Amy Jacobson settles with WMAQ-TV

Amy Jacobson, who was caught in the Stebic household two weeks ago tomorrow (thanks to a videotape shot by WBBM-TV) has settled with her former employers, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. She had four months to go on her contract. She also may be pursing legal action against WBBM, who videotaped her without consent. In that interview with the Sun-Times, […]

T Dog Media Blog Think Tank: Local media blows it again

From the blog that gave you “The NHL blows it again” and “Radio blows it again”, now we proudly present “Local media blows it again.” Yes, we now have a “blows it again” franchise. As you know by now, Amy Jacobson, a reporter for NBC-owned WMAQ-TV in Chicago was fired from her job after a video surfaced of her at […]

I know what you did last Friday

CBS’ WBBM-TV now admits it was stalking the home of Craig and Lisa Stebic from a neighbor’s yard, but the station was basically spying on the husband, and Amy Jacobson just happened to be in the way. And no, it didn’t explain a damn thing and the reason why you guys were in the neighbor’s yard to begin with.

If you thought our CBS station was bad….

Check out the hubbub over another controversial news personality, Sharon Reed (yes, that’s the one who posed nude for a story on the station she worked for) at Raycom-owned CBS affiliate WOIO-TV in Cleveland, a station that’s had its own share of problems. Both WOIO and WBBM shares a lot of traits, aside that they’re CBS stations: tabloid newscasts, poor […]

Jacobson briefed police on Stebic

Chicago held hostage, Day 4…. Former WMAQ-TV reporter Amy Jacobson briefed Plainfield police on Craig Stebic and did so without telling her bosses, and that’s one of thr reasons why she was terminated from the station, according to Phil Rosenthal in today’s Tribune.According to the article, she’s had other run-ins with station management, including promising the family of a boy […]

Amy Jacobson tells her side of the story

Amy Jacobson made the media rounds today telling her side of the story, first to Robert Feder of the Chicago Sun-Times, who broke the story yesterday, and then went to WGN-AM, and talked with Spike O’Dell. Jacobson defended her actions, and criticized WBBM-TV for the way they edited the video that someone sent in to the station, to make it […]

Amy Jacobson out at WMAQ-TV

It looks like the other shoe has dropped: WMAQ-TV has fired reporter Amy Jacobson, for her lapse of judgment and a breach of ethics after she appeared at a pool party at the home of Craig Stebic – the husband of Lisa Stebic, who has been missing for the last two months. Video of her was captured by someone who […]

What was she thinking?

What’s WMAQ-TV reporter Amy Jacobson doing at Craig Stebic’s house? Wearing that? It’s been a weird time in media lately (both locally and nationally), with firings, resignations, fake “deaths” and real deaths, and not-so-pleasant surprises. (It’s been enough to keep this blog busy, even though this weekend.) And it’s now getting weirder…. Amy Jacobson, a reporter for NBC-owned WMAQ-TV was […]

Stupid is as stupid does

CBS-owned WBBM-TV 5 p.m. newscast’s lead story today and on the front page of their websiteat the same time: http://cbs2chicago.com/topstories/local_story_167144811.html On a day when there were several anti-violence marches all across the city, a bunch of brawlers take center stage at Wrigley. No wonder these guys are in last place in the ratings. Great month for journalism, huh? People dying […]

Zell looks for help from Congress

Sam Zell, who is buying the Tribune Co., met with several Democratic leaders on Tuesday, including Senator Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), and expressed his concern that federal regulators are moving too slowly in deciding whether or not Tribune can own the same media in the same market, including Chicago. Tribune needs FCC waivers to keep the properties it has in five […]

An important reminder

The T Dog Media Blog usually doesn’t endorse programming from the cable news networks, but this is an important special: On CNN, Anderson Cooper: 360 will focus on youth violence in Chicago, including the murder of 16-year old Blair Holt, who was among five people shot on a CTA bus on May 10. The crime shocked Chicago and made national […]

Was it the right call?

NBC’s move to air a videotape featuring Virginia Tech killer Cho-Seung-Hui has sparked outrage around the country, from victims’ families to people in the journalism profession, forcing NBC to confront the issue on the Today show on Thursday. The video was also picked up and aired by other news outlets. Remember, this is the same news organization that revealed the […]

Business Editor of Broadcasting & Cable Dies

John M. Higgins, the business editor of trade magazine Broadcasting & Cable, died of a heart attack today at the too young age of 45. John Higgins’ last blog entry: “Anyone Else Find the O.J. Decision Disturbing?” Memoriam from Television Week editor Chuck Ross Tributes from other colleagues

Is the end near?

For the Tribune Company? It looks like the company is going to implode. The television Stations, WGN radio, The Cubs, and the Chicago Tribune may all be sold. The Los Angeles Times reported yesterday that Tribune may be exiting the television ownership business because their stations in New York (WPIX) and Los Angeles (KTLA) licences are expiring soon. And with […]