Natasha Korecki (Photo: WTTW/Chicago Tonight)
Robservations on the media beat:
Politico Illinois
Natasha Korecki, whose Illinois Playbook newsletter is a daily must-read for followers of politics and government, has been promoted to national correspondent for Politico. She’ll continue to be based in Chicago while covering the 2018 midterms and 2020 presidential campaign. "Launching Illinois Playbook, seeing it grow and building a new community of engaged readers from across the state has been one of the most gratifying experiences of my career," Korecki said in a statement. "While I hope to remain some part of it, I’m also beyond thrilled for an opportunity to cover the 2020 race and this incredible moment in national politics." Korecki joined Politico as senior political reporter in 2015 after 12 years as chief political writer and federal courts reporter at the Sun-Times. Before that, the University of Illinois graduate spent seven years as a reporter at the Daily Herald. No word on who’ll succeed Korecki as writer of Illinois Playbook.
Pocket Casts
Pocket Casts, a leading mobile app for podcast listening, has been acquired by a consortium that includes Chicago Public Media WBEZ 91.5-FM, NPR, WNYC Studios and “This American Life.” “Thanks to the mission-driven nature of this partnership, and of public media overall, we’ll put the needs of producers and listeners at the heart of everything we do with Pocket Casts,” Goli Sheikholeslami, CEO of Chicago Public Media, said in a statement Thursday. “We plan to work with producers to find new and broader audiences, which will enable creators to better connect with fans and potential audiences and build a sustainable business for their podcast.” Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
City Club of Chicago
“The Future of Digital Media” is the subject of the City Club of Chicago luncheon Monday at Maggiano’s, 111 West Grand Avenue. Panelists will be Edwin Eisendrath, CEO of Sun-Times Media, Bruce Dold, publisher and editor-in-chief of the Chicago Tribune, Shamus Toomey, editor-in-chief of the nonprofit neighborhood news site Block Club Chicago, and Morgan Elise Johnson, co-founder of the African-American digital media platform The TRiiBE. Moderator will be Ellen Alberding, president of the Joyce Foundation. (Here is the link for information.)
Steve Ruxton
Steve Ruxton, former host of Weigel Broadcasting’s “Stock Market Observer” and “WebFN,” has returned to financial journalism as reporter and fill-in anchor on “Business First AM,” the Chicago-based syndicated financial news show hosted by Angela Miles. Ruxton most recently was a freelance news anchor and reporter for Tribune Broadcasting news/talk WGN 720-AM, and worked on the public relations staff of the Illinois Secretary of State.
Thursday’s comment of the day: Robert Burt: I will miss the criticism of Mr. Von Rhein. His reviews were so well-written, clearly understood, and, most importantly, educational for most readers. Enjoy your next ventures, John.