Director's Cut Blog with Frank Macek

Patrick Paolini, Courtesy: Fox5 Editdor Note: The following is a press release issued by TEGNA on May 26, 2026 regarding the hiring of Patrick Paolini at TEGNA's new CEO as of June 1, 2026. ------------------- MCLEAN, Va.– TEGNA Inc. today announced the appointment of Patrick Paolini as the company’s Chief Executive Officer, effective June 1. Mr. Paolini will be responsible for TEGNA’s daily operations, revenue-generating business strategies, local journalism and production, and growth initiatives. He will report directly to TEGNA’s Board of Directors. Mr. Paolini brings more than 30 years of local broadcast management experience and a distinguished track record in sales, marketing, and news operations to his new role with TEGNA, including management of large-market television stations. He joins the company from FOX Television Stations, where he has served as Executive Vice President of Advertising Sales since 2023. In this position Mr. Paolini was responsible for ad sales strategy...

By Frank Macek The NATAS Central Great Lakes Regional Emmy Nominations were announced on Tuesday with WKYC earning a total of 28 this year with Senior Broadcast Director Frank Macek (your esteemed blogger) and Senior Health Correspondent Monica Robins being Inductees into this year's Silver Circle Class that honors those with at least 25 years of exceptional broadcasting experience. The Emmy Awards will be handed out on Saturday, June 27th this year. WKYC Nominations from the year 2025 include: •News Excellence:  Julie Flynn, News Director •Evening Newscast - Markets (1-50) "3News at 6: Remembering Office Wagner" Julie Flynn – News Director, Annabelle Childers – Reporter, Kelly Salandro – Senior Producer, David DeNatale – Senior Digital Producer, Joshua Bailey – Producer, Danielle Wiggins – Reporter, Lindsay Buckingham – Reporter, Monica Robins – Reporter, Matthew Lawrence – Videographer, Bailey Lustic – Videographer, Aurora Keag – Director, Craig Roberson – Videographer,...

By Frank Macek WKYC continues to build on a remarkable run of national recognition, and this year is no exception. Three members of the 3News team—Sia Nyorkor, Lindsay Buckingham, and special projects producer Jessica Miller—have earned one of the most respected honors in the industry: a Gracie Award, widely considered the premier accolade celebrating the achievements of women in media. The announcement was made Monday morning, placing WKYC once again among an elite group of storytellers recognized across television, streaming, radio, audio, and digital platforms. For a newsroom committed to impactful, community-focused journalism, the recognition reflects both the strength of the work and the people behind it. Lindsay Buckingham and Jessica Miller were honored for the station’s “Heartstrings” series, a signature example of storytelling that connects deeply with viewers by highlighting personal, emotional, and often inspiring journeys. The series has become a cornerstone of WKYC’s co...

Editor Note: The Nexstar/TEGNA merger remains on hold as of May 28th, 2026. ----------------------- By Frank Macek A major shift in local television is now official. Nexstar Media Group has completed its acquisition of Tegna Inc. , bringing Cleveland’s WKYC-TV under new ownership as part of the nation’s largest broadcast group. The $6.2 billion deal, approved by federal regulators on Thursday, dramatically expands Nexstar’s reach, now touching roughly 80% of U.S. television households. For WKYC, it marks the end of its Tegna era and the beginning of a new corporate structure alongside sister stations already owned by Nexstar in Cleveland including WJW-TV/8 and WBNX-TV/55. Supporters argue the move strengthens local stations by giving them greater negotiating power and resources in a rapidly evolving media landscape. Critics, however, warn that consolidation could reduce newsroom diversity and local editorial independence. For viewers in Northeast Ohio, the branding may stay the s...

  By Frank Macek Update 3/20: WKYC and the Cleveland APL raised nearly $165,000 thanks to our generous viewers. You can still donate. See the QR code below. ------- Today’s the day—and here at WKYC, there’s a real sense of purpose inside the studios. Our “Fur-Get-Me-Not Telethon” benefiting the Cleveland Animal Protective League is officially underway, and from the early hours of this morning through tonight, we’re dedicating the day to helping animals across Northeast Ohio find care, comfort, and ultimately, a second chance. This isn’t just another broadcast. It’s one of those moments where local television truly connects with the community in a meaningful way. We began bringing you live updates starting at 5 a.m., and that coverage continues throughout the day, with stories, interviews, and behind-the-scenes moments that highlight the life-changing work of the Cleveland Animal Protective League. You’ll see firsthand the impact your support can make—whether it’s providing medic...

