John Oliver

Robservations on the media beat:

Museum of Broadcast Communications

Chicago's Museum of Broadcast Communications will be one of five museums in the country to exhibit artwork featured on HBO's "Last Week Tonight with John Oliver." Starting October 5, Oliver's self-proclaimed "Masterpiece Gallery" will be on display for four weeks at the museum, 360 North State Street. Pictured above is Oliver with his painting of Wendy Williams eating a lamb chop. In addition to winning the national competition, the museum will receive a $10,000 grant and an additional $10,000 will be donated to its designated charity, the Greater Chicago Food Depository. “We are grateful to John Oliver and his staff for this incredible — and fun — honor,” Susy Schultz, executive director of the museum, said in a statement. “We wrote a compelling letter, and our team went all out in our video entry." Schultz cited the "star power" of Rich "Svengoolie" Koz and executive producer Jim Roche for their role in the museum's pitch. (Here is the link to Oliver's video message to Chicago.)

Ryan Ori

Ryan Ori, who covered commercial real estate for the Chicago Tribune and Crain’s Chicago Business, has joined CoStar News, the newsgathering arm of Washington-based real estate data company CoStar Group. As senior staff writer based in Chicago, Ori will report on Chicago real estate for industry professionals who subscribe to the CoStar database. "I’m making the move because it’s the chance to help build something in its early years for a growing company," he told me. The East Peoria native and Bradley University graduate worked for the Peoria Journal Star before joining Crain's in 2011. He served as commercial real estate columnist for the Tribune from 2017 until he resigned last month.

Jonathan Towers

Jonathan Towers, the esteemed cable documentary producer, has been hired as vice president, development for Fox News Media. In his new role Towers will be working on developing programs for Fox Nation, the subscription video streaming service. The former correspondent for CNN and producer for ABC News founded Chicago-based Towers Productions in 1989. Over the years the company produced such acclaimed series as "American Justice" (with Bill Kurtis), "Biography," "The Unexplained," "Storm Stories" and "Strange Inheritance."

Chicago Lighthouse

Ben Chargot, Maureen Reid and Sandy Murillo alternate as hosts of “The Disability Minute,” a weekly segment on access and inclusion airing on Audacy all-news WBBM 780-AM/WCFS 105.9-FM. Developed by Chicago Lighthouse Media and produced by people with disabilities at The Chicago Lighthouse, the feature explores disability-related topics throughout the community. (Here is the link to previous segments.) “The Disability Minute” airs Sundays at 1:51 and 6:21 a.m. and 3:51 p.m.

EWTN

WNDZ 750-AM, the time-brokered daytime station owned by Newsweb Radio, shifts to programming from EWTN Global Catholic Network, starting Wednesday. It will simulcast with WSFI 88.5-FM, the north suburban affiliate of EWTN. “When it comes to Catholic media, EWTN is the best in the world," said general manager Mark Pinski. "Our listeners will love their national programming along with WSFI’s local shows that originate out of their Libertyville studio." Continuing on WNDZ will be the Archdiocese of Chicago hour at 8 a.m. and "Winds of Change" with Father Anthony Bus, at noon. EWTN will occupy the rest of the station's schedule.

Monday's comment of the day: Dana Legg: To give up a gig on a station you grew up with must have been a very sad decision for her [Sarah Dunlap Burke]. I think it speaks to the tumultuous atmosphere at Channel 7 right now.