Robservations: WTTW News branding reflects 'breadth of coverage'

WTTW

Robservations on the media beat:

Better late than never, here's noting the rebranding of "WTTW News" on digital platforms and other communications associated with WTTW-Channel 11, the public television station owned by Window to the World Communications. Changes to the station's website and its email and social media formats were made "to reflect the breadth of news coverage in those spaces," according to Anne Gleason, senior vice president of marketing and digital media for WTTW, who added: "As we expand to new spaces, we’ll use the 'WTTW News' umbrella if/where it makes sense."

Radio Hall of Fame

Friday is the deadline for the public to nominate candidates for induction in the Radio Hall of Fame. Individuals or programs are eligible for consideration by the nominating committee. The nonprofit organization affiliated with Chicago’s Museum of Broadcast Communications recognizes those who “have contributed to the development of the radio medium throughout its history in the United States.” The 31st annual Radio Hall of Fame induction ceremony will take place in November. (Here is the link to the online nomination form.)

Tommy Edwards

It looks like we'll have to wait longer than expected to read the memoirs of Chicago radio legend Tommy Edwards. Eckhartz Press announced in August that it signed Edwards to publish his autobiography this year. Now comes word that may not happen. "It has been a wonderful experience and I am very proud of what I've written," Edwards said Monday. "This is a new experience for me and I want to make sure I do it right. It is taking more time that I imagined." Edwards, long known as the late Larry Lujack's “Animal Stories” partner Lil’ Tommy, retired from the former WJMK in 2014, capping a 54-year career as a major market star.

Jon Zaghloul

Jon Zaghloul, the 19-year-old south suburban freelance journalist who hosts a weekly podcast at sportstalkchicago.com, has been hired as play-by-play announcer and media relations contact for the Crestwood Panthers of the Midwest Collegiate Baseball League. He'll broadcast 50 games on the Panthers' Facebook Live Network. "Becoming a baseball broadcaster has been a lifelong dream of mine, and I am truly looking forward to kicking things off on May 28," he told Facebook friends. Zaghloul said he'll continue his podcast and his weekly call-in show on WHPK 88.5-FM, the noncommercial station at the University of Chicago, where he's studying economics.

Monday's comment of the day: Alison Moran: It's ironic to me that WRLR is moving to the Round Lake Beach Metra Station. When l was doing sports commentary for Paul Lepek's morning show from 2012 to 2016, l called in on my commute to work on the UP-Northwest Line. Now and again, you'd hear the "music bed" of "Next stop, Arlington Heights!" Perhaps [station founder] Bish Krywko missed that sound?