Felicia Lawrence, Jon Hansen and Amy Rutledge
Robservations on the media beat:
Weigel Broadcasting finally announced what readers here have known for weeks: Amy Rutledge, former traffic and feature reporter at Tribune Broadcasting WGN-Channel 9, has signed on as co-host of “The Jam,” the weekday morning talk and entertainment show on WCIU-Channel 26. She'll join Felicia Lawrence and newly promoted co-host Jon Hansen later this month. Carly Henderson, who'd co-hosted for the last year, will shift to a contributing role as field reporter. The show's third co-host, Jordan Cornette, left in May. "It's a new team and new day for 'The Jam,'" said Steve Bailey, head of local programming and creative for CW26. "Felicia, Jon and Amy will help evolve and grow the show's unique morning TV news style." After two years on the air (and a total of six co-hosts), the show may be living on borrowed time. In the latest Nielsen averages, "The Jam" ranked dead last among local morning shows with a negligible 0.2 rating (6,502 households) from 6 to 8 a.m. Monday through Friday.
Derrick Young
Derrick Young is out after eight years as morning traffic reporter at CBS-owned WBBM-Channel 2. His last day on the air was Tuesday. Young, a former teacher and coach, landed the job in 2011 after winning an open-audition contest for traffic reporter. “I gave my heart and soul working for CBS 2 in my hometown of Chicago and it’s been a privilege," he said. "I had eight great years full of wonderful experiences with co-workers, viewers and volunteers. Life is unpredictable, but I know the next phase will be better and more impactful.” No comment from CBS 2 on whether his former position will be filled.
Bill Cameron
Congratulations to Bill Cameron, dean of Chicago's City Hall reporters, who's celebrating 50 years on the job this week. After joining NBC-owned WMAQ-Channel 5 as vacation relief news writer in 1969, he spent three decades at the former WMAQ Radio. Since 2000 Cameron has been political editor and host of "Connected To Chicago" at Cumulus Media news/talk WLS 890-AM. He's still one of the best in the business. "Fifty years ago today I began my career in Chicago broadcasting at NBC in the Merchandise Mart," Cameron tweeted Tuesday. "Richard J. Daley was mayor, Dick Ogilvie was governor, Everett Dirksen was senator and Richard Nixon was president. I’m lucky to be able to say I’ve enjoyed every year since."
Randi Stevenson
Randi Stevenson has resigned as editor of real estate and lifestyles at the Chicago Tribune to join the San Antonio Express-News, where she'll oversee digital coverage. Stevenson, a northern California native and graduate of Arizona State University, worked for the Omaha World-Herald before she came to the Tribune as a producer in the digital marketing services unit in 2013. "Very happy to announce that Randi Stevenson, a digital editor at Chicago Tribune, is coming to @ExpressNews to lead our digital sites and our drive to ramp up subscriptions," editor Marc Duvoisin tweeted. "Looking forward to great things from @RandiStevenson."
Barrington High School
"Journeys in Journalism: Past, Present and Future," a panel discussion among Barrington High School alumni who now work in journalism, will be held October 3 in the northwest suburban high school's auditorium. Los Angeles Times humor columnist and editor Chris Erskine will moderate the panel featuring WGN sportscaster Lauren Magiera, ESPN and ABC Sports production editor Andy Armas, Villages Daily Sun senior production editor Scott Stahmer, photographer Gary Suson, Fox News Channel correspondent Michael Tobin, and “CBS This Morning” consumer investigative national correspondent Anna Werner. Hosted by the Barrington High School Alumni Association and the Barrington 220 Educational Foundation, the event is free and open to the public.
Tuesday’s comment of the day: Charlie Meyerson: Robert Feder's comments section is a rich source for names of people to block on Facebook.