for its continued editorial independence. “Reedus faces many challenges,” said Laura Washington, a former editor and publisher. “He must hire a staff of reporters and other personnel; fulfill The Chicago Reporter’s commitment to collaborations with other news organizations; and initiate new investigations and data projects.” Continue reading →

Jeannie Morris (Photo: Chicago Bears)

Jeannie Morris, a celebrated journalist, bestselling author, globe-trotting adventurer, and award-winning producer and reporter, blazed a trail for women as Chicago’s first female sports broadcaster.

Morris, who turned 85 on December 2, died Monday at her Chicago condominium. For the past year she had been undergoing chemotherapy for appendiceal cancer, according to her family. Continue reading →

Bruce St. James

For Bruce St. James it’s only about a block's walk from his Streeterville apartment to the studios of Cumulus Media news/talk WLS 890-AM at NBC Tower.

But when he takes the predawn stroll there today he’ll be making the biggest move of his career.

Airing from 5:30 to 9 a.m. Monday through Friday on the once-glorious 50,000-watt powerhouse, “The Bruce St. James Show” will mark the pinnacle of a radio odyssey that began on an overnight shift in Tucson, where St. James attended the University of Arizona. Continue reading →

Dean Richards

Dean Richards, the veteran Chicago media personality, entertainment critic and talk show host, returns to work this weekend — two weeks after he tested positive for COVID-19.

For at least the next week or so, Richards said, he’ll broadcast from his home. On Sunday he’ll be back on Nexstar Media Group news/talk WGN 720-AM, where "Dean Richards’ Sunday Morning” airs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The following day he’ll return to “WGN Morning News” on Nexstar Media Group WGN-Channel 9. Continue reading →

Alan Krashesky

Robservations on the media beat:

Alan Krashesky, principal news anchor at top-rated ABC-owned WLS-Channel 7, has been off the air since November 25. Now comes word he'll be out for the rest of the year following surgery for an undisclosed ailment. "After a planned surgical procedure, I’m recovering at home and doing well," he said in a statement Wednesday. "I want to thank everyone for their thoughts and prayers and am looking forward to being back on the ABC 7 anchor desk sometime in January. Until then, wishing our viewers a very happy and safe holiday season." Krashesky, 60, joined ABC 7 in 1982 and succeeded Ron Magers in the 10 p.m. anchor chair in 2016. Continue reading →

Terrell Brown

Robservations on the media beat:

Terrell Brown, morning news anchor at ABC-owned WLS-Channel 7, spent days inside the South Shore home of Tierra and Jermaine Muhammad, where they raised five children in a neighborhood of crime and violence. The result is "Our Chicago: Living While Black," a half-hour special airing at 11:30 p.m. Sunday. “I was with the Muhammad family from sunup to sundown," said Brown, who doubles as host and producer of the segment. "I learned how they played the hand they were given, and navigated tough circumstances to find solid footing and success. I didn’t want to narrate or get in the way of their truth. This is their story and I wanted them to tell it in their own words.” The ABC 7 special also reports on the struggle for healthcare services in Chicago’s most underserved neighborhoods. Continue reading →

Paul Konrad

It’s been more than two weeks since Paul Konrad surprised fans by announcing he was “taking the rest of the year off of social media.” No Facebook. No Twitter. No Instagram. No Snark.

“I have been growing in my conviction that social media is taking me away from things that are really important to me. It distracts me and doesn’t help me be my best,” Konrad declared in his final post of the year on November 22. “See you in 2021.” Continue reading →