Lourdes Duarte

Prominent columnists for three Chicago area newspapers have been named finalists for the 2019 Dorothy Storck Award, to be presented by the Chicago Journalists Association.

Daily Herald sports columnist Barry Rozner, Chicago Tribune columnist Mary Schmich and Sun-Times freelance columnist Natalie Moore (a reporter for Chicago Public Media WBEZ 91.5-FM) are competing for the honor, which carries a $1,000 prize. Continue reading →

Eric Ferguson

The latest ratings triumph for Hubbard Radio hot adult-contemporary WTMX 101.9-FM and longtime morning star Eric Ferguson led the top 10 most-read stories here in October.

To read the full posts, click on the headlines: Continue reading →

Hank Mendheim

As "Windy City Live" marks its 2,000th episode on WLS-Channel 7 today, there's a new boss in charge of the ABC-owned station's weekday talk and entertainment show.

Hank Mendheim, who's been a senior producer on the show since its launch in 2011, was named executive producer Thursday. He also appeared regularly as the show's resident pop-culture guru “Frankly Hank” — a role he now relinquishes. Continue reading →

Rafer Weigel

Rafer Weigel has been suspended without pay as morning news anchor at Fox-owned WFLD-Channel 32 after he became caught up in a controversy involving several women, texts of nude photos and allegations of revenge porn.

Fox 32 officials did not respond to requests for comment, but sources said the suspension, effective immediately, removes Weigel until further notice from “Good Day Chicago,” the newscast he co-anchors from 4 to 6 a.m. Monday through Friday with Roseanne Tellez. Continue reading →

Jordan Foster

Robservations on the media beat:

Jordan Foster, the overnight and fill-in host who goes by the name JRDN, was promoted Wednesday to nighttime personality at iHeartMedia Top 40 WKSC 103.5-FM. From 7 p.m. to midnight Monday through Friday, he succeeds Erik Zachary, who stepped down in August. “I’m really excited and honored to be taking on this role,” Foster said in a statement. “It’s something I’ve worked towards for a while now, so I can’t wait to serve Chicago some great times and good laughs.” A native of Syracuse, New York, and graduate of Syracuse University, Foster began his career as the rap artist Jay Foss before joining iHeartMedia Chicago in 2015. Said 103.5 Kiss FM program director James Howard: “He brings a level of energy to events that no one can match.” Continue reading →

Sandra Cordova Micek

Sandra Cordova Micek has spent the last 16 months listening, questioning and thinking about where Chicago's premier public television station and classical music radio station are headed.

Now she is putting it all together.

As president and CEO of Window to the World Communications Inc., the Wilmette resident and former Hyatt Hotels marketing executive has headed the nonprofit media enterprise since the spring of 2018, when she succeeded another Wilmette denizen, Daniel Schmidt, who held the top job for nearly 20 years. Continue reading →

Kalee Dionne

Robservations on the media beat:

Paul Deanno

Say goodbye to Kalee Dionne. After three years as meteorologist at NBC-owned WMAQ-Channel 5 she's heading to Dallas as a Monday-through-Friday weather forecaster at ABC affiliate WFAA. "We’ll miss her spunk, her humor and her passion for the science of meteorology," weekend news anchor Michelle Relerford wrote on Facebook. Dionne and her husband, Jonathan Pair, recently adopted their first child. A native of Herscher, Illinois, and graduate of Southern Illinois University, Dionne joined NBC 5 from NBC affiliate KSHB in Kansas City. New to the NBC 5 weather front is Paul Deanno, who signed on this week at 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. weekdays. The Syracuse University graduate previously worked at KOMO, the ABC affiliate in Seattle; WTVJ, the NBC-owned station in Miami; and KPIX, the CBS-owned station in San Francisco. Continue reading →

Melissa McGurren, Eric Ferguson and Brian "Whip" Paruch

After falling to a tie for sixth place one month ago, WTMX 101.9-FM jumped back to the top spot in the Chicago radio survey released Monday.

The Hubbard Radio hot adult-contemporary station known as 101.9 The Mix also finished first in mornings with Eric Ferguson, Melissa McGurren and Brian “Whip” Paruch, and afternoons with Kevin “Koz” Koske and Jennifer Roberts, according to the latest Nielsen Audio report. Continue reading →

Cheryl Burton

Longtime Chicago news anchor Cheryl Burton has been named recipient of the 2019 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Chicago Journalists Association.

Burton, who anchors the top-rated 5 and 10 p.m. weekday newscasts on ABC-owned WLS-Channel 7 with Alan Krashesky, will be honored November 15 at the association’s 80th anniversary awards dinner at the Hyatt Regency Chicago, 151 East Wacker Drive. Continue reading →

Chuck Schaden

As "Those Were the Days" prepares to celebrate its 50th anniversary, the man who started it all is coming back to the weekly old-time radio showcase.

Starting this weekend Radio Hall of Famer Chuck Schaden will produce and host "Recollections at 50," a series of 20 weekly segments dedicated to memorable moments from the program's first half-century on the air. Continue reading →