MEDIA NOTEBOOK
A curation of news items about the media from this past week, with a particular emphasis on Chicago.
Radio/podcasts
*Prosecutor: Conservative Talk Radio
Influenced Killer
=The whole country is talking about the Plainfield man
who stabbed his Palestinian tenants just because they were Palestinian.
According to the prosecutor, the killer was radicalized by conservative talk
radio in Chicago. The story is here.
*106 years at WGN
=This week the radio station honored two employees who
have a combined 106 years of service at WGN, Jim Holland and Marlene
Wells
*U of C Radio Station
=The funding is gone, but the students are figuring out
ways to keep it alive. By the way, I would kill for the record library in these
photos.
*George Ofman’s book
=The former broadcaster turned podcaster is now also an
author via Triumph Books.
*Podcast Corner
=You know who is a podcasting mogul? Eva Longoria
=From the “Everybody’s got a podcast” department, time to add a new name, Meghan McCain
*Ex-Chicago Radio Update
=Remember Ryan Manno? He and his brother briefly hosted afternoons on Q-101. He re-emerged this week as part of a morning show in Nashville. (107.5/The River)
*Rest in Peace
Loved his music back in the day. His big hit was "I'm on Fire"
=Denise Jordan Walker
Sorry I missed this last week. Condolences to her
family.
Media birthdays/milestones
*October 15--Harry Teinowitz birthday.
I’ve interviewed Harry many times over
the years, including about his Jeff Award-nominated play When Harry Met
Rehab. Of course Harry is probably better known for his radio career. I interviewed him about that for Chicago Radio
Spotlight in 2007.
*October 15, 1934—John Coleman
birthday.
=Former Chicago weatherman John
Coleman is remembered here in Chicago for his wacky antics at Channel 7,
but his greatest achievement was probably founding the Weather Channel. Coleman
passed away in 2018. (Photo: as part of the Eyewitness News Team in 1972, far
left)
*October 15—Ted Cox birthday
=Ted wrote about the media for The Reader
and The Daily Herald.
*
=Did you know the famous WXRT jock got
his start in radio as an intern at The Loop? Here’s a photo of Johnny (far
right) at the Bobby Skafish book signing in 2016 (with Greg Solk, Bobby
Skafish and me).
*October 17--Mitch Rosen birthday
=The head honcho at the Score. I had a chance to interview Mitch back in 2011 for
Chicago Radio Spotlight.
*October 17--LeeAnn Trotter birthday
= Entertainment/Lifestyles Reporter
at WMAQ-TV NBC 5 Chicago
*October 18—Mark Edwards
birthday
= The former WLIT program director was kind enough to chat
with me back in 2008.
*October 18—Patty Martin
birthday
=The former WXRT and WDRV music
director. I interviewed Patty back in 2011.
*October 18—Stan Lawrence
birthday
=The other half of Ebony & Ivory
on AM 1000 back in the day. (Photo with me, Ivory, and a photo bomb by Vince Argento). Also co-hosted radio shows
with Terry Armour (WCKG) and Seka (The Loop), and contributed to Chicago
Tonight on WTTW, but is probably best known for his contributions to the Steve
& Garry show over the years.
October 19--John Williams birthday
=The long-time WGN midday talker was
featured in this Illinois
Entertainer piece I wrote back in 2020.
*October 19--Alan Krashesky
birthday
=The long-time WLS-TV anchor recently
retired.
*October 20—Artie Kennedy birthday
=The always lovable former WLUP and
ESPN producer/production man. You can get an idea of Artie’s
engaging personality from reading this interview I did with him back in 2009.
*October 21—Frank Mahoney
birthday
=Frank worked with Geoff Pinkus at
WIND and WCKG.
(FYI: Harry Teinowitz, Johnny Mars, Mitch
Rosen, Stan Lawrence, and Artie Kennedy all appear in my upcoming book The Loop Files)
TV/Streaming
*Late update: Emergency Chopper Landing
*Tom Skilling’s Retirement Plans
=He’s giving up Chicago winters and going to Hawaii. He's no dummy.
*Jerry Springer’s Condo Sold
=It was in Evanston and sold for $2 million.
