Celebrating a year of Feder at TOC

While Rob's out on a much-deserved vacation, I just wanted to pop into his blog long enough to wish him a happy anniversary at Time Out Chicago. It was a year ago this week that Robert Feder's blog made its auspicious debut on this site, and began to spin off a weekly print column in TOC as well.

I've known Rob for many years and have been an avid reader of his work for many more, but even knowing him as I do, I'm continually impressed by his absolute dedication to the media beat. He mixes great reporting chops with a sharp, insightful, always witty writing style, which is a rare combo. His dedication to the comment section, the conversational lifeblood of this blog, is also a wonder to behold. I can't say enough good things about the guy, and I challenge you to find a reporter in Chicago who filed as many scoops in 2011 as Rob did.

So thanks, Rob. Looking back over year one for the Feder blog at TOC, I happened upon some real gems you might want to revisit. Randy Michaels seemed to be the gift that kept on giving in 2011. But let me ask Rob's readers: After you take a spin through the headlines below, what do you think was Feder's most memorable story of 2011? And what would you like to see on the media beat in 2012?

Hart break for Eric & Kathy co-star stirs up radio’s top morning show

Kurtis speaks ‘from the heart’ after tragic news strikes personal chord

ABC 7 gets serious in auditioning hosts for 'fun' Oprah replacement

Oh, Brotha'! Kiss FM morning star estranged from radio legend father

Bonneville blockbuster: Hubbard buys top stations for $505 million

Biographer: Oprah’s ‘family secret’ is half-sister she never met before

Chicago Reader’s revolving door spins editor back to Daley project

Can Tribune exile Randy Michaels think we’ll ever forget about him?

ABC 7 picks Chiaverini & Warner as Oprah talk show replacements

Hit the road, Jack: Eddie & Jobo will host mornings on new K-Hits

Chicago’s loss is New York’s gain: Weather shifts Freeze to WABC-TV

Most powerful women in Chicago journalism? Here’s one man’s list

Anchors’ ethics take a back seat in furniture ad bidding Daley farewell

Power in the Tower: Tribune Co. execs keep jockeying for position

How a ‘horrible decision’ cost Wiser dream job at Chicago Sun-Times

Randy revelations in Tribune tell-all will blow readers away

Q101, Loop deal blows Randy Michaels back into radio business

Ready or not, it’s showtime for ringmaster Randy again

Dahl hopes fans put their money where his mouth is

New Q101 is about to take listeners for a ride

‘Murphy in the Morning’ turns back clock on Chicago radio

Sunny forecast: Ginger Zee zooming to ‘GMA Weekend’

Mad Cow: Why Q101’s biggest star wouldn’t look back

Staying power: Magers wears well after 30 years as Chicago’s anchorman

Rewind goes forward: ‘Murphy in the Morning’ returns

Firing leaves bitter taste for Sun-Times food critic

Out on a limb: Dahl views podcasting as ‘perfect medium’

Encore for icons: Chicago’s radio royalty adjusts to new reality

News wars: Randy’s still searching for some Merlin magic

Randy’s night out: Stuck in the mud, spinning his wheels

Another loss for NBC 5: Zoraida zooms to CNN

CNN-bound Zoraida: ‘Chicago will always be home’

For Ginger Zee at ABC, ‘absolute dream’ comes true

Kevheads rejoice: Matthews plugs into Dahl’s playhouse

Brandmeier on WGN: ‘This is the perfect home for me’