Jim O'Shea (Photo: WTTW/Chicago Tonight)

Jim O'Shea's latest effort to breathe new life into public-service journalism combines a forward-looking news media technology start-up with a 137-year-old weekly newspaper in Chicago's Hyde Park neighborhood.

For years the former managing editor of the Chicago Tribune has been in the forefront of finding ways to fix what he calls the "broken business model" of a news industry corroded by bean counters. His 2011 book, The Deal from Hell: How Moguls and Wall Street Plundered Great American Newspapers, was a vivid indictment of the greed and arrogance of predatory owners. Continue reading →

Chicago Defender

Robservations on the media beat:

Chicago Defender

Wednesday will mark the final print edition of the Chicago Defender as the historic African American newspaper shifts entirely to digital publication. Founded by Robert S. Abbott in 1905, the Defender played a crucial role in promoting the Great Migration of African Americans from the rural South to the urban North in the first half of the 20th century. In 1929 the paper created The Bud Billiken Day Parade, a legacy that endures to this day. Now owned by Detroit-based Real Times Media, the Defender switched from daily to weekly publication in 2008. "It is simply time for the publication to break away from the printed page and put more focus on bringing our readers daily content from the African American perspective and increasing the impact of our community voice," said Hiram E. Jackson, CEO of Real Times Media. "We understand that to some of our loyal readers, this rite of passage is a painful one. However, we are committed to preserving the legacy of the Chicago Defender and are excited to be making this bold step to ensure its vitality for the next 100 years." Continue reading →

Scott Stantis

After 10 years as full-time editorial cartoonist for the Chicago Tribune, Scott Stantis is taking a step back from the drawing board by shifting to freelance status.

Under the new arrangement, his work will continue to appear in the Tribune but less frequently than it does now. Continue reading →

Stephanie Trussell

Robservations on the media beat:

After seven years on Cumulus Media news/talk WLS 890-AM, Stephanie Trussell's weekly talk show has been dropped to accommodate University of Illinois football and basketball broadcasts, effective August 30. Airing from 3 to 6 p.m. Saturdays, Trussell's was among the few live, local shows on the weekend lineup. She landed the gig by winning the station's first "Next Talk Star Contest" in 2012. "Thank you to all who have supported me," Trussell wrote on Facebook. "I owe everything to God, all of the listeners and the team at WLS, who took a risk by allowing a suburban housewife/mom behind their 50,000 watt microphone." Trussell has agreed to host a weekly podcast for the station. Said WLS program director Stephanie Tichenor: "We are delighted to continue to offer Stephanie's unique content on our website." Continue reading →

Pat Tomasulo

Robservations on the media beat:

Pat Tomasulo has lost his weekly late-night comedy show on WGN-Channel 9. The Tribune Broadcasting station confirmed that it’s pulled the plug on “Man of the People,” the locally produced showcase for the smart-aleck sports anchor on “WGN Morning News.” The last episode will air July 20. Launched in January 2018 with hopes of distribution nationally, the program proved too ambitious and too expensive. But elements of the Saturday night show could be revived on the station’s website. "Pat has built an impressive brand with ‘Man of the People’ on multiple platforms,” said a WGN spokesperson. “We appreciate the creativity, passion and success that Pat and his team have created with the show. We look forward to continued success of ‘Man of the People’ in various formats as we move forward." Tweeted Tomasulo: “Thanks to all who’ve watched and supported." Continue reading →

Terri Hemmert (Photo: Amy Boyle)

Culminating a ton of well-deserved tributes to Terri Hemmert, the beloved Chicago radio icon will mark her final broadcast as midday personality on WXRT 93.1-FM July 9.

After 45 years on the Entercom adult album alternative station, Hemmert, 71, announced last month she’s cutting back to part-time status. The Radio Hall of Famer said she'll continue to host her Sunday morning “Breakfast with The Beatles” program and fill in for other on-air hosts many weeks throughout the year. Continue reading →

Patti Vasquez

The dismissal of Patti Vasquez as late-night host at Tribune Broadcasting news/talk WGN 720-AM, and the move of Terri Hemmert from middays at Entercom adult album alternative WXRT 93.1-FM led the top 10 most-read stories here in June.

To read the full posts, click on the headlines: Continue reading →

ABC 7 Chicago newsroom

WLS-Channel 7 is looking to stay on top of local news in Chicago by experimenting with new forms of animation, graphics, and data visualization in the way it tells stories.

The ABC-owned station is one of only two TV news operations in the country to participate in a cutting-edge video news research project led by Northeastern University School of Journalism in Boston and the Stanton Foundation. Continue reading →

WLS 890 AM

Robservations on the media beat:

The sale of legendary New York radio station WABC last week sent shock waves through Cumulus Media Chicago where employees of news/talk WLS 890-AM wondered if their station could be next. The flagship of the former ABC Radio empire went for $12.5 million to Red Apple Media, owned by New York billionaire John Catsimatidis. Mary Berner, CEO of Cumulus Media, sought to allay fears of more sales to come. "In New York’s case, we’ll be exiting a market that has been tough for us, and through these deals we will be able to realize significant value for the company – over and above what we could have generated from continued operations," Berner wrote in a memo to staff. "And for anyone who is still listening to rumors out there, I will say again that there is absolutely no grand plan to exit our big markets.” Continue reading →