Mary Sandberg Boyle
Robservations on the media beat:
Mary Sandberg Boyle, executive producer of Steve Cochran’s morning show on WGN 720-AM, has been promoted to director of news and operations at the Tribune Broadcasting news/talk station. She succeeds Stephanie Tichenor, who jumped to Cumulus Media news/talk WLS 890-AM as program director. “Mary brings us years of success managing high profile talent and a fresh vision for the next generation of WGN Radio,” said Todd Manley, station manager and vice president of content. Before joining WGN in 2015, Boyle was exec producer of "The Steve Dahl Show" on multiple outlets and exec producer of the morning show at Entercom Top 40 WBBM 96.3-FM. She’s a graduate of Carmel Catholic High School and the University of Illinois at Chicago.
Lauren Scott
Lauren Scott has left after one year as co-host of “Chicago’s Best,” the weekly food magazine show on Tribune Broadcasting WGN-Channel 9. Elliott Bambrough and Marley Kayden continue with the show. “After trying a three-host format on 'Chicago’s Best' for a period of time, we made the decision that the pace of the show was better suited to two hosts," a station spokesperson said. "Lauren did a nice job for us and we wish her nothing but the best.” Scott, a South Side native and graduate of Northern Illinois University, previously was a reporter at KETV, the ABC affiliate in Omaha, Nebraska.
Marty Baron
Marty Baron, executive editor of the The Washington Post, will discuss "Freedom of the Press and the Future of Democracy" in an appearance Wednesday at the University of Chicago. Law Professor Geoffrey Stone will lead the conversation starting at 5:30 p.m. at Logan Center Performance Hall, 915 East 60th Street. Admission is free. Baron was 2018 recipient of the university’s Benton Medal for Distinguished Public Service.
Alpheus "Insane Ywain" Fields
Sad to report the passing of Alpheus "Insane Ywain" Fields, overnight jock and host of "The B Sides" at Midway Broadcasting urban news/talk WVON 1690-AM. Fields, who was 57, died of an apparent heart attack Saturday at his home on the South Side. "We should celebrate the life of Insane Ywain knowing that he was always — every day — on a path to his maker," said WVON morning host Maze Jackson in a tribute Monday. "You are in our thoughts and prayers." Fields joined WVON in 1983 as an intern and later worked as a board operator, production assistant and gospel personality. He hosted overnights for eight years.
Georgie Anne Geyer
Chicago Journalism Hall of Famer Georgie Anne Geyer, former syndicated columnist and globetrotting reporter for the Chicago Daily News, died in Washington, D.C., Wednesday at 84. She was diagnosed with tongue cancer in 2007. A Chicago native and graduate of Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism, Geyer began at the Southtown Economist before joining the Daily News in 1960. In an era when few women were foreign correspondents, she was known for interviewing world leaders and covering international conflicts. "I don't use the words 'legend' and 'trailblazer' often for journalists, but she was one," tweeted Chicago Tribune columnist Mary Schmich.
Monday's comment of the day: Stan Williams: I'm not a fan of WCPT nor am I a liberal, but over the years Bill Press has always been a class act and is the only person on WCPT that, in my opinion, had a show that appealed to liberals and conservatives. One could listen to Mr. Press and, maybe not agree with his politics, still learn something and never feel as if he was mocking or browbeating those from the opposite side of the political aisle. Sorry to see him go. I rarely agree with his politics, but he's a classy and professional host and I enjoyed his show.