Director's Cut Blog with Frank Macek

TEGNA Media, the broadcast division of TEGNA Inc. and parent owner of WKYC-TV, today was named Station Group of the Year by Broadcasting & Cable. TEGNA Media was chosen because of its “outstanding group of local television stations whose leading reportage, ratings, financial results and strategic moves demonstrated its exceptional accomplishments in taking on dynamic market trends,” according to the publication. “This is a great accomplishment and we thank Broadcasting & Cable for honoring the exceptional work and commitment that takes place every day across our company,” said Gracia Martore, president and CEO, TEGNA.  “This recognition is the culmination of a terrific year for TEGNA Media which received many well-deserved honors. It also symbolizes what this company is all about. We deliver quality content and innovation that makes a difference every day.” TEGNA Media’s many highlights this year include: Launching a significant effort to transform content ...

Jack Schmucki (center). Photo courtesy: Randy Betke Long-time WKYC Assistant Chief Engineer Jack Schmucki retired December 10th after a successful 41 year full-time career with Channel 3. However, Schmucki joined the WKYC family in 1970 as a part-time news field audio person and covering the Kent State riots quickly became his first assignment in May of that year. He was hired full time in 1974 and continued his work in the news department until 1978, when he transferred to the engineering department and remained until hanging up his soldering iron last Thursday. WKYC Director of Technology and Operations Jim Miller fondly recalls, "Jack has been involved in so many things over the years, I can’t possibly name them all. He was the Engineer In-Charge of Browns pre-season games for 15 years and has spent the last 16 years as the Assistant Chief Engineer. Prior to that, he worked in the Tech Shop with a number of co-workers." While Jack worked full time at WKY...

Margaret Mitchell (L) and Micki Byrnes (R) Congratulations to WKYC President and General Manager Micki Byrnes who received a special honor Thursday morning at the Channel 3 Digital Broadcast Center. Byrnes was named a recipient of the YWCA Women of Achievement Awards for 2016 along with 7 other local leaders. “It is a pleasure to honor and share the accomplishments of these eight influential leaders, especially for this monumental 40th Anniversary celebration of Women of Achievement,” says Margaret Mitchell, YWCA Greater Cleveland’s President and CEO. “These women are talented and exemplary in their careers, and they are dedicated to changing lives and communities in Greater Cleveland and beyond.” This prestigious award, celebrating its 40th year, is presented to a select group of Northeast Ohio women who have achieved extraordinary accomplishments through career success, community service, leadership, mentoring, and dedication to YWCA’s mission of eliminating racism and em...

Channel 3 will re-air two of this holiday season's most popular shows. First, "The Wiz Live!" will air this Saturday night, December 19th, from 8 to 11 p.m. The show is NBC's latest musical holiday tradition: a 3-hour event production of the groundbreaking Broadway show that brought Oz to life in a funky sing-along journey down the yellow brick road that originally aired live on December 3rd. Second, Dolly Parton's "Coat of Many Colors" will air again on Christmas night from 9 to 11 p.m. This movie is based on the inspiring true story of living legend Dolly Parton's remarkable upbringing. This once-in-a-lifetime movie special takes place inside the tight-knit Parton family as they struggle to overcome devastating tragedy and discover the healing power of love, faith and a raggedy patchwork coat that helped make Parton who she is today. The film is set in the Tennessee Great Smoky Mountains in 1955. It is neither a biopic nor a musical abou...

T.D. Jakes ( Photo by Rich Polk/Getty Images for Variety) TEGNA Inc., parent of WKYC-TV, today announced it has cleared “T.D. Jakes”, a multi-issue daily one-hour talk show hosted by T.D. Jakes, on 29 TEGNA Media stations to air in the fall of 2016. In a move designed to create more original programming, TEGNA Media will both produce and distribute the “T.D. Jakes” series. “T.D. Jakes has a unique and uplifting voice that is well suited for daytime television. With Jakes at the helm, this program has an opportunity to attract blue-chip advertisers, generate large audiences and empower viewers across the country,” said Dave Lougee, president, TEGNA Media. “During the show’s test run this summer, Jakes’ audience grew each week in every market. Once viewers found him, they liked him and we look forward to introducing him to a wider audience next fall.” “T.D. Jakes” enjoyed a highly successful month-long test run this summer on four TEGNA Media stations. The shows tackled socia...