Friday, March 23, 2012

Notes from the Newsroom: 3/23/12

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 Field for a 3:05 p.m. first pitch. The game will be seen on Channel 3 in high definition, along with 19 other games this season. All games will air on Sportstime Ohio.

Also, coming up on Friday, April 13th, Channel 3 News will present a one hour special leading up to this year's Induction Ceremonies being held in Cleveland on Saturday, April 14th. The special will air live from 7 - 8 p.m. and will be produced by Caitlin Kollar and directed by Frank Macek.

The countdown to our new evening anchor team continues. Coming in April as previously reported, Kris Pickel will join Russ Mitchell for northeast Ohio's best local news coverage at 6 & 11 PM, along with weather from Chief Meteorologist Betsy Kling and Sports Anchors Jim Donovan and Dave Chudowsky.

Please don't forget to become a friend of Channel 3 News and Channel 3 Weather. We have special on-line content just for our Facebook friends including your chance to be our "Facebook Friend of the Day," daily behind the scenes promos, previews of NBC shows and much more.