Skip to main content

A Look Back At 2012 At WKYC

By Frank Macek

Officially, the Director's Cut (and your blogger) is on vacation until the end of the year and will return shortly with a new year of behind the scenes coverage from Channel 3.

But to say 2012 was a long year is an understatement with exciting changes that brought plenty of new faces to Channel 3 News and a farewell to others who moved on in their television careers.

Let's take a look back at the year that was at WKYC...

In January, Channel 3 News welcomed former CBS News anchor Russ Mitchell who made his debut as the solo weeknight anchor and managing editor of Channel 3 News at 6 & 11 PM on January 15th. The following morning, Chris Tye and Erin Kennedy debuted as the new anchors of Channel 3 News Today (replacing Mark Nolan who left for WMJI radio)...with Robin Swoboda and Jim Donovan taking over as the new anchor team of Channel 3 News @7.

In February, "Good Company" said goodbye to longtime Cleveland television legend Fred Griffith who went into retirement on February 22nd after 50 years on-the-air at various television stations including at Channel 3. And who could forget the Chardon Shootings that occurred in our backyards on Monday, February 27th, leading to days of expanded news coverage.

In March, Kris Pickel was announced by WKYC President and General Manager Brooke Spectorsky as the new co-anchor of Channel 3 News at 6 & 11 PM with Russ Mitchell. Meanwhile, Eric Mansfield announced on March 21st that he would be leaving June 1st to take a new position at Kent State University.

In April, Russ Mitchell and Kris Pickel made their weeknight debut on Monday, April 2nd. Just a short time later, Lynna Lai was announced as new anchor of the weekend 6 & 11 PM editions of Channel 3 News where she joined the anchor desk on April 21st with Eric Mansfield. On April 19th, Rita Andolsen announced she would be stepping down at WKYC News Director to take a new position within the station as Director of Advocacy and Community Initiatives.

In May, another big new story broke of a terrorist plot to blow up the State Route 82 bridge in Brecksville on May 1st. On May 7th, Dan Haggerty joined the station as a freelance multi-media journalist.

In June, Sara Shookman joined the station and was assigned to report for the evening editions of Channel 3 News at 6, 7 &11 PM.

In July, Virgil Dominic is named WKYC Interim News Director. The station debuts a new set on July 27th at midnight as the 2012 Summer Olympic Games kicked off in London.

In August, the Olympics continued through the 12th with Chris Tye, Amanda Barren and Jennifer Lindgren reporting live from London through the day for an incredibly exciting two weeks of Olympics coverage including our popular Olympic Zone show every weeknight at 7:30 p.m. On Monday, August 13th, the new "Live on Lakeside" show debuted at 11 am, replacing "Good Company" with co-hosts Hollie Strano and Michael Cardamone. The show also replaced Channel 3 News at noon and runs from 11 am until 12:30 p.m., while the fourth hour of the "Today Show" moved to 10 a.m.

In September, all was strangely quiet.

In October, John Anderson was announced as returning to Cleveland as co-anchor and sports anchor of the weekend 6 & 11 PM news on October 1st. John's first newscast was October 27th with Lynna Lai. Also in October, former OSU coach Jim Tressel joined Channel 3 News @7 for his weekely a "Moment with Jim Tressel" feature.

In November, the big story was of course Election 2012 and what a night November 6th was with plenty of on-air and on-line coverage making Channel 3 and NBC the most watched coverage for the night.

And in December, Amanda Barren left Channel 3 News on December 6th to return to her former station as an anchor.  On December 18th, WKYC launched its new iPad app with cool features and live HD video of our newscasts to give viewers an even better way to "stay connected" to Channel 3 News 24/7. Brennan Donnellan is named WKYC News Director on December 21st, while Virgil Dominic returns to his position as a station consultant. And, rumors of a deal for Sportstime Ohio to be purchased by Fox Sports come true with an announcement of the sale on December 27th.

So, yes it has been a busy, but fun year at the WKYC Digital Broadcast Center. Just as exciting are some changes coming in January as we prepare to launch a new graphics look that we'll share with you soon.

Happy Holidays and best wishes for a newsy 2013.

