Chicago media preview 2018: Keep moving

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Tribune Tower

A few things to look for on the Chicago media beat in the coming year:

Tribune Tower, a cathedral of American journalism since 1925, will cease to be home of its namesake Chicago Tribune. The newspaper will move from its neo-Gothic landmark at 435 North Michigan Avenue to leased space on five floors of One Prudential Plaza, 130 East Randolph Street.

Barring a regulatory hiccup, Sinclair Broadcast Group will complete its $3.9 billion acquisition of Tribune Media, including “Chicago’s Very Own” WGN-Channel 9 and WGN AM 720. Yet to be filled is the main news anchor position at WGN vacated by Mark Suppelsa.

Contract talks will heat up at the Chicago Sun-Times between its new owners and the Chicago News Guild. Meanwhile, look for film critic and columnist Richard Roeper to increase his visibility at the paper while at least two other high-profile personalities announce their retirements.

Chicago’s newest radio station — Entercom classic hip-hop and R&B WBMX FM 104.3 — will roll out a Monday-through-Friday talent lineup in February that will feature several familiar voices. New morning shows also will debut on Cumulus Media classic hits WLS FM 94.7 and alternative rock WKQX FM 101.1.

Eight TV veterans — Mike Adamle, Chuck Davidson, Chuck Goudie, Terry Savage, Jim Williams and (posthumously) Bill Frink, Frazier Thomas and Robert Trendler — and former FCC chairman Newton Minow will be inducted in the Silver Circle of the Chicago/Midwest chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences on May 4.

Chicago media milestones in 2018:

  • WBEZ FM 91.5 will mark its 75th year on the air in April. The noncommercial public radio station was founded by the Chicago Board of Education as an instructional channel.
  • Chicago Emmy Awards will turn 60 in November.
  • WBBM Newsradio on Entercom WBBM AM 780/WCFS FM 105.9 will turn 50 in May.
  • “Chicago Tonight: The Week in Review” will celebrate its 40th year on public television WTTW-Channel 11 air in January. Joel Weisman, the show’s only permanent host for four decades, will retire.
  • WVAZ FM 102.7, the iHeartMedia urban adult-contemporary station known as V103, will turn 30 in October.
  • CLTV, the 24-hour cable news channel allied with Tribune Broadcasting WGN, will turn 25 in January.
  • Michigan Avenue magazine will turn 10 in September.