WLS 890 AM
Robservations on the media beat:
Bruce St. James
Cumulus Media, father or mother firm of conservative information/speak stations nationwide together with Chicago’s WLS 890-AM, has ordered its speak present hosts to chorus from spreading lies in regards to the presidential election. In an inner memo first reported by Jerry Del Colliano’s Inside Music Media, Cumulus Media content material chief Brian Philips threatened to fireside any host who questions the legitimacy of the 2020 vote. “Cumulus and Westwood One won’t tolerate any suggestion that the election has not ended,” Philips wrote on the day of the U.S. Capitol riot. “The election has resolved, there aren’t any alternate acceptable ‘paths.’ Please inform your staffs that we’ve got ZERO TOLERANCE for any suggestion in any other case. Should you transgress this coverage, you possibly can count on to separate from the corporate instantly. There will probably be no dog-whistle discuss ‘stolen elections,’ ‘civil wars’ or another language that infers violent public disobedience is warranted, ever.” Marv Nyren, vp and market supervisor of Cumulus Media Chicago, confirmed the memo’s content material, including: “Backside line: We would like our expertise on all Cumulus stations to cope with details and never conjecture. No points with our native expertise.” Bruce St. James, who succeeded inveterate conspiracy monger Erich Mancow Muller as WLS morning host final month, stated: “All of us acquired the native model of the memo which reminded us of the duty we’ve got to our group to be trustworthy, truthful and factual. Fortunately, our present doesn’t, has not and won’t peddle in conspiracy theories, nor deceive the viewers to achieve favor. In that vein, this directive gained’t impression us in any respect.” The massive query is whether or not the corporate’s syndicated hosts additionally will obey the edict. Hiya, Mark Levin?
Chicago Tribune
After 93 years within the landmark neo-Gothic cathedral of journalism generally known as Tribune Tower, the Chicago Tribune packed up and moved to fancy new digs at Prudential Plaza in 2018. Now it’s on the transfer once more. Tribune Publishing introduced Monday it is going to relocate its newsroom and workplaces to Freedom Heart, the Tribune’s printing plant at 777 West Chicago Avenue. “Our resolution to maneuver our workplaces from Prudential to Freedom Heart helps to reorganize our bodily footprint as we proceed to navigate the pandemic, place the corporate for long-term sustainability and make sure the well being of our group for the longer term,” the corporate stated in an announcement. “Workers will probably be knowledgeable of particulars as they’re finalized.” The fee-cutting plan was instantly blasted by Chicago Tribune Guild president Greg Pratt, who tweeted: “The @chicagotribune newsroom is leaving its workplace at Prudential for the Freedom Heart, a printing plant that’s usually ill-equipped for such a transfer. That is one other dangerous transfer.”
Phil Vettel
Add longtime restaurant critic Phil Vettel to the exodus of expertise from the Chicago Tribune. “After a lot deliberation and appreciable angst, I’ve accepted the Tribune’s buyout provide, and can depart the paper on Friday,” Vettel wrote on Facebook. “It has been a helluva trip: 41 years with the Tribune, 31-plus years because the paper’s restaurant critic. I’ve had the chance to benefit from the meals of culinary giants — I’ll save the checklist for my farewell column — and have had the superior duty of chronicling what I imagine will come to be seen as a Golden Age of Chicago eating. I by no means forgot to understand that privilege, and I attempted to execute my critiques faithfully and truthfully.” Vettel joined the previous Suburban Trib straight out of Japanese Illinois College in 1979. He was named the Tribune’s restaurant critic in 1989.
Mark Gonzales
Mark Gonzales, Chicago Cubs beat author for the Chicago Tribune, additionally introduced he’s taken a buyout from the paper. “I’m leaving the Tribune after greater than 15 years,” he tweeted. “I’m grateful for the chance to work with so many proficient editors, writers and photographers. I stay up for the subsequent chapter TBD.” Gonzales, who grew up in Santa Clara, California, and graduated from San Jose State College, lined baseball for the Arizona Republic and San Jose Mercury Information earlier than becoming a member of the Tribune in 2005. He shifted from protecting the White Sox to the Cubs in 2013.
Rick Telander
Rick Telander, senior sports activities columnist on the Sun-Times, was named to the National Sports Media Association Hall of Fame Monday. The Peoria native and Northwestern College graduate joined the Solar-Instances in 1995 after 22 years with Sports activities Illustrated, the place he rose to senior author. In different honors on the NSMA, Chicago White Sox announcer Jason Benetti was named Illinois Sportscaster of the Yr, and Chicago Tribune sports activities reporter Shannon Ryan was named Illinois Sportswriter of the Yr. Inductees and winners will probably be honored in June in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
Jim Acosta
It’s been 20 years since Jim Acosta toiled in relative obscurity as a normal project reporter in Chicago at CBS-owned WBBM-Channel 2. From there he launched his nationwide profession, first with CBS Information and since 2007 with CNN. Now he’s identified worldwide as CNN’s chief White Home correspondent (and creator of The Enemy of the Folks: A Harmful Time to Inform the Reality in America). On Monday Acosta was named CNN’s chief home correspondent and weekend anchor. “On to the subsequent journey!” he tweeted. “After eight years at WH, I’m transferring into a brand new function as anchor on weekends and chief home correspondent for @CNN, a brand new problem I’m very enthusiastic about. Will miss my WH colleagues. However I do know they’ll be nice protecting the Biden admin. See you quickly!”
Deborah Douglas
Deborah Douglas, former editorial board member, columnist and editor on the Solar-Instances, has simply launched U.S. Civil Rights Trail: A Traveler’s Guide to the People, Places, and Events that Made the Movement. Revealed by Moon Journey Guides, it’s the primary complete guidebook and historic account protecting the path of church buildings, courthouses, faculties, museums and different landmarks officially designated in 2018. “So most of the locations I visited in penning this ebook are a part of the day by day cloth of our lives, however we miss alternatives to have interaction with them from viewpoint of greatness they signify,” Douglas stated. “Fortunately, extra cities and establishments are waking as much as the narrative energy of African American historical past, together with the Civil Rights Motion.” Since 2018 Douglas has been the Eugene S. Pulliam Distinguished Visiting Professor of Journalism at DePauw College.
Bryesha Adams
Whereas Fox-owned WFLD-Channel 32 considers its choices for morning visitors reporter, search for Bryesha Adams to fill in for the foreseeable future on “Good Day Chicago.” The place has been open since Michelle Alegria selected to not renew her contract earlier this month. (Alegria stated her resolution to depart Fox 32 after three years got here after she had been “bullied and belittled” by an unnamed male colleague.) Adams, a lifelong Chicagoan who’s been with Complete Site visitors and Climate Community for 10 years, beforehand substituted for Alegria on the air and produced visitors reviews for her predecessor, Jenny Milkowski. Adams additionally reported visitors for iHeartMedia Chicago stations.
Monday’s comment of the day: Regine Schlesinger: The collective lack of a lot journalistic expertise and integrity at one time may be very unhappy. Howard Reich, Blair Kamin and Gary Marx all at one shot, what a blow to Chicago journalism! As for my former WBBM colleague, Len Walter, he was already a talented reporter and anchor once I got here on board in 1973. Then, he carved out a brand new area of interest as a enterprise journalist and did it in a novel, inimitable fashion. Congratulations, Len, on an excellent profession. Benefit from the lifetime of leisure and household time in a hotter local weather. You’ve earned it.
Supply: www.robertfeder.com
