Phil Kadner

Robservations on the media beat:

Phil Kadner, the Chicago journalism legend and veteran columnist who accepted a buyout at the end of 2015 after 37 years at the Daily Southtown, is making a comeback via the Sun-Times. Starting September 29, his column will appear twice a week. “With this incredible political season upon us it is so wonderful to have Phil’s analysis back with the Sun-Times,” said Jim Kirk, publisher and editor-in-chief. “He’s a pro who can write honestly and eloquently on just about any subject. He is a welcome addition to an already strong bench of voices here.” Continue reading →

Chris Fusco

Chris Fusco, an award-winning investigative reporter who’s had a hand in breaking some of the biggest stories of recent years, has been named managing editor of the Sun-Times.

In his new role, Fusco will oversee daily print and online news coverage, according to an announcement Wednesday by Jim Kirk, publisher and editor-in-chief of the Sun-Times. Continue reading →

Dave Hoekstra, Steve Dahl and Paul Natkin

Thirty-seven years after Disco Demolition rocked old Comiskey Park and the music world, it’s becoming a museum piece.

Based on the recently published oral and pictorial history Disco Demolition: The Night Disco Died, photographs and artifacts from the infamous event will be displayed at the Elmhurst History Museum, starting in June 2017. Continue reading →

Bob Seidenberg

A veteran reporter for the Evanston Review is being shipped out to the west suburbs in retaliation for withholding his byline from a story, according to the Chicago News Guild.

Bob Seidenberg, an award-winning writer who has covered the north suburb for nearly 30 years, was reassigned to Franklin Park and other west suburbs about a week after he removed his name from a story that he said had been rewritten inaccurately by an editor. Continue reading →

Eddie Volkman

Chicago radio veteran Eddie Volkman has signed off from his summertime gig on west suburban WCKG AM 1530, calling it a “very valuable experience.”

Since early June Volkman had been hosting from 4 to 7 p.m. weekdays on the Oak Brook-based daytime talk station while teaching morning classes at Illinois Media School in nearby Lombard. His last show for WCKG aired Friday. Continue reading →

Daily Herald

Robservations on the media beat:

With the closing of its two remaining bureaus in Lisle and Elgin, the Daily Herald continues consolidation of staff at its Arlington Heights headquarters and Paddock Printing Center in Schaumburg. Both moves, to be completed by year’s end, follow the closing last December of the Daily Herald’s Lake County bureau in Libertyville. In addition to saving money, Doug Ray, publisher and CEO of Daily Herald Media Group, cited the ability of mobile journalists to report from where news happens. “This move reinforces our strategy to put more emphasis on ‘being there’ rather than ‘in-the-office newsgathering,’ ” he said. Continue reading →

Patti Vasquez

Maybe it wasn’t such a great idea to wake up the mayor of Chicago with a prank call at 2 in the morning. But it did make for some unusual radio.

Patti Vasquez, the Chicago standup comic who hosts late nights on Tribune Media news/talk WGN AM 720, featured a bit in which she’d call local celebrities in the middle of the night. Mostly they were folks who had to get up early, like morning TV anchors and reporters. Usually she’d just get the person’s voice mail and leave a funny message. WGN bosses didn’t seem to have a problem with it.

In the early morning of September 2, Vasquez had three guests in her studio — Illinois State Senator Dan Kotowski, Chicago Tribune political cartoonist Scott Stantis and Gregory Seal Livingston, founder of the Coalition For A New Chicago. One of them slipped Vasquez the home number of Mayor Rahm Emanuel. So she placed a call. It was about 1:55 a.m. Continue reading →

Robert Reed

Robert Reed, a veteran Chicago journalist and former editor of Crain’s Chicago Business, will join the Chicago Tribune later this month as its new business columnist.

“We continue to make investments in the business section as we cover the companies and issues that are important to our readers,” Mary Ellen Podmolik, associate managing editor/business, said in a statement Wednesday. “Bob has had a long and distinguished journalism career in Chicago. We look forward to him bringing his voice to the Chicago Tribune.” Continue reading →

Me-TV FM

In the first step of an unusual partnership between competitors, Tribune Media news/talk WGN AM 720 will air news updates during morning drive on Me-TV FM, Weigel Broadcasting’s soft rock/oldies station on WRME LP 87.7.

Starting Wednesday, “Me-TV FM News Minute” will air at 20 minutes and 50 minutes past each hour from 6 to 9 a.m. Monday through Friday. WGN’s Andrea Darlas, Steve Grzanich, Ryan Burrow and Vic Vaughn will take turns anchoring the news, weather and sports updates. Continue reading →

Phil Rosenthal

The Chicago Tribune has demoted columnist Phil Rosenthal after more than a decade as a cornerstone of its business section and may be reassigning him to reporting duties in sports, according to multiple sources.

Rosenthal has been missing from the Tribune since his last story ran online September 2. In his new role, sources said, he is expected to report feature stories for the sports section.

Rosenthal did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Continue reading →