{"id":31692,"date":"2021-12-03T06:00:15","date_gmt":"2021-12-03T12:00:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.robertfeder.com\/?p=31692"},"modified":"2021-12-03T09:19:37","modified_gmt":"2021-12-03T15:19:37","slug":"robservations-sun-times-wbez-closing-merger-bob-newhart-returns-emmy-awards-eric-zorn-offers-subscription-newsletter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/robertfeder.dailyherald.com\/2021\/12\/03\/robservations-sun-times-wbez-closing-merger-bob-newhart-returns-emmy-awards-eric-zorn-offers-subscription-newsletter\/","title":{"rendered":"Robservations: Sun-Times, WBEZ closing in on merger; Bob Newhart returns to Emmy Awards; Eric Zorn offers subscription newsletter"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>

Chicago Sun-Times\/WBEZ Chicago<\/p><\/div>\n

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

For a couple of news organizations that demand transparency from everyone else, there\u2019s been little of it from the Chicago Sun-Times<\/a> and Chicago Public Media, parent company of news\/talk WBEZ 91.5-FM<\/a>. Since late September, when news of their proposed merger was first disclosed<\/a>, both sides have been dealing behind closed doors to unite the two legacy media brands under what they're calling \"a new model of local nonprofit journalism.\"\u00a0Matt Moog,<\/strong> CEO of Chicago Public Media, said in an internal communication the two companies were focused on \u201ccompleting due diligence . . . with an eye toward reaching a final agreement by the end of the year.\u201d He told employees they'll hear more at their next staff meeting Thursday.\u00a0Nykia Wright,<\/strong> CEO of the Sun-Times, declined to comment. \u201cI do not have any updates for you at this time,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Bob Newhart<\/p><\/div>\n

The 63rd annual Chicago\/Midwest Emmy Awards will stream live Sunday on the Chicago\/Midwest Emmy YouTube channel<\/a>, the Emmy App<\/a> and chicagoemmyonline.org<\/a>, starting at 7 p.m. Sponsored by the Chicago\/Midwest chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, the virtual event will be hosted by Chicago comedian Pat McGann,<\/strong> who\u2019s back for his third time in the role since 2016. Look for the legendary Bob Newhart,<\/strong> who hosted Chicago's first Emmy show in 1959, to make a guest appearance with McGann Sunday. (Here is the link to a complete list of nominees.<\/a>)<\/p>\n

\"\"

Eric Zorn<\/p><\/div>\n

Former Chicago Tribune columnist Eric Zorn,<\/strong> who was among the biggest stars to bail out<\/a> after Alden Global Capital took over the paper, has been publishing a free weekly email newsletter (dubbed the Picayune Sentinel<\/a>) since September. Now he\u2019s aiming to monetize the effort via Substack, seeking subscribers at $5 a month or $50 annually. Real fans can opt for \u201cfounding member\u201d status at $120. (Here is the link to subscribe.<\/a>) \u201cThe Thursday Picayune Sentinel will continue to be free, but in a few weeks I plan to open up a patrons-only comment forum in an effort to create a community of engaged readers unpolluted, as most comment forums are, by drive-by snark and insults,\u201d Zorn explained. \u201cThe heavily edited boards I hosted at my old Change of Subject blog at the Tribune was a model for (mostly) useful and respectful discourse, and I hope to replicate that.\u00a0I will also move much of the feedback\/dissent exchanges from Z-mail over to paid-subscriber editions, and I will produce other bonus content.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"

WGN Radio 720<\/p><\/div>\n

Are more personnel changes in the works at WGN 720-AM<\/a>? Two weeks after announcing plans for a new weekday lineup<\/a> in the new year, Nexstar Media posted an opening for a full-time on-air personality<\/a> at the news\/talk station. (Here is the link.<\/a>) WGN bosses wouldn\u2019t say what shift it\u2019s for, but one clue may be in the job listing\u2019s requirement for \u201cflexibility to work any shift with a focus in anchoring overnight newscasts.\u201d Fans are hopeful WGN finally will hire a local replacement for Phoenix-based Rollye James,<\/strong> who\u2019s been filling in since WGN cut popular overnight host Nick Digilio<\/strong> in September 2020.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Ayana Contreras<\/p><\/div>\n

