Robservations: A new Score House opens for fun and games

The Score House II

Robservations on the media beat:

The Score House

The Score House is back. In a reprise of last year's radio reality show in the desert, Entercom sports/talk WSCR 670-AM is renting another sprawling fun house to accommodate its crew covering Cubs and White Sox spring training in Arizona. "Last year was such a huge success from an over-the-air and digital content perspective we plan to take this year to the next level," said operations director Mitch Rosen, promising "more digital content (via radio.com) and some fun surprises along the way." Living with Rosen in the Scottsdale pad are Score hosts Dan Bernstein, Connor McKnight, Danny Parkins, Dan McNeil and Matt Spiegel, producers Jay Zawaski and Nick Shepkowski, digital content producers Brian Gertsch and Marty Rosenbaum, and social media content provider Shane Riordan. Can they all survive until next week under one roof? Stay tuned.

Steve Cochran

We all knew Steve Cochran couldn't stay away from a microphone for long, didn't we? The former morning personality at Nexstar Media Group news/talk WGN 720-AM today is launching "Live From My Office," a series of phone conversations with friends and newsmakers posted on his Twitter, Facebook and Instagram accounts. "I've got more to say and it gets weird if I just say it to myself," Cochran explained. "In a few short minutes you get a mini-version of my show with no Kars4Kids jingles. We're just getting started. More to come. Thanks for listening." First guest: Dr. Kevin Most, a physician with Northwestern Medicine.

John Corcoran

John Corcoran, who’s marking his 50th year in Chicago journalism, announced his retirement Monday as copy editor of the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, effective March 18. The North Side native and graduate of Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota previously was senior copy editor for the Daily Herald, chief copy editor for the Waukegan News-Sun and managing editor of the Wheaton Daily Journal. "I’ve always counted on John’s even-tempered approach, his strong news ethics and his thoroughness," said Marc Karlinsky, editor of the Daily Law Bulletin. Succeeding Corcoran as copy and features editor is Jordyn Reiland, who’s been covering the Daley Center beat for the legal publication since 2017. The Mundelein native graduated from the University of Iowa, where she was editor-in-chief of the Daily Iowan.

Chicago Sun-Times

Editor & Publisher has named the Chicago Sun-Times one of "10 News Publishers That Do It Right 2020." (Here is the link.) The industry journal cited the Sun-Times for revamping its newsroom through numerous initiatives, including digital, video and podcasting. It also cited the "Sports Saturday" wraparound section, launched in 2019, which led to a 31 percent increase in Saturday ad revenue. "Recently, the newsroom rebranded both their print and digital offerings to make them feel more polished and cohesive as well as launched digital subscriptions," E&P wrote. P.S. The Chicago Tribune received honorable mention for a marketing campaign touting its 100,000 digital-only subscriber milestone.

WBBM Newsradio

WBBM 780-AM/WCFS 105.9-FM, the Entercom all-news station, has been named recipient of the 2020 Diogenes Award for Excellence in Media from the Better Business Bureau of Chicago and Northern Illinois. It will be presented Thursday at the group's 93rd annual dinner at the Swissotel in Chicago. Julie Mann, managing editor of WBBM Newsradio, is expected to accept the award, which cites the station as "an indispensable ally in our mission to educate consumers and instill market trust." Steve Bernas, president and CEO of the Better Business Bureau, said it's the first time the honor will be going to an organization rather than an individual.

Roy Larson

Roy Larson, a soft-spoken Methodist minister who became religion editor of the Sun-Times and editor and publisher of the Chicago Reporter, died February 25 in west suburban Naperville at 90. During his tenure at the Sun-Times from 1969 to 1985 he was remembered for taking on Chicago Cardinal John Patrick Cody and exposing his alleged misuse of church funds. "The reports rocked the archdiocese and a city where church, labor and politics are tightly entwined," Maureen O'Donnell recalled in her Sun-Times obit. Larson also served as director of the Garrett-Medill Center for Religion and the News Media at Northwestern University. Born and raised in Moline, Illinois, he received a bachelor’s degree from Augustana College and a master of divinity degree from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston.

Monday’s comment of the day: Bill Figel: Chris Fusco said during the Journalism Town Hall meeting last weekend that the Chicago Sun-Times was "building bridges" and this new agreement certainly is testament to that. Still the Bright One.