Skokie film recalls Nazi march that didn’t happen
Robservations on the media beat:
- In 1977, the National Socialist Party of America applied for a permit to hold a rally in north suburban Skokie, whose large Jewish population included thousands of survivors of the Holocaust. The small band of neo-Nazis, led by Frank Collin, never did march in Skokie. But what ensued was a two-year battle over free speech that culminated in worldwide headlines and a landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision. More than 35 years later, a one-hour documentary puts those issues in perspective through a combination of archival footage and new interviews with many of the principal players. Skokie: Invaded But Not Conquered will have its broadcast premiere January 24 on WTTW-Channel 11. Todd Whitman, who wrote and produced the documentary for the Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center, grew up in nearby Highland Park and vividly recalled the tumultuous period. But for many, he found, it was a time that’s been largely forgotten. “This program was a good opportunity to revisit these monumental events — the scenes of racism and anti-Semitism from the Chicago Nazis, and the intense free speech legal battles that took place,” he told me. “All in a place no one would have expected to have been the center of attention at the time."
Wire cutters: Tribune Co. newspapers dropping AP
The Chicago Tribune and six other newspapers owned by Tribune Co. are dropping the services of Associated Press, effective in early January.
In addition to the flagship Tribune, other company-owned papers cutting ties with the 166-year-old global news provider are the Baltimore Sun, Orlando Sentinel, South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Hartford Courant, Morning Call of Allentown, Pennsylvania, and Daily Press of Newport News, Virginia.
Exec editor exits Pioneer Press after six months
Robservations on the media beat:
- On the job barely six months, Jason Schaumburg resigned this week as executive editor of Pioneer Press. The move leaves the chain of 32 suburban weeklies, owned by Sun-Times Media, without a publisher or a top editor. Chris Krug, who’d been publisher since February, announced his resignation last month. Jim Kirk, editor-in-chief of Sun-Times Media, said Schaumburg cited personal reasons for quitting. “I wanted him to stay and asked him to stay,” Kirk said, adding: “I wish him well.” The chain has been plagued by production problems since it unveiled a costly and cumbersome redesign in August. Before joining Pioneer Press in June, Schaumburg was senior editor of Shaw Media’s suburban division, where he previously worked with Krug. With Sun-Times Media closing all of its suburban newsrooms, Kirk said Pioneer Press may be restructured without filling either vacant position.
Sun-Times closing suburban newsrooms to 'shed inefficiencies,' says editor Kirk
Six suburban newsrooms will be closed early next year under a plan to consolidate newsgathering and production of all Sun-Times Media properties under one roof.
In addition to saving millions of dollars, the plan would hasten the transformation of the Sun-Times and its network of seven suburban dailies and 32 Pioneer Press weeklies to a fully integrated “digital first” media company.
Chicago's media circus: Recalling a year of cheers and jeers
One last look back at the top 10 Chicago media stories of 2012:
Lights out on FM News 101.1: “If it weren’t for all the jobs that were lost and careers that were wrecked, this would be a day for gloating and celebration,” I wrote when Merlin Media pulled the plug on its all-news fiasco after one year. “Once again, [CEO] Randy Michaels has exposed himself as the arrogant, inept charlatan we’ve always known him to be.”
Surprise! Biondo cliffhanger has happy ending at US99
Robservations on the media beat:
- Stop the presses: Trish Biondo won’t be leaving WUSN-FM (99.5) after all. Thursday was to have been her last day as midday personality on the CBS Radio country music station, as reported here last week. But a call to her agent, Todd Musburger, revealed that US99 decided Tuesday to pick up the second-year option on Biondo’s contract, which allows her to broadcast part of the week from home. “I know that Trish is relieved and delighted with this outcome,” Musburger said. A Southwest Side native who has worked at US99 for more than 25 years, Biondo has hosted middays since 2006. Drew Walker, who was slated to take over her 10am to 3pm shift, will continue to host afternoon drive from 3 to 7pm.
Extinction 720: WGN lets Rosenberg ‘fade into the night’
Milt Rosenberg, the University of Chicago psychology professor who hosted Extension 720 on news/talk WGN-AM (720) for 39 years, is the latest casualty of mismanagement and financial distress at the Tribune Co.-owned radio flagship.
The final broadcast of the nightly call-in show Rosenberg described as “intelligent radio featuring the movers and observers of history being made” will air Thursday. His departure and the cancellation of Extension 720 were announced Monday as part of a revamped lineup that will go into effect on WGN January 2.
Look who’s talking: Bruce Wolf cracks wise on WLS promotion
You could count on one hand the people who’ve hosted mornings on Chicago’s legendary WLS-AM (890) in the last 40 years: Larry Lujack, Fred Winston (before and after Lujack) and, since 1989, the husband-and-wife team of Don and Roma Wade.
With last week's announcement that the Wades were stepping down to focus on Don’s cancer treatment, the Cumulus Media news/talk station anointed Bruce Wolf and Dan Proft as their successors, effective immediately.
Wades away: Don & Roma won’t be back on WLS
Legendary morning star Don Wade, the 30-year veteran of Chicago radio who has been battling brain cancer for the past three months, won’t be returning to WLS-AM (890).
Wade, 71, and his wife and radio partner, Roma Wade, who’ve been off the air since early September, announced Thursday that they’re stepping down from the Cumulus Media news/talk station to focus on his health and medical treatment. Their contract expires at the end of the year.
“The daily stress of rising each day at midnight to prep for our 5am show does not help the healing process,” the Wades said in a statement released through their agent, Eliot Ephraim. “So we are choosing a different path and focusing on what's really important for us right now.”
Out in the country: US99 shuffle looks beyond Biondo
Trish Biondo, who’s been a mainstay of country music powerhouse WUSN-FM (99.5) for more than 25 years and one of the most popular women on Chicago radio, appears to be on her way out as midday personality.
As reported here last month, the CBS Radio station chose not to pick up the second-year option on her two-year contract. Talks followed on a possible new deal, but now comes word that Biondo could be signing off by next week.
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