Robservations: WBBM Newsradio promotes Jennifer Keiper, Andy Dahn

WBBM Newsradio

Robservations on the media beat:

Jennifer Keiper

We'll soon be hearing more of Jennifer Keiper and Andy Dahn on WBBM 780-AM/WCFS 105.9-FM, the Entercom all-news combo. Keiper, who began her latest stint there last year, moves up to full-time reporter and news anchor Monday through Thursday, co-anchoring from noon to 3 p.m. (including the "Noon Business Hour" with Cisco Cotto), then reporting until early evening. She’ll also anchor on Sundays. Dahn, who's been a part-time reporter/anchor since 2016, will anchor Sunday through Thursday evenings, and boost the station's social media presence in late nights and overnight. "Jennifer and Andy have shown tremendous reporting ability both in the field and in the anchor chair," said Ron Gleason, director of news and programming at WBBM Newsradio. "Their flexibility and talents will enhance our news coverage, helping make WBBM even stronger as election season approaches." Said Keiper: "WBBM is where it all started for me. I have learned a lot and have had tremendous adventures during this journey, and I owe a huge thank you to those who have helped me along the way and those who have welcomed me back to WBBM.”

Mike Murphy

Good night and good luck to weekend sports/talk host Mike Murphy, who's leaving WMVP 1000-AM to pursue other interests. Fred Huebner, who co-hosted Sunday mornings with him on the Good Karma Brands ESPN station, told listeners Murphy has decided to “hang up his headphones.” Murphy has not responded to requests for comment. He joined ESPN 1000 in 2011 after an 18-year run at Entercom sports/talk WSCR 670-AM. The lifelong Chicagoan started in radio as the first DJ on WLTL 88.1-FM, the student-run station at Lyons Township High School.

Steve Stone

Chicago White Sox fans were pleased to learn that Steve Stone has renewed his contract as television color analyst alongside play-by-play announcer Jason Benetti. "The Sox signed a minor free agent just now," Stone tweeted Monday. "He won’t help the pennant chase and he can’t hit or even pitch anymore. It makes me very happy to announce that Jason has a partner for multiple years and our twitter war can continue unabated. I’m aboard for the great years ahead." The former pitcher spent 15 years in the Chicago Cubs broadcast booth with Harry Caray and five more with Chip Caray before joining the White Sox in 2008.

NBC Sports Chicago

Things may look a bit different for a while on NBC Sports Chicago as the regional sports network builds out its new state-of-the-art studio, expected to be unveiled in late March. While construction is underway, studio-based shows including “SportsTalk Live” and "Pre/Postgame Live" will originate from a temporary space at NBC Tower. Some shows also may go remote "from a variety of establishments in the Chicagoland area," according to an NBC Sports Chicago spokesman.

Brad Edwards

The January edition of Illinois Entertainer features an interview with Brad Edwards, the investigative reporter who moved up to main news anchor at CBS-owned WBBM-Channel 2 last spring. (Here is the link.) "It’s a remarkable thing we’re trying to do at CBS 2. We are actually doing some accountability journalism,” Edwards tells media columnist Rick Kaempfer. "It’s going to take some time to change a generation of viewing habits, in combination with a dwindling market share for local news in general.”

Monday’s comment of the day: Jerry Lenza: Great that we'll hear Mary Dixon again. She should be a great fit on WBEZ.