Chris Fusco

Chris Fusco, the veteran Chicago journalist who rose from reporter to executive editor in 20 years at the Sun-Times, is leaving to help launch an ambitious news startup in central California.

Fusco, 47, has been named founding executive editor of Lookout Santa Cruz, which will launch this fall as the first of a network of local news and information sites. He will lead an initial editorial team of 10, with plans for expansion to follow. Continue reading →

Orion Samuelson

On the eve of his 60th anniversary as the booming voice of agriculture and business at WGN 720-AM, Orion Samuelson says it's time to retire from the Nexstar Media Group news/talk station.

A beloved hall of fame broadcaster and Chicago media icon if there ever was one, Samuelson, 86, informed his bosses he’ll bow out at the end of the year.

“December 31st will be my last time on the air at WGN,” Samuelson told me Tuesday. "I don’t know how many broadcasters have been around for 60 or more years, so I don’t know if it’s that much of a milestone." Continue reading →

Dan McNeil (2015 photo)

Robservations on the media beat:

One week after his career crashed and burned over what his bosses called a “degrading and humiliating” tweet, Dan McNeil apologized to the ESPN reporter whose attire he ridiculed. In his first public comment since being canned by Entercom sports/talk WSCR 670-AM, McNeil tweeted: “I apologize, @MariaTaylor, for the harsh critique of your outfit on MNF. Going for a quick laugh, I failed conclusively. Best of luck -- you're terrific. #GoneFishin.” During Taylor’s premiere appearance on “Monday Night Football” September 14, McNeil tweeted: “NFL sideline reporter or a host for the AVN [Adult Video News] annual awards presentation?” He was fired the next day. The longtime Chicago radio personality most recently co-hosted afternoons on The Score with Danny Parkins. No word yet on McNeil's replacement. Continue reading →

Joe Donlon

Will an exclusive White House interview with President Donald Trump help jump-start the ratings for “News Nation”?

Trump has agreed to tape a one-on-one interview Tuesday morning with Joe Donlon, news anchor for the national cable news startup on Chicago-based WGN America. It will be seen on Tuesday night’s “News Nation,” which airs here from 7 to 10 p.m. Continue reading →

Mary Sandberg Boyle

Robservations on the media beat:

WGN Radio 720

Mary Sandberg Boyle, the first female general manager in the 96-year history of WGN 720-AM, has been promoted to vice president and general manager of the Nexstar Media Group news/talk station. Sandberg Boyle, who rose from executive producer to director of news and operations to acting general manager in just four years, has been general manager since December. On her watch, WGN has undergone a major realignment of programming and personnel. “Mary has done an outstanding job under less than ideal circumstances,” said Sean Compton, Nexstar executive vice president overseeing WGN Radio. “She is innovative, thoughtful and determined, and she has forged a great working relationship with the staff. She is a respected leader in Chicago media and this promotion is well-deserved.” Sandberg Boyle said: “WGN Radio is the gold standard of radio stations in Chicago and the Midwest, and I am extremely proud to work alongside its talented and dedicated staff. I am grateful to Nexstar for giving me this opportunity and for allowing me to lead this station into the future. WGN Radio’s best days are still ahead of us.” Before joining WGN in 2015, Sandberg Boyle was executive producer of “The Steve Dahl Show” on multiple outlets and exec producer of the morning show at Entercom Top 40 WBBM 96.3-FM. She’s a Chicago native and a graduate of Carmel Catholic High School and the University of Illinois at Chicago. Continue reading →

Jim Rose

Robservations on the media beat:

Jim Rose, who's been a key player on WLS-Channel 7's sports team since 1982, signed on Wednesday for three more years with the top-rated ABC-owned station. "For almost 40 years JR has been serving sports fans and the Chicago community,” said John Idler, president and general manager of ABC 7. “His passion for excellence and professionalism has created a legacy that we are thrilled to continue.” Rose, 67, who was born in Providence, Rhode Island, and graduated from Rhode Island College, joined ABC 7 as a sports anchor and reporter from WIXT, the ABC affiliate in Syracuse, New York. In 2013 Rose was inducted in the Silver Circle of the Chicago/Midwest chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. His new deal solidifies ABC 7’s front line in sports, following a three-year extension for lead sports anchor Mark Giangreco last fall. Continue reading →

Leila Rahimi

Robservations on the media beat:

In the wake of Dan McNeil's sudden firing Tuesday for posting what his bosses called a "degrading and humiliating" tweet about a female ESPN reporter, Danny Parkins is expected to host afternoons solo for now on WSCR 670-AM. But the Entercom sports/talk station would be wise to seize this opportunity — though long overdue — to promote a woman to full-time weekday host. At the top of many fans' lists would be Leila Rahimi, who's been filling in on various shifts at The Score since she was laid off last month after an outstanding five-year run at NBC Sports Chicago. Just one day before McNeil's ouster, Rahimi was tapped to co-host middays once a week — from 9 a.m. to noon every Wednesday — with Dan Bernstein, starting today. Rahimi tweeted Tuesday night she was "very happy for this opportunity that’s for sure." Continue reading →

Dan McNeil

There won't be another second chance for Danny Mac this time.

Dan McNeil, the mercurial and often controversial sports talk show host, was fired today for tweeting a disparaging comment about an ESPN sideline reporter and her choice of wardrobe. Continue reading →

Dan McNeil

Robservations on the media beat:

Maria Taylor

It doesn’t really matter what Dan McNeil was thinking when he posted a disparaging comment about ESPN sideline reporter Maria Taylor's outfit during Monday night’s NFL game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and New York Giants. “NFL sideline reporter or a host for the AVN annual awards presentation?” McNeil tweeted, suggesting her attire might be more appropriate for the annual pornography award show presented by Adult Video News. McNeil deleted the tweet about 30 minutes later, according to Awful Announcing, but not before it had been seen (and archived) countless times. In the social media firestorm that followed, one of the fiercest responses came from Julie DiCaro, the writer and former host on Entercom sports/talk WSCR 670-AM, where McNeil co-hosts afternoons with Danny Parkins. "Always disappointed, never shocked," DiCaro tweeted about her former co-worker. "It's almost as if there's a connection between the lack of women on air and the blatant sexism. I think a serious question that listeners need to ask themselves is why men feel comfortable doing something like this in 2020, and why they've gotten that message?" No comment yet from McNeil's bosses at The Score, where the perennial bad boy is on his third stint in 28 years. Taylor's response? "Well Danny Dearest if you would like to continue making sexist comments about me . . . please bring your misogyny with you to the NBA Countdown double header I’ll be hosting tomorrow night," she tweeted. "Hey ladies remember you can wear whatever you feel confident in!" Continue reading →

Angi Taylor

Angi Taylor, who’s been a mainstay of mornings on Top 40 WKSC 103.5-FM since 2008, is about to move up to solo morning host at iHeartMedia Chicago’s brand-new rock station.

Sometime in the coming weeks Taylor will sign off as Christopher “Fred” Frederick’s morning show partner on Kiss FM and shift to WCHI 95.5-FM, which flipped from country music to a rock format September 3. Continue reading →