Bob Sirott
Robservations on the media beat:
Legendary Chicago broadcaster Bob Sirott, who’s been a rare shining star in the ratings at WGN 720-AM, just extended his contract as morning host for two more years. “Bob has been an iconic voice in Chicago since 1973 and we’re fortunate to have his voice and talent as we head into our 100th year and beyond,” Mary Boyle, vice president and general manager of the Nexstar Media news/talk station, said in announcing the renewal. Terms of the agreement, negotiated by attorney Steve Mandell, were not disclosed. Starting January 3, Sirott’s show will air from 6 to 10 a.m. weekdays — one hour later than it has since he started in January 2020. In the latest Nielsen Audio survey, WGN ranked third in mornings with a 5.4 percent share and cumulative weekly audience of 171,100. Said Sirott: “Who knows, someday I may turn into a morning person.”
Mitch Michaels
Monday marks a milestone for Mitch Michaels, afternoon personality on Alpha Media west suburban classic hits WERV 95.9-FM. It’ll be the 50th anniversary of his first broadcast on Chicago radio — as evening host on the former WGLD. “The station was on the floor of an old folks’ home — the Oak Park Arms Hotel in Oak Park — which I always thought was an unusual place for a rock station,” he once recalled. “There was a fire escape in the program director’s office and the door out faced east. I’d go out there for smoke breaks and just look at the Chicago skyline at night, knowing that’s where I really needed to be.” Michaels went on to a stellar career, including stops at WXRT, WDAI, WKQX, WLUP and WCKG. In 2017 he released his memoir, Doin’ the Cruise: Memories From A Lifetime in Radio and Rock & Roll, published by Eckhartz Press.
Todd Ronczkowski
Wrapping up more than 35 years in Chicago radio, Todd Ronczkowski is stepping down as program director of Midway Broadcasting news/talk WVON 1690-AM. Starting January 3, he'll work for Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart as communications liaison for community engagement. Before joining WVON in 2009 Ronczkowski spent 14 years as a producer at news/talk WLS 890-AM. While attending Moraine Valley Community College he worked on the air at the former southwest suburban WJRC. No word yet on a successor at Midway Broadcasting, where Ronczkowski also served as operations manager of Spanish-language WRLL 1450-AM.
Alex Degman
Alex Degman, a former news anchor and reporter for WTAX in Springfield, has been hired as statehouse reporter at Chicago Public Media WBEZ 91.5-FM. Starting in January he’ll cover the state legislature for WBEZ and nine other NPR stations in Illinois. Degman, a graduate of Western Illinois University and the University of Illinois Springfield, also worked for the former Illinois Radio Network and KMOX in St. Louis. “I’m really looking forward for my return to Springfield and public radio,” Degman said in a statement. “Chicago Public Media is starting a new and very exciting chapter in statehouse journalism; I’m honored they chose me to be a part of it and I can’t wait to get started.”
Steve Dale
Sunday has been declared “Steve Dale Day" in Chicago to honor the vital work of the longtime pet advocate and host of “Steve Dale’s Pet World” on WGN Radio. Among other achievements, the City Council proclamation cited Dale for creating the Chicago Task Force on Companion Animals and Public Safety, which rewrote the city’s animal control act and created guidelines for doggy daycare. In accepting the honor from Mayor Lori Lightfoot, Dale thanked WGN, his radio home for 25 years. “Without that 50,000-watt soap box, I am certain that we would have had breed bans in Chicago, mandated pediatric spay/neuter of dogs and cats and pet limit laws and wouldn’t be allowed to dine on patios or sidewalk cafes with dogs,” he said. “And most recently banning sales of dogs/cats at pets stores.”
Wednesday’s comment of the day: Bob Manewith: It was my privilege to be news director at WGN-AM-TV during Don Mellema's time there. He was one of the best writers on the staff and never balked when I had to change schedules, etc. Because of our contract with AFTRA at the time, I was unable to use him as a reporter, and having heard him over the years at WBBM, I came to regret that situation. He certainly was better at it than one or two of the reporters on the staff when I became news director. Apart from that, he was a real nice guy.