It\u2019s a big month for Ayana Contreras,<\/strong> content director for Chicago Public Media\u2019s Vocalo<\/a> alternative music station and columnist for Downbeat magazine. On December 14, University of Illinois Press will publish Energy Never Dies: Afro-Optimism and Creativity in Chicago,<\/a><\/em> her homage to creativity in Black Chicago. And every weekend in December Contreras will host \u201cSoul Sauce,\u201d a three-hour dance party featuring R&B and soul classics, at 7 p.m. Saturdays (and repeated at 1 p.m. Sundays) on WBEZ 91.5-FM. \u201cLike so many Chicagoans, I grew up listening to legendary radio disc jockey Herb Kent\u2019s<\/strong> appointment listening on the weekends,\u201d Contreras said. \u201cThe gift that I wanted to give to Chicago this holiday season is a classic soul music program featuring the music that has populated rumpus room parties, backyard barbecues and sock hops in Chicago for decades.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"

Brigham Avery<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cHollywood & Ivy,\u201d a monthly, one-hour interview show featuring celebrity fans of the Chicago Cubs, premiered Thursday on Marquee Sports Network,<\/a> the team\u2019s regional sports network. Hosted by Chicagoan Brigham Avery,<\/strong> the series kicked off with actor Joe Mantegna<\/strong> as first guest. Other celebs on tap include George Wendt, Tom Dreesen<\/strong> and Jeff Garlin.<\/strong> Serving as executive producers are Avery, Mantegna and Chicago attorney and talent agent Steve Mandell.<\/strong> \u201cI\u2019m so excited to be a part of this amazing team,\" Mandell said. \u201cWhen I was asked to be an executive producer, I couldn\u2019t have asked for a more fun and accomplished group to work with.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"

The Hunt for the Chicago Strangler<\/p><\/div>\n

On the heels of Candace McCollum\u2019s<\/strong> series<\/a> last week for Midway Broadcasting news\/talk WVON 1690-AM on Chicago\u2019s missing Black women and girls comes \u201cThe Hunt for the Chicago Strangler.\u201d The three-part documentary series premieres Friday on the subscription streaming service discovery+<\/a>. Narrated by Chicago-born actress and filmmaker Tonya Pinkins<\/strong>, it explores the long-neglected murders of Black women on Chicago\u2019s South and West Sides and highlights the work of the nonprofit Murder Accountability Project.<\/p>\n

Thursday\u2019s comment of the day:<\/a> Guy Postlewait:<\/strong> It\u2019s nice to see WRME [Me-TV FM] continuing to do well. Despite their disadvantaged dial position, they\u2019ve been extremely consistent in the volatile world of Chicago radio. I\u2019m still hoping they find a new frequency before the FCC does away with Franken FMs.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Robservations on the media beat: For a couple of news organizations that demand transparency from everyone else, there\u2019s been little of it from the Chicago Sun-Times and Chicago Public Media, parent company of news\/talk WBEZ 91.5-FM. Since late September, when news of their proposed merger was first disclosed, both sides have been dealing behind closed... Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/robertfeder.dailyherald.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31692"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/robertfeder.dailyherald.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/robertfeder.dailyherald.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/robertfeder.dailyherald.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/robertfeder.dailyherald.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=31692"}],"version-history":[{"count":14,"href":"https:\/\/robertfeder.dailyherald.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31692\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":31712,"href":"https:\/\/robertfeder.dailyherald.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31692\/revisions\/31712"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/robertfeder.dailyherald.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=31692"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/robertfeder.dailyherald.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=31692"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/robertfeder.dailyherald.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=31692"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}