{"id":10601,"date":"2016-03-01T06:00:04","date_gmt":"2016-03-01T12:00:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.robertfeder.com\/?p=10601"},"modified":"2016-03-01T06:00:17","modified_gmt":"2016-03-01T12:00:17","slug":"robservations-fox-32-staffers-seeing-red","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/robertfeder.dailyherald.com\/2016\/03\/01\/robservations-fox-32-staffers-seeing-red\/","title":{"rendered":"Robservations: Fox 32 staffers in the red"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Lisa<\/a>

<\/a> Lisa Chavarria and Joanie Lum<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Elizabeth<\/a>

Elizabeth Matthews<\/p><\/div>\n

Robservations on the media beat:<\/p>\n

The station that told its reporters they couldn't wear hats<\/a> in winter now has them wearing bright red jackets branded with the company's logo. Fox-owned WFLD-Channel 32<\/a> ordered the emblazoned coats and headgear for employees after the station was ridiculed here<\/a> for telling staffers they had to go hatless during live shots. (Fox 32 boss Dennis Welsh<\/strong> later disavowed<\/a> the edict, calling it \u201c5,000 percent not a station policy.\u201d) One insider called the new red regalia \u201ca typical overreaction by management.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Paul<\/a>

Paul Green<\/p><\/div>\n

Epic fail best describes the City Club of Chicago<\/a> luncheon Monday on \u201cThe Future of Print Media\u201d featuring publishers Tony Hunter<\/strong> of the Chicago Tribune, <\/a>Jim Kirk<\/strong> of the Sun-Times<\/a> and David Snyder<\/strong> of Crain\u2019s Chicago Business.<\/a> To the astonishment of the sold-out crowd (and no doubt to relief of both Hunter and Kirk), no mention was made of Michael Ferro,<\/strong> the reigning czar<\/a> of Chicago\u2019s two daily newspapers. Asked to account for the lapse, moderator Paul Green<\/strong> said: \u201cNo member of the audience asked a question about Ferro.\u201d OK, then why didn\u2019t Green?<\/p>\n

\"Peter<\/a>

Peter Liguori<\/p><\/div>\n

Tribune Media,<\/a> Chicago-based parent company of WGN-Channel 9<\/a> and WGN AM 720,<\/a> took the first step Monday in selling off its assets. In its latest earnings report it announced <\/a>the hiring of Moelis & Co. and Guggenheim Securities to explore a possible sale. \u201cThe strategic and financial alternatives under consideration include, but are not limited to, the sale or separation of select lines of business or assets, strategic partnerships, programming alliances and return of capital initiatives,\u201d the company said. Holdings include 42 television stations nationwide, WGN America, Antenna TV and Gracenote. Tribune Media also confirmed a new two-year employment agreement for Peter Liguori<\/strong> as president and chief executive officer.<\/p>\n

\"ABC<\/a>

ABC 7 promo<\/p><\/div>\n

Chicago viewers of the Academy Awards Sunday night were deluged with promos <\/a>for WLS-Channel 7<\/a> teasing a \"showstopper\" and a \"game changer\" in weather reporting. \u201cGet ready, Chicago, for a first in local weather,\u201d the ABC-owned station hyped. \u201cComing soon technology to show you weather in a whole new way.\u201d So what\u2019s up? Rumors range from a fancy new radar system to \u201caugmented reality elements\u201d featuring graphics that will \u201cpop out of the floor in the middle of the studio.\u201d For now, ABC 7 isn\u2019t telling: \u201cWe\u2019ve got something new and exciting in weather, and we\u2019re looking forward to introducing it soon,\u201d said spokesperson Jayme Nicholas.<\/strong><\/p>\n