In a game of musical chairs Tuesday in the WGN-AM 720 news department, Tom Peterson was named news director, while Dave Ellsworth, who had held that title, was switched to news anchor on the morning Bob Collins show.
Station manager Dan Fabian announced the changes, which take effect Sept. 26.
“Each and every one of these positive moves was triggered by the best interests of the radio station,” said Fabian in a memo to the staff, “and . . . at the direct suggestions of our colleagues involved.”
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Wes Bleed, a weekend anchor and reporter, becomes assistant news director.
Lyle Dean, now morning anchor, becomes afternoon news anchor and manager of the Emergency Closing Center, which he created.
Jan Coleman, the overnight anchor and sometimes host, becomes a full-time reporter. And Judy Pielach, who had been a weekend anchor and reporter before her maternity leave, will return as evening anchor.
Also, in an organizational move, the station’s traffic, weather and Emergency Closing Center staffs will rejoin the news department, which, in turn, becomes part of programming.
“There are times to play pat hands,” Fabian said. “And there are times to do whatever it takes to make a good thing better.”
More personnel moves: Lisa Stach, formerly an associate producer, has been promoted to producer of WFLD-Ch. 32’s “Fox Thing in the Morning,” replacing Paula Janos, now producer of the Fox Broadcasting affiliate’s 9 p.m. newscast. . . . Nan Wyatt, a Chicago native who had been a reporter/anchor/magazine host at KMOX in St. Louis, has joined Dick Helton and Kris Kridel as part of the afternoon drive-time anchor team at WBBM-AM 780. . . . Cindy Hernandez, a weekend anchor/reporter at ABC affiliate KOAT-TV in Albuquerque joins WMAQ-Ch. 5 as a general assignment reporter Sept. 26.
Possible personnel moves: Word is that Ed Vrdolyak and Ty Wansley will be reunited-at WJJD-AM 1160, replacing Clark Weber in the morning. Weber, although his contract has run out at the Infinity Broadcasting Corp. station, continues his talk-show duties. A WJJD spokesman could neither confirm nor deny the report.
Also, with Wansley leaving WLS-AM 890 as his deal there ends, look for Al Lerner and Ed Curran, former afternoon and evening talk-showmates at WGN, to be reunited at the Capital Cities/ABC-owned station. Lerner is on the payroll as host of a late-night show.
Hear and there: WBBM-AM 780 newsman Donn Pearlman, who had been one of the 20 Midwest finalists in the “Journalist in Space” competition until that program was put on hold eight years ago, settled Tuesday for the first live interview with space shuttle astronauts by a Chicago radio station. Pearlman talked with the Discovery crew for 17 minutes. . . . WTTW-Ch. 11, in a rare pre-PBS national release, televises a documentary on violinist Gil Shahan at 10:30 p.m. Oct. 10 following “Opening Night at Carnegie Hall.” PBS doesn’t plan to air the Shahan special until November. . . . “Image Union,” the WTTW-Ch. 11 series showcasing independent film and video producers, continues its 15th anniversary celebration with Jamie Ceaser-produced specials the next three Saturday nights. . . . WLS-Ch. 7 news anchor Sylvia Perez hosts “Aspiring Leaders,” a look at the Aspiria organization in Humboldt Park, at 6:30 p.m. Saturday. . . . WDCB-FM 90.9, the College of Du Page public-radio outlet, conducts its one-week fall membership drive starting Monday.