By Frank Macek WKYC's Russ Mitchell & Cle Mayor Justin Bibb There’s no denying the numbers. Local television viewership isn’t what it used to be. The days when families gathered around the 6 p.m. newscast as part of a nightly routine have largely faded, replaced by streaming platforms, social media feeds, and an endless scroll of national headlines competing for attention.  The audience has splintered, habits have shifted, and the metrics we once relied on to define success have changed dramatically. But if you look beyond the ratings charts and into the real impact of what local journalism does every day, a different story emerges—one that underscores just how essential it remains. At WKYC, that reality is visible in ways that can’t be measured solely by Nielsen or Comscore numbers. It’s in the phone calls from viewers who need help navigating a confusing situation. It’s in the tips that come in at all hours, often from people who don’t know where else to turn. It’s in the tru...

By Frank Macek Wil Steigerwald The WKYC newsroom continues to grow, and it’s always exciting to see new talent walk through the doors at 1333 Lakeside. This week brings another welcome addition to the team, as Wil Steigerwald joins 3News as a story desk editor. For those of us who have spent years working in local television, there’s something special about the moment a new journalist begins their first day in a newsroom. It’s the start of a new chapter not only for that person, but also for the team they’re joining. Wil arrives at WKYC after recently graduating from The Ohio State University, where he earned his degree in journalism and media production. Ohio State has long been a pipeline for talented journalists entering newsrooms across the country, and many broadcasters in Northeast Ohio got their start there. The combination of journalism training and hands-on media production experience gives young reporters and editors the kind of practical skills that translate well into the ...

By Frank Macek Hunter Bertram WKYC Studios is welcoming a new journalist to its newsroom. Hunter Bertram will officially join the 3News team on Monday, March 9, bringing reporting experience, government communications insight, and Midwestern roots to Cleveland. Bertram arrives in Northeast Ohio after working as a multimedia journalist at KXLY-TV in Spokane, Washington. At the station—known locally as “4 News Now”—he reported on a wide range of stories across eastern Washington and the Inland Northwest, covering local government, community issues, and public safety. At WKYC, viewers will see Bertram working the nightside reporting shift, contributing stories and live reports for various editions of 3News. Originally from Minneapolis, Bertram graduated from the University of Minnesota, where he completed a major in journalism along with studies in sociology of law, criminology, and justice. The combination of disciplines helped shape his interest in covering issues involving government, ...

By Frank Macek Fifty years ago today, viewers in Northeast Ohio were watching Russ Montgomery deliver the weather on WKYC-TV. To many, that’s the name they remember. In later years, he would be known professionally as Russ Minshew — but in the mid-1970s, “Montgomery” was a familiar presence at the Channel 3 anchor desk. Montgomery followed a classic broadcast path of his generation, building experience in smaller markets before arriving in Cleveland. Those early years demanded versatility. Reporters wrote their own scripts, edited film, and often handled multiple roles in the newsroom. By the time he reached WKYC, he was polished and precise — a broadcaster who understood timing down to the second in the era of spliced film and manual cueing. His delivery was calm and deliberate. In a decade marked by economic shifts and civic change in Cleveland, that steadiness mattered. Anchors were not celebrities; they were trusted narrators. Montgomery fit that mold perfectly. A snapshot of his w...

By Frank Macek WKYC Studios Today at 13th & Lakeside Ave. Twenty-five years ago, WKYC changed addresses. On paper, it looked like a straightforward relocation—from East 6th Street to 13th and Lakeside—but in reality it marked one of the most consequential transitions in the station’s history.  That move quietly redefined how Channel 3 would operate, adapt, and ultimately survive in an industry that was about to change faster than anyone imagined. I know that because I lived on both sides of it. I walked into WKYC for the first time in June 1994, learning the craft of local television inside the old East 6th Street building. By then, the place already carried decades of history in its walls. You could feel it the moment you stepped inside. It wasn’t just a workplace; it was an institution. The building had character, quirks, and limitations that everyone learned to navigate. Floors creaked, equipment ran hot, and no two studios behaved exactly the same way. It was a space that d...

