Robservations: Susy Schultz named executive director of broadcast museum

Museum of Broadcast Communications

Robservations on the media beat:

Susy Schultz

Susy Schultz, the esteemed Chicago journalist, educator, writer and strategist, has been hired as executive director of the Museum of Broadcast Communications. Effective August 19 she will succeed Julian Jackson, who resigned in March. Since 2013 Schultz has been president of Public Narrative (formerly Community Media Workshop), the nonprofit community media training organization. "Susy is experienced in developing and implementing innovative programs with key stakeholders,” said David Plier, board chairman of the museum. “She also has demonstrated the ability to initiate and foster robust partnerships and strategic alliances with community, journalists, sponsors and donors.” Calling the museum "a Chicago gem," Schultz said: "I look forward to working with the board in developing a strong curriculum to discuss the history, the impact and the relevance of broadcast and digital media. Chicago has and always will be integral to the history and future of television, radio and beyond.”

Katie Bright

It's official: WUSN 99.5-FM, the Entercom country music station, will launch its new morning show August 8. As first tipped here, US99 will team Jason Pullman, former morning host at WUBL in Atlanta, and Katie Bright, national director of promotion at Warner Music Nashville. Joining them as a regular contributor will be Erin Creedon, promotions coordinator and resident expert on "The Bachelor" at US99. They'll replace Doug Stylz and Justin Roman, who were cut in May. Jimmy de Castro, senior vice president and market manager of Entercom Chicago, said the new team “will bring country music fans an entertaining and informative live, local show that is built for Chicagoland.”

Haru Coryne

Haru Coryne, a news researcher and data journalist for The Real Deal, has been hired as a data reporter at ProPublica Illinois. The University of Chicago graduate and former news editor of the Chicago Maroon previously worked as a paralegal for a criminal defense law firm in New York. Citing Coryne’s “strong background in business reporting and proven ability to turn complex datasets into compelling narratives,” Louise Kiernan, ProPublica Illinois editor in chief, said: “We are confident that his expertise will benefit our journalism and our readers, as the state of Illinois continues to grapple with major shifts that will undoubtedly require the public service done by responsible investigative journalism.”

Steve Huang

Steve Huang, a sports desk copy editor for two Chicago newspapers, died at home Sunday of kidney failure at 51. The Detroit native and graduate of the University of Missouri worked for the Sun-Times from 1995 to 2007. Since then he'd been working at the Chicago Tribune. “One of the things that made him so good was that he always challenged the conventional wisdom, whether it was any kind of cliche, and it made stories better," Tribune associate sports editor Joel Boyd told writer Bob Goldsborough. "And it made me a better editor working with him and thinking about things differently.”

Thursday’s comment of the day: Ed Hansen: Sorry to hear this show ["Worldview"] is being cancelled. Jerome’s show content was nearly always thoughtful and engaging, especially on many “third world” topics and points of view that are ignored by what’s left of our American news media.