Date Archives → September 2021

Robservations: 2020 Silver Circle winners finally have their day

Silver Circle Awards

Robservations on the media beat:

The long-delayed induction of Chicago's Class of 2020 Silver Circle Award winners will finally happen this weekend. Jackie Bange, Mark Giangreco, Alan Krashesky, Jennifer Lyons, Marda LeBeau and Richard Bernal will be among honorees at the virtual event, airing from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday on The U, Weigel Broadcasting’s WCIU-Channel 26.2/WMEU-Channel 48.1. Posthumous inductees will be Marlin Perkins, Lynn Hauldren and Jack and Elaine Mulqueen. Sponsored by the Chicago/Midwest chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, the event will be emceed by Jim Williams, news anchor at CBS-owned WBBM-Channel 2 and 2018 Silver Circle inductee. Continue reading →

Bittersweet farewell closes out ABC 7's 'Windy City Live' after 10 years

Ryan Chiaverini and Val Warner

Today the curtain falls on “Windy City Live,” closing out a 10-year run for the locally produced talk and entertainment show on ABC-owned WLS-Channel 7.

Genial hosts Val Warner and Ryan Chiaverini, who’ve been there from day one, will look back at highlights of the past decade and test each other's knowledge of the show with a trivia contest moderated by Roe Conn. Continue reading →

Robservations: Fox 32 hires Emily Wahls as chief meteorologist

Emily Wahls

Robservations on the media beat:

Making a giant leap from the 115th largest market to the third, Emily Wahls was named chief meteorologist at Fox-owned WFLD-Channel 32 Wednesday. She’ll turn up on the station’s 4, 5 and 9 p.m. weekday newscasts, starting September 27. Wahls succeeds Bill Bellis, whose contract was not renewed in February. A graduate of Central Michigan University, Wahls spent more than seven years on CBS affiliate WLNS in Lansing, Michigan, and was to have started on the air this week at NBC affiliate WILX in Lansing (after a one-year no-compete) when Fox 32 beckoned. “I am thrilled to join the Fox 32 team and help viewers best prepare for the day’s weather,” Wahls said in a statement. “Living in Chicago has always been a dream of mine, and my family is excited to experience everything the city has to offer.” Continuing on Fox 32’s weather team are Mike Caplan, Kaitlin Cody, Mark Strehl and Tim McGill. Continue reading →

In from Indianapolis, Laura Duncan named program chief of WXRT

Laura Duncan

Laura Duncan, a rock radio programmer and personality from Indianapolis, has been hired as brand manager of WXRT 93.1-FM, Chicago's iconic adult album alternative station. She will oversee all programming for the Audacy station, starting October 4.

Duncan succeeds Greg Solk, who was promoted to vice president of programming and operations for the six-station Audacy Chicago group in July. Solk had been brand manager and program director of WXRT since 2017. Continue reading →