Dag Juhlin, Steve Dahl and Brendan Greeley

Robservations on the media beat:

Leave it to Steve Dahl to come up with a new twist on an old stunt. During an appearance at Zanies Rosemont Wednesday the Chicago radio legend will host a Halloween costume contest. But here's the catch: Fans can dress up only as Dahl or one of his co-hosts, Dag Juhlin and Brendan Greeley. (Or as Dahl calls them "three stay-at-home podcasters.") The event will feature a recording of two episodes of Dahl's daily podcast before a live audience. (Here is the link for tickets.) Continue reading →

Walter Cronkite

On Tuesday the U.S. Postal Service announced that it would honor the late journalist Gwen Ifill with a Forever postage stamp in 2020.

As the 43rd stamp in the Postal Service's Black Heritage series, it’s a fitting tribute to the former anchor of the "PBS NewsHour" and the moderator and managing editor of “Washington Week,” who died in 2016.

But it made me wonder about another iconic journalist who has yet to receive similar recognition. More than a decade after his passing, they still haven't issued a commemorative stamp for Walter Cronkite. Continue reading →

NBC Sports Chicago

Robservations on the media beat:

Neil Funk

For Chicago Bulls fans Wednesday will bring a new beginning on NBC Sports Chicago. The season opener against the Charlotte Hornets will be the first of 82 regular season Bulls broadcasts airing exclusively on the regional sports network. It also will mark the debut of new Bulls game night studio host Jason Goff, and the start of the final season for play-by-play legend Neil Funk, who announced he'll retire at the end of his 28th season with the team. Also new to NBC Sports Chicago this season is Bulls “Insider” and former Chicago Tribune NBA expert K.C. Johnson. Continue reading →

Jeanne Sparrow

Robservations on the media beat:

Longtime Chicago radio and television personality Jeanne Sparrow announced she's taking time off as weekend host at iHeartMedia urban adult-contemporary WVAZ 102.7-FM to undergo a hysterectomy. In a video post on Facebook Saturday she urged listeners to take care of themselves. "Today's my last day on the air [at] V103 Chicago for a little while," Sparrow said. "I had a cancer scare this summer and thank God it was benign but I'm still at risk so I'm having surgery next week. I appreciate all prayers, good vibes and love. I'll see you soon!" V103 officials declined to comment on Sparrow's announcement or plans for a fill-in while she's away. Before returning to radio in 2017 Sparrow spent eight years as co-host of “You & Me,” the former morning show on Weigel Broadcasting WCIU-Channel 26. Continue reading →

Chicago Sun-Times (October 18, 2019)

Robservations on the media beat:

In a first for the Chicago Sun-Times, today's entire print edition has been tinted pink to raise awareness of National Mammography Day. "Our pink paper is a reminder of the importance of mammograms, whether for you, your wife, mother, daughter, sister or friend," said Pamela Henson, senior vice president of advertising and marketing for the Sun-Times and a seven-year breast cancer survivor. A portion of all single-copy sales will be donated to the American Cancer Society. Continue reading →

Jason Goff

Jason Goff, the former Chicago radio sports-talk personality, has been tapped by NBC Sports Chicago as pregame and postgame host of Chicago Bulls broadcasts.

Goff succeeds Mark Schanowski, a 13-year veteran of the regional sports network who stepped down as host but continues as a primary contributor on the Bulls across multiple platforms. Continue reading →

Irika Sargent and Dorian Orr

Robservations on the media beat:

Irika Sargent and Dorian Orr

The clouds parted and the sun shined as Chicago television news anchor Irika Sargent took her wedding vows in Hawaii. The 5, 6 and 10 p.m. weekday anchor at CBS-owned WBBM-Channel 2 married Dorian Orr before 60 family members and friends in a stunning outdoor ceremony October 3 at historic Haiku Mill on the island of Maui. Orr is Chicago-based general manager of Microsoft Services User Experience and Mixed Reality Studios. Sargent, a Cornell-educated lawyer, joined CBS 2 in 2015 from CBS-owned WFOR in Miami. Best wishes to both of them. Continue reading →

Chicago (AP Photo)

For roughly half a million television homes in the Chicago area, Friday will be a very big day.

That’s when over-the-air viewers will have to rescan their TVs or converter boxes if they want to continue to receive local TV stations for free. Continue reading →

WBEZ

Starting today Chicago’s premier public radio station is putting it all on the line.

With the debut of a two-hour local talk show as the new centerpiece of its daytime lineup, Chicago Public Media WBEZ 91.5-FM is hoping to boost noontime listenership without jeopardizing its robust ratings in morning drive, fueled by NPR's "Morning Edition." Continue reading →

WGN Radio

Robservations on the media beat:

You won't hear the Chicago Bears, but WGN 720-AM is about to begin airing select NFL football games on Sunday afternoons. Starting this weekend the Nexstar news/talk station will broadcast a play-by-play lineup distributed by Compass Media Networks. This Sunday's matchups are Houston Texans vs. Kansas City Chiefs at 11:30 a.m., and Dallas Cowboys vs. New York Jets at 2:45 p.m. Under new Nexstar ownership, WGN hopes to use the games to promote other programming on the station. This is a bye week for the Bears, who continue to air on Entercom all-news WBBM 780-AM/WCFS 105.9-FM. Continue reading →