On July 16, 2004, the CMA study of WTTW received a brief mention in the Chicago Sun-Times:

Mitchell reaches out with Sunday talk show

July 16, 2004

BY ROBERT FEDER SUN-TIMES COLUMNIST

Sun-Times columnist Mary Mitchell, who rose from inner-city poverty to become one of Chicago's most outspoken and respected commentators, is adding her unique voice to radio.

Starting Aug. 1, Mitchell will host a live public-affairs talk show from 11 a.m. to noon Sundays, simulcast on WSRB-FM (106.3) and WPWX-FM (92.3). It will air at a later time on WYCA-FM (102.3.)

While continuing the Sun-Times column she has written since 1996, Mitchell will take on additional duties as director of public affairs for the three stations owned by Crawford Broadcasting Co.

"I'm excited about the opportunity to work for a radio station that appeals to a mature audience," she said. "These are people who have seen a lot, have done a lot, and have the potential to give a lot of their energy and wisdom to addressing the problems most of us only complain about."

Mitchell said her new show will be "about and for people who are tired of hearing about everyone else's agenda. I hope to empower struggling communities by not only holding up the mirror to people who live in those communities, but by also giving them an opportunity to hold up a mirror to politicians, community leaders, educators, policymakers, shakers and takers, as well.

"I believe this will be a real opportunity to give people in these communities a voice."

Tracking: Not 'Hot' anymore

* Sun-Timesmen Roger Ebert and Richard Roeper have vanquished another competitor: Paramount Television has pulled the plug on "Hot Ticket," the low-rated syndicated competitor to "Ebert & Roeper." It won't be back this fall.

Leonard Maltin and Joyce Kulhawik fronted the copycat movie-review show, which has been airing at 6:30 p.m. Saturdays on WBBM-Channel 2. "Ebert & Roeper," still going strong as it heads into its 30th year (including its "Siskel & Ebert" predecessor), airs at 10:35 p.m. Saturdays and 10:30 a.m. Sundays on WLS-Channel 7.

* A scathing indictment of WTTW-Channel 11's "Chicago Tonight" is expected to be released Monday by a public-television watchdog group. Chicago Media Action conducted a study of topics and guests that appeared on the news and public affairs show over 20 nights in 2003 and 2004.

* A tribute to Isabel Sanford, who played Weezie on "The Jeffersons," will air from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday on WCIU-Channel 26. Six episodes highlighting her role will air back-to-back.

Sanford, the first African-American woman to receive an Emmy for best actress in a comedy series, died of natural causes last Friday at age 86.

* Look for Mike Ditka to be filibustering on Channel 2 instead of the floor of the U.S. Senate. Moments after the former Bears coach confirmed that he wouldn't be a Republican candidate for senator, the CBS-owned station announced his signing as sports contributor.

Ditka will turn up on Channel 2's 10 p.m. Friday newscasts alongside sports anchor Mark Malone.

* Chris Boden, former sports reporter and sports anchor at Channel 2, has been hired to host pre-game and post-game White Sox broadcasts on Fox Sports Net. He replaces Damon Andrews, who joined KTLA-TV in Los Angeles as sports anchor.

Dialing: Politically 'Annoying'

* As if politicians weren't annoying enough, here comes Jim Nayder to make matters worse: The Chicago-based host of "The Annoying Music Show" has been invited to contribute "Annoying Campaign Music" alerts during National Public Radio's coverage of the upcoming Democratic and Republican conventions. NPR's outlet here is WBEZ-FM (91.5).

"It's completely politically bipartisan and tripartisan -- as all parties seem committed to producing the most awful music ever recorded," said Nayder, who added that he hopes to run into Ralph Nader along the way.

* Chicago comedian Leon Rogers, who has been a contributor to DaVante "The Stone Pony" Stone and Courtney "Babygirl" Hicks' morning show on "Power 92," has been promoted to in-studio co-host.

* Rob Johnson, weekend news anchor at Channel 7, will fill in as guest newscaster for the next two Mondays on Pete McMurray's WZZN-FM (94.7) morning show.

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