The Most Popular Posts from the Director's Cut Blog

Natalie Clydesdale Joins WKYC Studios and the 3News Team

Natalie Clydesdale By Frank Macek A fresh, dynamic voice is joining the ranks of 3News, and her name is Natalie Clydesdale. Beginning Monday, May 19, Natalie steps into her new role as a multi-skilled journalist at WKYC Studios, bringing experience, passion, and a true love for storytelling to the Northeast Ohio community. Originally from Pittsburgh, Natalie is excited to return closer to her roots. With family already in Northeast Ohio, this move not only marks a professional milestone but also a personal one. Her familiarity with the region and its people gives her a unique perspective that will no doubt enhance her ability to tell the stories that matter most. Natalie arrives in Cleveland from KFOR-TV, the NBC affiliate in Oklahoma City, where she worked as a morning anchor and reporter. During her time there, she became known for her calm presence during breaking news coverage and her ability to connect with viewers in meaningful ways. Before that, she worked in Fort Wayne, Indian...

Where Are They Now? - Connie Dieken

Connie Dieken This month, we asked Connie Dieken to share with us some exclusive information on our Director's Cut Blog about what she has been up since leaving the WKYC family in our "Where Are They Now Feature?" We have video of Connie anchoring the 11 pm news at the end of the story. Connie spent 16 years broadcasting the news to Cleveland television viewers, beginning at Channel 3 in 1984. Her first duties at the station were as weekend anchor and consumer reporter. She quickly moved up and joined co-anchor Tom Sweeney on the anchor desk for the 5 PM broadcast...and became a main anchor of Channel 3 News at 6 & 11 PM. Her work garnered numerous high profile communication awards including Emmys, Tellys and being named Best TV Host by Cleveland Magazine. Viewers always loved Connie for her friendly & warm approach to bringing them the news of the day. Also during her stay at Channel 3, she married former Browns offensive lineman Doug Dieken. Her q...

Job openings at WKYC Studios & TEGNA Media Ohio for 8/25/25

By Frank Macek WKYC Studios has these job openings available if you are looking for a rewarding career experience with us at TEGNA Media's Cleveland location. We've also now added opportunities for our sister TEGNA stations in Columbus and Toledo, Ohio courtesy of the Director's Cut Blog. Current WKYC/Cleveland Job Openings Account Executive   Investigative Producer   Multiskilled Journalist ***NEW*** Current WBNS/Columbus Job Openings Broadcast Director   Creative Marketing Producer Freelance Photographer/Editor   Managing Editor Multi-Skilled Journalist News Director   Photojournalist Producer   Current WTOL/Toledo Job Openings Account Executive Multiskilled Journalist Producer Production Lead You can also find other jobs within our parent company on the  TEGNA Career Page . Please note, you must apply via the website. Mailed applications are not accepted. Follow Frank Macek for new postings on X  @MacekNewsNation  or on Facebook at...

Where Are They Now: Sara Shookman Shines with Storyglow Studio and Spectrum News 1

by Frank Macek Sara Shookman For nearly a decade, viewers across Northeast Ohio welcomed Sara Shookman into their homes each evening as one of the trusted anchors of WKYC’s 3News. Her calm presence, journalistic integrity, and genuine connection with the Cleveland community made her a standout among local broadcasters. So, when Sara stepped away from her full-time role at WKYC in late 2022 to focus on family and new creative ventures, it left many wondering — what was next? As it turns out, plenty. Today, Sara Shookman is writing a compelling new chapter in her professional life — one that combines storytelling, community impact, and a continued connection to Ohio television. At the center of her current journey is Storyglow Studio , a creative content firm she founded with a mission to help nonprofits and purpose-driven organizations tell their stories with authenticity and heart. Storyglow Studio is built on the belief that powerful storytelling can inspire action. Sara and her t...

WKYC Studios Names Jeff Hoffman News Director

Jeff Hoffman, Courtesy: WKMG-TV CLEVELAND, OH (May 6, 2025) — WKYC Studios, TEGNA’s NBC affiliate serving Northeast Ohio, today announced that veteran broadcast executive Jeff Hoffman has been named news director, effective May 19, 2025. Hoffman will be responsible for overseeing the station’s news content across all platforms, including streaming, broadcast, and digital. Hoffman brings more than three decades of award-winning news and station leadership experience to the role, most recently serving as vice president and general manager of WKMG-TV in Orlando, where he led a dramatic turnaround of the station’s brand and performance, guiding the newsroom to #1 in late news and overseeing award-winning coverage. Before joining WKMG, Hoffman held news leadership roles in several top markets, including WAVE-TV in Louisville and WJZ-TV in Baltimore, WIS-TV in Columbia, and KNBC-TV in Los Angeles. He is a multiple Edward R. Murrow Award and National Association of Broadcasters’ Service to Am...

