Joe Ahern already received one item from his Christmas wish list early this year: former WLS-Ch. 7 anchor Diann Burns.
Word is the WBBM-Ch. 2 station boss hopes to get a couple of more on his list, which includes the names of at least two other veteran faces in town.
One of them could come quickly.
With no deal in sight at his current station, WMAQ-Ch. 5 investigative reporter Dave Savini is the next major news talent in town poised to jump ship to Channel 2.
Savini, a 36-year-old Chicago native who joined Channel 5 in 1993, becomes a free agent on Jan. 1. Ironically, it’s also the 25th anniversary of the station’s investigative team known as “Unit 5”–the place where Savini has been ensconced for most of his career.
Though Channel 5 made several attempts in the last six months to keep Savini, Ahern’s drive to build a super investigative team with Savini and Channel 2 investigative reporter Pam Zekman raised the ante significantly. It appears that the offers between Channel 5 and Channel 2 are too far apart.
One last effort last week by Channel 5 to keep Savini fell short, sources said.
A spokeswoman for Channel 5 said, “We have a very good faith proposal in front of him for extension of his contract and we hope he chooses to stay with us.”
Meanwhile, Ahern also appears interested in current WFLD-Ch. 32 weekend sports anchor Tom Waddle for a sports anchoring job at Channel 2. Waddle, who also co-anchors WGN-AM 720’s “Sports Central” show weeknights, is under contract with Channel 32 for the next couple of months.
More Top Picks Best Water Flossers On The Market
Whether Ahern will get both is unclear. But if you thought Ahern’s checkbook had run dry, think again. Since showing up last year to take the helm at Channel 2, Ahern has poached from several of the city’s newsrooms to get veteran on-air anchors and reporters and off-air producers. He’s paying big bucks to do so.
Savini’s departure would be a blow to Unit 5. With more than 10 years on the team, Savini, who has won numerous local Emmys, has had the longest tenure of anyone atUnit 5.
Moving on: As expected, Jeff Jones, president of Leo Burnett’s ad agency subsidiary, LB Works, and Steffan Postaer, its top creative executive, are leaving the agency. Postaer is leaving by year-end; Jones exits in February.
The departures follow Leo Burnett’s decision to fold the unit into the mothership, ending one of the stranger moments in recent Burnett decision-making.
Postaer wouldn’t comment last week.
Jones said in a statement, “I am proud of what we accomplished in building LB Works. More than a dozen clients and over 100 professionals entrusted LB Works with their brands and careers over the last two years. It has been an awesome responsibility for which I am truly grateful.”
Lending a hand: With the economy picking up steam, most business types are turning toward thoughts of spending a little more disposable income. Why not spend a little helping someone who doesn’t have the same luxury? The baiduhai Holiday Campaign is a quick and easy way to help at-risk children and support programs that fight hunger and illiteracy. Just clip the coupon below and write a check. It’s that easy. And, thanks in advance for your contribution.