iHeartMedia blows up WEBG’s country format for new ‘Rock 95 Five’

Rock 95.5 Chicago

The prayers of Chicago's hard-rock radio fans have been answered.

Two and a half years after the untimely demise of WLUP 97.9-FM, the iconic classic-rock station known as The Loop, the music of Metallica and Mötley Crüe is in the air again.

As of 5 p.m. today, iHeartMedia pulled the plug on the failed country music format of WEBG 95.5-FM and renamed the station “Rock 95 Five.” The rebranding followed six hours of stunting, starting with R.E.M.'s "It's the End of the World As We Know It." Continue reading →

Robservations: On balance, ‘News Nation’ gets off to promising start

"News Nation" (from left): Albert Ramon, Joe Donlon, Marni Hughes and Rob Nelson

Robservations on the media beat:

The premiere of WGN America’s “News Nation” Tuesday night came off smoothly, with news anchors Joe Donlon, Marni Hughes and Rob Nelson displaying an easygoing rapport belying the fact they’d never worked together before. At times the three-hour production from Chicago came off as a fast-paced national headline service, but more often seemed like a local newscast on steroids. As expected, Nexstar Media Group’s stations around the country provided much of the content — including stories of limited interest outside their immediate area. The same can be said of meteorologist Albert Ramon’s frequent reports, which rarely focused outside of severe weather in the Texas region. President Donald Trump’s visit to Kenosha earlier in the day provided an opportunity to showcase political reporter Dean Reynolds in studio and reporter Rudabeh Shahbazi (who doubles as weekend anchor) on the scene. It remains to be seen whether “News Nation” will live up to its lofty promise of objectivity in the long run, but it’s off to a good start. For now it would do well to deliver the goods and can the hype — including the overworked, self-serving mantra: “We’re bringing you balance not bias.” That made me cringe every time. Continue reading →

Trump tweets 'good luck' message on eve of 'News Nation' launch

President Donald Trump tweet

Hours before tonight’s debut of a three-hour primetime national newscast from Chicago that promises to be free of political bias, “News Nation” has received an unsolicited blessing from President Donald Trump.

“Good luck to Sean Compton, a winner at everything he does!” Trump tweeted at 9:02 a.m. Tuesday over a link to Stephen Battaglio’s story Monday in the Los Angeles Times raising the curtain on “News Nation.” Continue reading →

Robservations: The Score restores Bruce Levine after time out for tweet

Bruce Levine (Photo: WTTW/Chicago Tonight)

Robservations on the media beat:

Veteran Chicago sports reporter Bruce Levine, who’s been off the grid since he posted a controversial tweet on August 23, is expected to return this week as baseball insider on Entercom sports/talk WSCR 670-AM, insiders said Monday. Under a seemingly innocuous tweet reporting that outfielder Ian Miller had been recalled by the Chicago Cubs, Levine attached a photoshopped image of President Donald Trump with a lewd comment about Joe Biden and Hillary Clinton. It’s not clear how the image became linked to Levine’s tweet, but friends insisted it was out of character for the longtime journalist and must have been a mistake. Within moments of posting, Levine deleted the offending tweet and quickly followed with a mea culpa: “Apologies for a picture that was sent. I have zero political agenda.” Since then neither Levine nor his bosses at The Score and Marquee Sports Network have commented on the matter. Continue reading →

Chicago radio ratings: Nielsen's top story is WBBM Newsradio

Lisa Fielding

For the seventh consecutive month, WBBM 780-AM/WCFS 105.9-FM took front and center in Chicago's radio ratings during August.

Nielsen Audio figures released Monday showed the Entercom all-news combo boosting its first-place lead among all listeners. WBBM Newsradio also finished first in mornings with Pat Cassidy, middays with Cisco Cotto, and afternoons with Keith Johnson and Lisa Fielding. Continue reading →

Robservations: New NBC 5 series offers perspective on 'Race in Chicago'

Marion Brooks

Robservations on the media beat:

Marion Brooks, veteran news anchor and investigative reporter at NBC-owned WMAQ-Channel 5, just launched a weekly series of special reports on "Race in Chicago: How Did We Get Here." (Here is the link.) Airing each Wednesday on NBC 5's 6 p.m. newscast through the end of the year, stories by Brooks and her colleagues, including Phil Rogers, Kate Chappell and Chris Hush, will examine the African American experience in Chicago and provide historical perspective on vital issues. “As a journalist, I feel a sense of responsibility to report stories that will hopefully inform and educate viewers about the important issues that have led to the Black Lives Matter movement," Brooks said. "Context is critical, and through our journalism, we will deliver the in-depth background that will hopefully spur honest conversations across our communities." Continue reading →

Sun-Times names Rachel Hinton chief political reporter

Rachel Hinton (Photo: WTTW/Chicago Tonight)

Just three years after joining the Sun-Times as an intern straight out of DePaul University, Rachel Hinton has been promoted to chief political reporter.

Chris Fusco, executive editor of the Sun-Times, confirmed Hinton's meteoric rise in an email to staff announcing her appointment Wednesday. She most recently has been covering Cook County government. Continue reading →

WGN America's 'News Nation' gets ready to make primetime history

"News Nation" (from left): meteorologist Albert Ramon, news anchors Joe Donlon and Marni Hughes, and breaking news anchor Rob Nelson

One week from tonight, television history will be made in Chicago.

Straight up at 7 p.m. Tuesday, September 1, viewers across the country will get their first look at “News Nation,” the three-hour primetime national newscast to air seven nights a week on the WGN America cable network. Continue reading →