By Frank Macek As newsrooms across the country continue to juggle relentless deadlines, evolving platforms, shrinking margins, and rising expectations, one truth remains constant—strong producers are the backbone of local television news. They are the conductors of the daily symphony, balancing editorial judgment, logistics, storytelling, and leadership, often under extraordinary pressure. That is why TEGNA’s Producer-in-Residence (PIR) program is not just a training initiative, but one of the most important long-term investments the company makes in the future of local journalism. As the Producer-in-Residence program gears up for a new year, WKYC will welcome two Producers-in-Residence. The addition is notable not only for the newsroom as a whole, but particularly for producing teams navigating the demands of a fast-paced, multi-platform environment. The Producer-in-Residence program is designed with one core mission: to identify, develop, and support the next generation of broadcast ...

By Frank Macek UPDATE: 12/25 Due to the weather and breaking news, NBC has canceled Tom's visit to Cleveland today. ------------------------- NBC Nightly News will have a distinctly Cleveland backdrop on Monday, December 15, as anchor Tom Llamas brings the network’s flagship evening newscast to the city for a live broadcast at 6:30 p.m. The visit includes time at WKYC Studios and is part of Llamas’ broader effort to tour the country and connect directly with NBC’s local affiliates. Llamas’ Cleveland stop places Northeast Ohio squarely on the national stage—something the city continues to earn through its relevance to stories shaping the country. From economic reinvention and health care to climate resilience and the evolving media industry itself, Cleveland offers a real-world lens on national issues. Broadcasting live from the city reinforces NBC News’ commitment to grounding its reporting in the communities where those stories live. The visit to WKYC carries particular weight. C...

By Frank Macek The Cleveland Crunch are entering a new chapter in their modern revival, thanks to a new partnership that will bring all of their home games exclusively to WKYC+. Beginning January 10, 2026, every match played at the Wolstein Center will stream live on the platform, giving fans across Northeast Ohio a direct and convenient way to follow the team. It’s a move that reflects both the Crunch’s growing momentum and WKYC Studios’ continued expansion of its digital footprint.  For the Crunch, the agreement is more than a broadcast arrangement. It signals the team’s commitment to reconnecting with longtime fans while introducing indoor soccer to a new audience.  The Crunch hold a nostalgic place in Cleveland sports history, dating back to their championship years in the National Professional Soccer League. Since the franchise relaunched, the organization has focused on rebuilding its identity and reestablishing indoor soccer as a staple of Cleveland’s sports culture. A ...

By Frank Macek Jennifer Lindgren (via LinkedIn) When Jennifer Lindgren walked into the WKYC newsroom in August 2010, she arrived with the energy of a journalist who knew exactly where she wanted to go. She had already put in the mileage—working in Columbia, South Carolina at WLTX and later in Jacksonville at WTLV—but Cleveland became the city where she sharpened her voice, tested her limits, and proved just how versatile a reporter could be. For those of us who remember her time at Channel 3, Jennifer wasn’t just a reporter on the roster. She was a one-woman production house, a journalist who could do it all before “MMJ” became an industry buzzword. Her role at WKYC was, in many ways, ahead of the curve. Jennifer wasn’t simply reporting the news. She was shooting it, editing it, writing it, producing it, and then standing in front of the camera to deliver it. On her official WKYC profile at the time, she described herself as “a wearer of many hats,” and she wasn’t exaggerating. She’d h...

By Frank Macek The great unraveling of the local television broadcasting workforce didn’t happen in one dramatic moment. It didn’t arrive with a corporate memo, a breaking-news ticker, or a major newsroom shakeup. It happened slowly, quietly, and then all at once.  Over the last decade—especially in the last five years—I’ve watched the industry I love lose people at every level and from every corner: producers, directors, photojournalists, anchors, engineering veterans, editors, creative staff, and digital teams who once saw broadcasting as a lifelong career. The exits are no longer surprising. They’re expected. And more than that, they’re telling us something we’ve been reluctant to confront. Why are so many people walking away from an industry once defined by loyalty and longevity? In my view, the answer isn’t simple, but it is unmistakable: local TV no longer looks like the business many of us signed up for. The job changed, the expectations changed, the economics changed, and i...