Time Out Chicago’s Robert Feder has details on some upcoming changes at WFLD, the Fox O&O in Chicago, following Jan Jeffcoat‘s departure last month.

Anna Davlantes and Kori Chambers are expected to co-anchor a revamped noon newscast, which will kick off sometime next month. Davlantes currently anchors from 7 to 10 a.m., while Chambers currently anchors from 4:30 to 7 a.m. Feder reports that the pair are also “in line” to anchor a 5 p.m. weekday newscast that’s being considered for launch next year.

Patrick Elwood, who has anchored the noon newscast solo since Jeffcoat’s departure, is expected to return to full-time reporting duties.

Jeff Goldblatt is leaving Chicago NBC O&O WMAQ, according to Time Out Chicago’s Robert Feder.

Goldblatt is a former Fox News Channel correspondent who left the network in 2008 to join WFLD, the Fox O&O in Chicago. He joined WMAQ as a freelance reporter and fill-in anchor in 2010.

“Jeff has been a big help over the last two years working on a part-time basis,” WMAQ’s station manager and VP of news Frank Whittaker wrote in a memo. “Along the way he has broken several stories for NBC 5. We thank him for all he’s done.”

Feder reports that Goldblatt is leaving to join a station in another market as a main anchor.

Jan Jeffcoat is leaving Chicago’s WFLD after five years at the Fox O&O, she announced last week.

Jeffcoat, the station’s noon anchor, has accepted what she described as her “dream job.” She has been named co-host of “The List,” a nightly newsmagazine produced by Scripps. Her last day at WFLD was Friday.

According to the Chicago Tribune, Patrick Elwood, Jeffcoat’s co-anchor on the noon newscast, will anchor solo until a replacement is named. WFLD is examining both internal and external candidates, the Tribune reports.

Despite reports that Robin Robinson was on her way out at Chicago’s WFLD, the anchor has just re-signed with the Fox O&O, the Chicago Tribune reports.

The contract keeps Robinson at WFLD for at least another year. She anchors the 9 p.m. newscast with Bob Sirott.

Robinson has worked in the Chicago market since 1983 and at WFLD since 1987.

Carol Fowler, a former news director at three Chicago stations, left the television business in January. This week, she was named vice president of editorial at Viewpoints, a consumer-review website. She shares her thoughts on the future of local television with Time Out Chicago’s Robert Feder:

The bottom line is television news needs to figure out how to remain relevant. People still want news put in context. They love compelling video. That’s the great part. In the short term, I believe it will take local stations starting to treat their online and mobile news platforms like they are the main business because that’s where the new customers are. Right now, in most stations, much of the staff is only vaguely aware of what content is posted on the station website, let alone on Twitter and Facebook. From staffing to resources to the sales model. Just do it.

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Gavin Maliska has been named news director at WGXA in Macon, GA.

Maliska comes to WGXA, a Fox-affiliate owned by Frontier Broadcast Holdings that also broadcasts ABC programming on a digital subchannel, from WJHG in Panama City Beach, FL, where he has served as news director since last summer.

Maliska began his TV career at WFLD in Chicago and since then he has been news director at WXIN in Indianapolis, WOFL in Orlando, and KECI in Missoula, MT. Read more

Chicago stations were in overdrive this weekend covering the ongoing NATO Summit, which continues today at McCormick Place.

WFLD‘s Bob Sirrot and Robin Robinson co-anchored an hour-long newscast at 5 p.m. Sunday on the Fox O&O. Political editor Mike Flannery‘s regular Sunday morning newscast was expanded to an hour this weekend.

On NBC O&O WMAQ, weekday anchors Stefan Holt and Daniella Guzman anchored a special 11 a.m. newscast on Sunday. WMAQ also expanded its 5 and 10 p.m. newscasts, anchored by Allison Rosati and Rob Stafford, to an hour. Read more

Lisa Chavarria is joining WFLD, the Fox O&O in Chicago, as a general assignment reporter for the 9 p.m. newscast. Her first day will be April 30.

Chavarria has been a reporter at KHOU in Houston since 2010. She has also worked at WTVF in Nashville and WTOM in Traverse City, MI. A Chicago native, she began her career with internships at NBC News’ Chicago bureau and WGN, the CW-affiliate.

“I’m thrilled to be returning to my hometown, doing something I truly love, and that is telling stories about topics that are relevant to the people of Chicago,” Chavarria said in a statement. “I look forward to covering news in this great city, a place that has shaped who I am as a person and a journalist.”

Dionne Miller is joining WFLD in Chicago as the weekend sports anchor, the Fox O&O announced today.

Miller comes from Fox Sports Ohio, where she has been a reporter and host since 2007. She has previously worked at WBNS in Columbus, WWSB in Sarasota and XETV in San Diego.

“I am both honored and excited to be joining a great team at FOX and can’t wait to get started,” Miller said in a statement. “There are few cities that rival the passion Chicago has for sports and as a passionate fan myself, the opportunity to make this city my home, is a dream.”

Miller will anchor sports on the Friday and Saturday evening newscasts. She will also contribute to “The Final Word,” WFLD’s weekly local sports program.

Set to spend at least the next dozen years in prison, former Gov. Rod Blagojevich appeared to savor his final moment in the spotlight on Wednesday evening as he held a public farewell that conveniently coincided with Chicago stations’ 5 o’clock newscasts.

Every major news station in Chicago brought live, uninterrupted coverage of Blagojevich’s sendoff, which lasted roughly 40 minutes.

Covering the event, anchors for every station commented on the circus-like atmosphere, but it was clear that their colleagues were making up a large percentage of the crowd, as news choppers hovered overhead. Read more