Director's Cut Blog with Frank Macek

Lynna Lai Lynna Lai has found a new station to call home in Cleveland as she is joining Channel 3 News, anchoring the weekend evening newscasts and reporting on weeknights. “I’m excited to join a news team which shares a passion for journalism, and being personally engaged in gathering the news,” says Lai. “Sometimes, anchors are perceived as being out of touch with the community, for never setting foot outside the station. But Channel 3 is committed to hiring anchors who are reporters first, so I think this is a great fit." “Lynna brings a wealth of experience to the table and will be a great asset to our news team”, said News Director Rita Andolsen. “She has strong anchoring and reporting skills and is passionate about telling the stories of our community”. Lynna brings 18 years of broadcasting experience in major markets across the country to the job. Her aggressive career pursuits began as a reporter at WMBD-TV in Peoria, Ill., which was quickly followed by a stint at...

By Frank Macek It's time for another behind the scenes look at what's happening inside the WKYC Digital Broadcast Center. We have received many emails about Eric Mansfield leaving Channel 3. While we are not at liberty to really discuss it on the blog, we can confirm that Eric will be leaving WKYC on May 31st to take a job with Kent State University. After working with Eric for 18 years, we'll definitely miss him and his unmatched knowledge and committment to the Akron area. However, we are excited for Eric and his family to be taking on this new opportunity and wish the Mansfields all the best. Our annual "Tribe Time Opening Day" special will air on Thursday, April 5th from 1 p.m. until 2:30 p.m. as we kick off the 2012 Major League Baseball season. Look for complete coverage from the entire WKYC team both on-air and on-line at wkyc.com leading up to "Indians On Deck" at 2:30 p.m. and the Tribe welcoming the Toronto Blue Jays to Progressive Fiel...

As part of an initiative by WKYC's parent company, Gannett, our broadcast stations are now implementing the use of "The Rundown" in all our newscasts that we began today, March 20th. Our morning newscasts have been experimenting with the new information system for the past several weeks. The rundown is meant to give viewers a sneak peak ahead at what's coming up in our broadcast so they can be ready to pay more attention to the stories that matter most to them. Also, we implemented the use of story titles at the bottom of the screen several months ago to give us the ability to provide more information about the stories we cover. You'll see our new rundown feature on the right hand side of the screen. However, this will only be viewable for those who watch us on a 16x9 aspect ratio television. Those still watching in the 4x3 aspect ratio will not see any change. If you not seen it yet, check out of the picture below as W e K eep Y ou C onnected at Ch...

Howard Fencl Our dear friend and WKYC Assistant News Director Howard Fencl has revealed his plans to leave Channel 3 to become a Vice President at Hennes Paynter, a crisis communications firm. Since September 4, 2007, Howard has been an instrumental part of Channel 3's daily committment to local news and our social media efforts. Howard is no stranger to WKYC, as this was his fourth tour at Channel 3. His last duties were in 1991 as an Executive Producer. Before coming back in 2007, Howard was a Vice President at Edward Howard here in Cleveland. Prior to that he owned his own video production company, was part owner in an internet service provider when the internet first got up and running, and also has worked as an Executive Producer at WEWS in Cleveland and WBNS in Columbus. Born and raised in Cleveland, Howard and his wife Sue and their children live in Rocky River. He graduated from Denison University and has a Master's degree from Hiram College. His last day a...

By Frank Macek I am happy to announce the introduction of "Macek Media World" as a new, independent project that will cover northeast Ohio media news. Instead of using blogger as the forum for this new project, I will be using the more popular Facebook platform which many of you are already using. "Macek Media World" will feature news and tidbits on what is happening in northeast Ohio media including radio, television, cable, social media and from both past and current media talent. I will not report gossip, but only tidbits that people send us or I find on-line. The project WILL not be a gossip forum, nor will it be a project of WKYC. You can find the new page at: http://www.facebook.com/Macek.Media.World . You can also follow the project on twitter at http://www.twitter.com/macekmediaworld I will continue to run the Director's Cut Blog as usual with an unmatched "behind the scenes" look at what goes on inside the WKYC Digital ...

Love animals?  Then please get your friends to "like" our page at http://www.facebook.com/WKYC.Channel3 We'll donate $2,500 to the Cleveland APL if we can get 35,000 new fans by the end of the Fur-Get-Me-Not Telethon on March 22nd. Watch the video for more details.

Kris Pickel WKYC has announced that Kris Pickel, an Edward R. Murrow Award Winner, will join Channel 3 News. “I am pleased to announce that reporter and anchor Kris Pickel will be joining the WKYC news team in early April,” announced Brooke Spectorsky, President and General Manager of Channel 3. “She will co-anchor our 6pm and 11pm newscasts with Russ Mitchell.” Currently the weekend 5 and 10pm anchor at KOVR in Sacramento, California, Pickel is the recipient of several prestigious awards in broadcast journalism including an Edward R. Murrow, Associated Press and multiple Emmys for reporting. “As the breaking news leader in the market, it was imperative that we chose a co-anchor for Russ who had a similar depth of reporting skills,’ stated News Director Rita Andolsen. “Kris is a skilled and tenacious journalist who is as strong in the field as she is on the anchor desk.” Pickel is a Sacramento native who began her career as an editor at KCRA in Sacramento followed by anchori...

Paced by the combination of NBC Sports' February 5 coverage of the Super Bowl and primetime's #1 series for the month, "The Voice," NBC has won the February 2012 Nielsen Sweep in the key demographic of adults 18-49 and ranks #1 or tied for #1 in all other key demographics. The hit Monday singing competition "The Voice" finished as the #1 series for the February sweep in adults, men and women 18-34; adults, men (tie) and women 18-49; adults and women 25-54; kids 2-11 and teens 12-17, led by results for its February 5 season premiere following the Super Bowl. In adults 18-49, "The Voice" averaged a 7.5 rating for the month and in total viewers, "The Voice" delivered 19.4 million persons. With all 28 nights of the February 2-29 period now measured, "most current" averages in adults 18-49 for the month are: NBC (a 3.7 rating), CBS (3.0), Fox (3.0), ABC (2.5) and CW (0.7). In total viewers, "most current" sweep averages...