Robservations: Telemundo Chicago adds weekend newscasts

Noticiero Telemundo Chicago

Robservations on the media beat:

In the latest expansion of local Hispanic media, Telemundo Chicago WSNS-Channel 44 will launch 30-minute newscasts at 5 and 10 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays, starting July 22. Weekend editions of Noticiero Telemundo Chicago will feature news anchor Hernan Fratto, weather anchor Jessica Delgado, sports anchors César Rodríguez (on Saturdays) and Rodrigo Arana (on Sundays), and reporters Angélica Gómez and Jorge DeSantiago. “This local news investment delivers on the commitment we have to our viewers to give them the most up-to-date information across all platforms no matter the day of the week,” David Doebler, president and general manager of Telemundo Chicago and WMAQ-Channel 5, said in a statement. Both stations are owned by NBCUniversal. Rival Univision Chicago WGBO-Channel 66 has been airing local news seven nights a week for years.

Bill Kurtis and Peter Sagal

“Wait, Wait . . . Don’t Tell Me!” will return to the Jay Pritzker Pavilion at Millennium Park for a free performance the night of July 27. The popular weekly quiz show, produced by Chicago Public Media WBEZ FM 91.5, usually tapes at Chase Bank Auditorium. Joining host Peter Sagal will be scorekeeper Bill Kurtis, panelists Adam Felber, Mo Rocca and Roxanne Roberts, and celebrity guests. There is no reserved seating. For details see wbez.org.

Denny Nugent

Veteran broadcaster Denny Nugent has retired as national program director of Chicago-based Moody Radio. He joined the Christian radio ministry of Moody Bible Institute in 2004 after programming jobs in six major markets and a development post with The City Mission ministry in Cleveland. “Looking forward to what's ahead,” he told Facebook friends. A graduate of Indiana University, Nugent began in radio in his hometown of Tell City, Indiana.

Vignesh Ramachandran

New hire at ProPublica Illinois is Vignesh Ramachandran, who joins the independent, nonprofit investigative news startup as web producer. Ramachandran was a founder of the Stanford Computational Journalism Lab and managing editor of Bay Area local news startup Peninsula Press. “His exemplary talent for journalism and solid design eye will be vital assets as we build our online presence,” ProPublica editor-in-chief Louise Kiernan said in a statement.

Rob Johnson

Two Chicago news anchors this week will be playing radio hosts for a day. On Wednesday it’ll be Rob Johnson of CBS-owned WBBM-Channel 2 and on Thursday it’ll be Ben Bradley of Tribune Broadcasting WGN-Channel 9 filling in for vacationing Bob Sirott and Marianne Murciano on Cumulus Media news/talk WLS AM 890. Both will be guest hosting alongside Lauren Cohn from 10 a.m. to noon.

Telemundo Chicago