Eddie "Chicago Ed" Schwartz

Robservations on the media beat:

Pat Cassidy

It's been nearly four decades since the late, great Eddie "Chicago Ed" Schwartz, king of late-night radio in Chicago, launched his annual Good Neighbor Food Drive on WGN 720-AM. Twenty-five years ago it morphed into the "Good Neighbor Radiothon" on Entercom all-news WBBM 780-AM/WCFS 105.9-FM to raise money for The Salvation Army. Starting at 7 a.m. Friday, WBBM Newsradio anchor Pat Cassidy will host the 11-hour fundraiser, seeking donations via phone or online. (Here is the link.) “Over the years, WBBM’s ‘Good Neighbor Radiothon’ has helped feed, clothe and house thousands of Chicagoans in need,” said Rachel Williamson, regional president and market manager of Entercom Chicago. “This year especially, many of our neighbors are facing new challenges they’ve never before experienced. . . . We’re looking forward to supporting The Salvation Army’s efforts to keep our friends healthy during the holidays and beyond.” Continue reading →

Erich Mancow Muller

News of Erich Mancow Muller's departure after two years as morning personality at Cumulus Media news/talk WLS 890-AM led the top 10 most-read stories here in November.

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

John Dempsey

Robservations on the media beat:

You won’t find a more solid and reliable newsman in all of Chicago radio than John Dempsey. Now he’s voluntarily stepping down as news director and afternoon news anchor at WLS 890-AM. Dempsey, 60, announced Monday he’s retiring after 38 years in broadcast journalism, including the last 13 at the Cumulus Media news/talk station. His final day on the air with afternoon host Big John Howell will be December 23. “My career in news has been one of the highlights of my life, one that has allowed me to cover thousands of stories and meet people from every walk of life,” Dempsey wrote in an email to colleagues. “The entire experience has made me a better person and enriched my life beyond anything I could have imagined, but now I want to step aside to give myself more time to think about my next chapter.” A Chicago native and Southern Illinois University graduate, Dempsey joined WLS in 2007 after stints at WBEZ 91.5-FM, WBBM 780-AM and the former WMAQ as well as WFLD-Channel 32. “John brought his love for journalism to work every day and we are all more informed because of it,” said Stephanie Tichenor, program director of WLS. “We will miss his news judgment, knowledge and most importantly, we will miss him.” Continue reading →