Welcome Amaya Ward: A Dynamic New Voice in Cleveland’s Newsroom

By Frank Macek Please join me in welcoming Amaya Ward to our newsroom team! A passionate, multi-skilled journalist, Amaya joins us from KFOR-TV in Oklahoma City, where she made her mark as a reporter dedicated to telling stories that matter. Her time there included coverage of vital community services like mobile medical clinics for homeless veterans, crime and public safety cases, youth nutrition efforts, and wildfire relief programs. With each story, Amaya worked to shine a light on people at the heart of the news—those who might otherwise go unheard. Amaya Ward (Courtesy: KFOR-TV) Amaya’s journalism journey began at the University of Oklahoma, where she graduated from the Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication. During her time there, she became a familiar face on OU Nightly as both an anchor and reporter. She also worked as a sports pad host and served briefly as a Washington D.C. correspondent, gaining valuable experience across a wide range of formats and topics. H...

Where Are They Now?: Andrew Horansky

By Frank Macek If you watched WKYC during the mid-to-late 2010s, chances are you remember Andrew Horansky. With his thoughtful tone, strong on-air presence, and reporter’s instinct for the human side of the story, Horansky became a familiar face to viewers in Northeast Ohio. He joined Channel 3 in April 2015 after a long and well-traveled journalism career that took him across the country—and even overseas.  At WKYC, he served as both a general assignment reporter and weekend anchor, quickly making his mark with in-depth storytelling and a knack for covering both breaking news and community features with equal skill. Horansky brought a broad resume to Cleveland. Prior to arriving at WKYC, he had reported in Houston Austin, Chicago, Boston, Traverse City and Dubuque and was also known for his international reporting, including coverage from Iraq, Pakistan, Haiti and Sri Lanka. That global perspective, combined with a clear, calm delivery, made him a trusted presence on Cleveland air...

Where Are They Now: Amy Murphy (Hasten)

Former WKYC chief forecaster Amy Murphy (formerly Hasten) is our feature this time around on "Where Are They Now?". Amy was a very popular part of WKYC's weather forecasting team during the 1990s along with Mark Nolan and Eileen McShea. After leaving Cleveland, Amy headed to Miami - then finally onward to Los Angeles where we find her these days. Amy Murphy joined the FOX 11 and MY 13 News teams in April of 2006. You can see her regularly on FOX 11 News Saturday and Sunday editions doing the weather. She is also a general assignment reporter during the week, reporting for "FOX 11 News at 10PM," "My 13News at 11 PM" and "Good Day LA" on occasion. Most recently Amy worked in Phoenix as the morning and noon weather forecaster and entertainment reporter. It was there that she earned two Emmy nominations for her coverage for the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. Amy's career has spanned the country from KUSA-TV in Denver, where she was t...

Frank's Take: Let Producers Produce - Why the Future of News Demands a Return to Editorial Focus

By Frank Macek Walk into any newsroom today like WKYC, and you’ll likely find a familiar scene: a news producer juggling scripts, timing out live elements, coordinating with reporters in the field, updating rundowns—and, increasingly, triggering automation commands, punching live shots, cueing graphics, and managing tech workflows in real-time. In many markets, the days of a dedicated director or technical director operating behind the glass are becoming rare, replaced by a one-size-fits-all philosophy: if the system can be automated, the producer can run it. But just because the technology can allow producers to control more of the technical process doesn't mean they should. We’re reaching a critical moment in broadcast news where we need to seriously re-evaluate the role of the producer. If the future of news is going to be faster, smarter, and more responsive, producers must be freed to focus on what they were hired to do: produce. Let’s be clear—producing is not just “stacking ...

GO! Goes Bigger: WKYC Launches Extended 7–9AM Streaming Show on WKYC+ June 9th

By Frank Macek WKYC Studios is taking your morning routine to the next level. Starting Monday, June 9th, Northeast Ohio viewers will be able to catch another two full hours of GO! from 7 to 9 a.m.—exclusively on WKYC+, our free streaming channel. It’s a first-of-its-kind move for the station, designed to deliver more of the content you love, wherever and whenever you want to watch. The new streaming edition of GO! brings the same trusted team of local personalities—Danita Harris, Dave Chudowsky, Matt Wintz, Brissa Bradfield, Candice Hare, David Greenberg and Monica Robins—to a platform that fits into your schedule and your screen of choice, whether that’s a smart TV in the kitchen, your phone on the go, or a tablet by the bedside. It’s everything you already count on from Channel 3 News—just a little later and a lot more accessible. What’s New About This GO!? The 7–9 a.m. block of GO! is not a repeat or a simulcast of the TV broadcast—it’s a fully live and locally produced show, offeri...