Patrick Sharp
Robservations on the media beat:
Patrick Sharp, who helped lead the Chicago Blackhawks to three Stanley Cup championships, has joined NBC Sports Chicago as an in-studio analyst. Starting Thursday, he’ll appear on "Blackhawks Pregame Live/Postgame Live" with host Pat Boyle and analysts Adam Burish and Jamal Mayers. Sharp also will contribute nationally to "NHL Live," NBC Sports’ live pre- and post-game studio program. “I am excited to join the NBC Sports Chicago team,” said Sharp, who retired from the Blackhawks in April. “After a long career on the ice, it will be fun and challenging to be a part of the game from a new perspective, and I look forward to working with former teammates and people that I’ve watched on NBC Sports Chicago for many years.”
Michelle Obama
Former First Lady Michelle Obama will launch a monthlong, 10-city tour to promote her new book, Becoming, by appearing with Oprah Winfrey and thousands of their fans November 13 at the United Center. (Here is the link for tickets.) "Can’t wait to kick things off in my hometown!" Obama tweeted Tuesday. Winfrey, who last filled the United Center with her farewell show in May 2011, will moderate a discussion with Obama about her memoir, set to be officially released the same day.
Joan Esposito
Former Chicago television news anchor Joan Esposito will host midterm election night coverage on Newsweb Radio progressive talk WCPT 820-AM. From 7 to 10 p.m. Tuesday, she'll anchor from the station's studio while afternoon host Ben Joravsky and a panel of experts analyze results from Fahlstrom’s Fresh Fish Market at 1258 West Belmont Avenue. Since leaving NBC-owned WMAQ-Channel 5 in 1999, Esposito formed J2 Strategic Communications, a media training firm. She also teaches at Columbia College.
Haynes Johns
Haynes Johns, who's been a radio pro in the Chicago area for two decades, is out as operations manager, program director and afternoon personality on hot adult-contemporary WXLC 102.3-FM. Before joining the Alpha Media station in Waukegan in 2005, Johns was assistant program director, music director and afternoon host at the former WNND. Johns said his parting with 102.3 XLC was amicable, calling it "just a difference in programming philosophies." He's hoping to stay in Chicago, he added.
Mel Robbins
Look for WGN-Channel 9 to air a syndicated daytime talk show hosted by life strategist, digital entrepreneur and author Mel Robbins. Tribune Broadcasting and Sony Pictures Television announced plans Tuesday to launch the new series next fall. Robbins is CEO and co-founder of The Confidence Project, a media and digital learning company. “Mel has a proven track record of connecting and resonating with an audience, and we believe she will be a good fit for our stations’ daytime lineup,” Sean Compton, president of strategic programming and acquisitions for Tribune Media, said in a statement.
Chicago Tribune
Mail and packages are being received at the Chicago Tribune again. Deliveries at the newspaper's Prudential Plaza headquarters were suspended last week after pipe bombs were sent to Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, CNN and others. "As an extra precaution, over the weekend we did a sweep of our floors with an internal team, checking workstations, offices and cabinets to make sure that no suspicious packages similar to those in the news last week were on our premises," Tim Knight, president of Tribune Publishing, and Bruce Dold, publisher and editor of the Tribune, told staffers. "Our security team will implement additional measures to ensure the safety of inbound packages before they are distributed to employees."
Tuesday’s comment of the day: Jake Hewitt: And Felicia Middlebrooks' utter domination of Chicago radio continues. Fools think it's just a matter of whoever is reading the news. You're witnessing greatness - hopefully future generations of media reporters will take note!