The doctor is in: North Park building on Johnson's legacy

Dr. Timothy Johnson

Robservations on the media beat:

• Dr. Timothy Johnson, one of America’s best known physicians and longtime medical editor for ABC News, will be immortalized by North Park University, his Chicago alma mater. A new academic building on the university’s North Side campus will be named for Johnson and his wife. Johnson graduated from the formerly named North Park College in 1956 and earned a seminary degree at North Park Theological Seminary in 1963. He is a medical doctor and an ordained pastor of the Evangelical Covenant Church. “North Park was the first stop for both of us in our long academic journeys,” Johnson and his wife, Nancy, said in a statement. “It gave us a moral and intellectual foundation that has lasted a lifetime — and for which we will always be grateful.” Groundbreaking for the 101,000-square-foot Nancy and G. Timothy Johnson Center for Science and Community Life is planned for October 26. Construction is expected to be completed for the 2014 fall semester. After 25 years as chief medical editor at ABC, Johnson, 76, stepped down to become senior medical contributor in 2010.

• Jeff Goldblatt, the former Fox Chicago news anchor and NBC 5 reporter, has signed on as 5, 6 and 10pm weeknight anchor at KENS-TV, the CBS affiliate in San Antonio. He previously worked as a Chicago-based correspondent for Fox News Channel for nine years. “Chicago will forever course through my blood,” Goldblatt said. “I found the love of my life here, and we have four incredible, Chicago-born kids, all of whom know you don't put ketchup on a hotdog. After 13 years, I will miss this incredible city. She gave me many personal and professional blessings. That said, we are ecstatic about our future in San Antonio and this opportunity with KENS-TV. The station has a rich history of award-winning journalism, and I am joining a news team with some incredibly talented people.” Among his new colleagues will be two ex-Chicagoans — general manager Bob McGann and news anchor Sarah Lucero. Both worked at CBS 2 in the ’90s.

• Another move tipped here became official with the hiring of Sarah Kustok as Brooklyn Nets reporter for the Yankees Entertainment and Sports (YES) Network. The southwest suburban Orland Park native was a popular reporter for Comcast SportsNet Chicago since 2009 and more recently doubled as a fill-in sports anchor for NBC 5. “Sarah has proven herself to be extremely versatile throughout her career and has excelled at a wide variety of assignments,” John J. Filippelli, YES Network’s president of production and programming, said in a statement, citing her “talent, personality, a love of sports and quick wit.” Kustok, who’ll be inducted into the Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame on September 19, tweeted: “Words can't fully express my love, respect & gratitude for the city of Chicago, our teams, fans & @CSNChicago. Always in my heart. THANK YOU.”

• Nearing its 25th year in the urban adult-contemporary format, WVAZ-FM (102.7) may be enjoying its greatest ratings ever: The Clear Channel station ranked No. 1 among all listeners in Arbitron Portable People Meter figures released Monday for July. Clear Channel also scored big with Top 40 WKSC-FM (103.5), topping all others among adults in the 18-to-34, 18-to-49 and 25-to-54 demos. But wait, there’s more: Kiss FM boasts the market’s highest cumulative weekly audience — a whopping 2,605,700.

• Legal affairs writer Tony Gordon, who covered Lake County courts for the Daily Herald for 18 years, died Monday of lung cancer at 60. A graduate of Stevenson High School and Southern Illinois University, he also worked for the Waukegan News-Sun and Pioneer Press before joining the Daily Herald. His widow, Carolyn, is a former Daily Herald reporter. Executive editor Madeleine Doubek called him “a reporter’s reporter” and “the epitome of old school.”