Robservations: Headline Club to honor Mary Schmich, Robert Jordan

Mary Schmich

Robservations on the media beat:

Robert Jordan

Mary Schmich, Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist for the Chicago Tribune, and Robert Jordan, retired news anchor and reporter for Tribune Broadcasting WGN-Channel 9, have been named recipients of Lifetime Achievement Awards from the Chicago Headline Club. They’ll be honored May 12 at the group’s 40th annual Peter Lisagor Awards dinner at The Union League Club of Chicago, 65 West Jackson Street. Named for the late Chicago Daily News Washington bureau chief, Lisagor Awards honor excellence in local journalism in more than 100 categories, encompassing print, broadcast and digital media. For ticket information and a complete list of this year’s nominees, see: headlineclub.org.

Matt Scarano

Matt Scarano, president of iHeartMedia Chicago, has been elected chairman of Radio Broadcasters of Chicagoland. He takes over from Doug Levy, senior vice president and general manager of Univision Chicago, as leader of the local branch of the Illinois Broadcasters Association. “The goal of the RBC is to utilize the massive reach of Chicago radio to serve our communities, listeners and advertising partners,” Scarano said in a statement. “With the help of our committee members, we intend to continue that proud tradition.” Scarano has headed iHeartMedia’s seven Chicago radio stations since 2014.

Barbara Roche

Barbara Roche has succeeded the late Ruth Ratny as publisher of ReelChicago, the authoritative website covering Chicago’s film and commercial production community. Roche, a close friend and business associate of Ratny for many years, was cofounder of Holzer Roche Casting and also worked at the former Fred Niles Studios. In her will, Ratny named Roche as sole inheritor of all her businesses, according to a report Thursday in ReelChicago. Ratny, who was believed to be 89, died of heart failure February 21.

Marty Wilke

Marty Wilke, president and general manager of CBS-owned WBBM-Channel 2, has been tapped as this year’s commencement speaker for DePaul University’s College of Communication and College of Computing and Digital Media. Wilke, a native of west suburban Downers Grove and 1986 graduate of DePaul, has headed CBS 2 since 2012. She previously was vice president and general manager of WGN. The two colleges’ combined commencement ceremony will be June 11 at Allstate Arena in Rosemont.

Enrique Santos

Enrique Santos, Chicago-born radio personality and the chairman of iHeartMedia’s Latin music division iHeartLatino, will host a weekly English-language show for a bilingual Hispanic audience. Starting April 15, “On the Move With Enrique Santos” will air at 10 a.m. Saturdays on Top 40 WKSC FM 103.5 and more than 100 other iHeartMedia stations nationwide. Based in Miami, the two-hour show will focus on music, entertainment, lifestyle and current events targeted to the Hispanic community. "I couldn’t be more thrilled to partner with iHeartMedia to bring this exciting, first-of-its-kind new program to audiences across the nation," Santos said in a statement.

Demetria Wright

Demetria Wright, a former reporter for WTXL, the ABC affiliate in Tallahassee, Florida, has been hired as marketing manager of Weigel Broadcasting, Chicago-based parent company of WCIU-Channel 26 and Me-TV. She replaces Melissa Kennedy, who resigned last January. Wright, a graduate of Florida A&M University, most recently was marketing communications specialist for Morey Corp., an electronic manufacturing services company in Woodridge.

Off the grid: I’ll be taking a break next week. Hope to see you back here April 17. Happy Passover and Happy Easter!