*WTTW Special
=A great photo display of our city featuring the photo
magic of Barry Butler.
*Weigel TV stations broadcasting the high school football
playoffs
The IHSA State Championship Games schedule is:
|
EVENT |
TIME |
STATION |
|
|
Friday,
November 24 |
IHSA 1A Championship |
10:00 a.m. |
The U |
|
Friday,
November 24 |
IHSA 2A Championship |
1:00 p.m. |
The U |
|
Friday,
November 24 |
IHSA 3A Championship |
4:00 p.m. |
The U |
|
Friday,
November 24 |
IHSA 4A Championship |
7:00 p.m. |
The U |
|
Saturday,
November 25 |
IHSA 5A Championship |
10:00 a.m. |
CW26 |
|
Saturday,
November 25 |
IHSA 6A Championship |
1:00 p.m. |
CW26 |
|
Saturday,
November 25 |
IHSA 7A Championship |
4:00 p.m. |
CW26 |
|
Saturday,
November 25 |
IHSA 8A Championship |
7:00 p.m. |
CW26 |
*NBC Files Motion to Televise Trump Conspiracy Trial
=Trump did say he would prosecute NBC for treason if he became president again. Seems only fair they get to broadcast his trial. Deadline has the details.
*Alec Baldwin may still face charges
=And they are not insignificant charges. The star of Rust
faces a potential involuntary manslaughter charge in New Mexico. A grand jury is hearing the case.
*Grammy Salute to Hip Hop
=It will air on CBS: A GRAMMY Salute to 50 Years of
Hip-Hop on
Wednesday, Nov. 8 at YouTube Theater at Hollywood Park in Inglewood, CA.
Featuring: Black Thought, Bun B, Common, De
La Soul, Jermaine Dupri, J.J. Fad, Talib
Kweli, The Lady Of Rage, LL COOL J, MC
Sha-Rock, Monie Love, The Pharcyde, Queen
Latifah, Questlove, Rakim, Remy Ma, Uncle
Luke, and Yo-Yo,
*Taylor Swift’s Concert Film Sets Record
=It’s opening weekend was the highest grossing concert film of all time
*Rest in Peace
=Suzanne Somers
Suzanne Somers (1946-2023): pic.twitter.com/SVO7r5RXdg
— Michael Beschloss (@BeschlossDC) October 15, 2023
=Mark Goddard (From Lost in Space)
=Burt Young
Burt Young, the Oscar-nominated actor who played Paulie in the 'Rocky' franchise, has died at age 83. https://t.co/Q2nLO0tGdY
— NBC News (@NBCNews) October 19, 2023
Digital/Print
*America's Trust in media at All-Time Low
=These are some pretty gruesome numbers. Only 27% have a fair amount of trust in mainstream media. Only 7% have a great deal of trust. Gallup has the breakdown.
*Journalists in Harm’s Way
=Covering a war remains an incredibly dangerous thing. 15 journalists are already dead in Isreal/Gaza conflict
Social media
*X (Twitter) plans to charge for tweets
=The collapse of Twitter will be complete. Fortune has the story.
*Biden Joins Truth Social
=I'm sure he'll be warmly received.
*Linked In laying off 700 employees
=The gruesome details are here, courtesy of NPR.
If you enjoy this blog, would you be kind enough to contribute a vote here for best independent blog/website? I’d appreciate
that.
https://chicagoreader.com/best-of-chicago/2023-ballot/#/gallery/
As always, if you have any media story you’d like to share or think that I might be interested in sharing, drop me a line at rick@eckhartzpress.com or amishrick@yahoo.com. If you're in Chicago media and wondering why I didn't mention your birthday, it's probably because I don't know it. Drop me a line and let me know and I'll put you on my calendar.
If you're interested in some of my other projects...
Minutia Men Podcast: The Animal Kingdom
Minutia Men Celebrity Interview Podcast: Apple Co-Founder Ronald Wayne
Free Kicks with Adam & Rick: The International Break
The Fifth Edition (2023) of EveryCubEver is out now! Buy your copy today
The Fifth Edition (2023) of EveryCubEver is also on amazon. Buy your copy today.
Windy City Reviews Back in the D.D.R.
