Justin time: Kaufmann to lead WBEZ midday charge

Justin Kaufmann

Robservations on the media beat:

• With the promotion this week of the multi-talented Justin Kaufmann to executive producer of midday programming at Chicago Public Media, WBEZ-FM (91.5) moved considerably closer to revamping its lineup of weekday talk shows between 9am and 4pm. Kaufmann, 37, a 17-year veteran of the station who most recently was senior content developer, will focus on local broadcast content and “attendant interactive media for WBEZ’s midday presence,” according to a memo from Torey Malatia, president and CEO of Chicago Public Media. The locally produced Eight Forty-Eight and Worldview will remain intact, Malatia said, while Kaufmann will oversee the planned February 1 launch of a two-hour afternoon show anchored by Steve Edwards, former host of Eight Forty-Eight who’s now director of content development. On his WBEZ blog Wednesday, Kaufmann wrote: "I'm excited about taking over programming for a place as legendary as WBEZ. We have two goals: 1) To provide the audience with the best possible talk programming in the Chicago area, and 2) To beat the Packers." (Full disclosure: I worked with Kaufmann as a blogger for Chicago Public Media in 2010.)

• Two months after the news first broke here, ABC finally made it official Thursday: Former NBC 5 sports anchor Paula Faris will co-anchor World News Now and America This Morning in New York, starting January 2. She’ll work alongside Rob Nelson on both newscasts and also contribute to Good Morning America. In a memo welcoming her to the network, ABC News president Ben Sherwood called Faris “an irrepressible broadcaster who can tackle any story,” adding: “Paula was destined to be a reporter — her childhood nickname was ‘Paula 20 Questions.’ ” Assuming her old NBC 5 sports duties on a part-time basis for now are Laurence Holmes and Eric Collins, according to Frank Whittaker, station manager and vice president of news.

• After more than 50 years as the voice of agriculture and business at WGN-AM (720), the legendary Orion Samuelson has more than few stories to tell. With the encouragement of his wife, Gloria, the Radio Hall of Famer has finally begun to write his memoirs. In addition to sharing a lifetime of experiences and a wealth of old photos, the book is expected to include a CD of audio highlights and an interview with Max Armstrong, Samuelson’s longtime broadcast partner at the Tribune Co.-owned news/talk station.

• Instead of wasting your time at the multiplex on the disappointing Sherlock Holmes sequel, stay home Christmas Eve to hear the real thing: The 1945 radio thriller The Night Before Christmas starring Basil Rathbone as Holmes and Nigel Bruce as Dr. Watson. It’s airing on Those Were the Days from 1 to 5pm Saturday on the College of DuPage’s WDCB-FM (90.9) and online at wdcb.org. “No offense to the talented Robert Downey, but there's a reason that people still remember Basil Rathbone's portrayal of Sherlock Holmes some 70 years after the fact,” said host Steve Darnall. Other stars of Saturday’s special include Eve Arden, James Stewart, Bing Crosby, Katharine Hepburn and Jack Benny. “Chuck Schaden and I always agreed that there's a special energy that comes from being on the air on Christmas Eve,” Darnall said, referring to his predecessor on Those Were the Days. “I'm delighted for the chance to be part of our audience's celebrations, with the help of those marvelous shows and performers from the 'Golden Age' of radio that we celebrate every week.”

• Calling it his Iowa Caucus-Palooza, Steve Cochran will travel to the site of the first presidential contest of the 2012 season for a live, five-hour broadcast. He’ll cover the proceedings from 5 to 10pm January 3 on Salem Communications news/talk WIND-AM (560).

And now a word from the editor: Frank Sennett explains Time Out Chicago's new online commenting system. Click on this link.