WKYC Studios adds 3 new personalities to the team

As you may have heard recently on my social media pages and wkyc.com, the WKYC Studios have added three new faces to the Channel 3 family including Jay Crawford, Mark Naymik and Mike Polk Jr.

All three have recently made their debuts on the air and will be expanding their roles in the coming months.

Let's do a quick introduction to all three.

Jay Crawford

Jay Crawford is returning to his Ohio roots to join the WKYC Studios as host of a new noon show that will debut next month, then become host of the new 5 p.m. newscast that will come sometime in 2020 on Channel 3. Jay is originally from northwest Ohio where he graduated from Bowling Green State University in 1987.

Jay Crawford

For viewers of ESPN, you'll know him best for his on-air work on several different shows over the years. In 2003, the sports network came calling and Crawford launched his popular show "Cold Pizza" that became ESPN’s "First Take" in 2007. Within five years, Crawford was on to the "SportsCenter" division to host the midday program where he remained until 2017.

“When I began my TV career it was always my goal to one day work in the Cleveland market,” said Crawford. “After 15 years of living in the northeast and covering sports at the network level, I am absolutely thrilled to be coming home to work in and cover the community I love. I anxiously await launching the latest phase of my career at WKYC-TV and expanding my broadcasting and digital experience into the fast-paced world of news.”

Before joining the sports network, Jay held posts as either sports director or sports anchor at WFTS-TV/Tampa; WBNS-TV/Columbus; WTIC-TV/Hartford, CT; WYVN-TV/Martinsburg, WV and WYMT-TV/Hazard, KY.

According to WKYC Director of Content Adam Miller, Crawford "has signature smarts, quick wit, and passion for Cleveland" that will translate into some great television on Channel 3 beginning this fall with live interviews, telling relevant stories and engaging with our viewers in real-time.

Crawford lives in Chagrin Falls with his wife Tracy.

Mark Naymik

Naymik joins the WKYC Studios from the Plain Dealer and cleveland.com where he has covered some of northeast Ohio's biggest newsmakers.

Mark Naymk

From columns about the poor quality of Cleveland’s lakefront parks that pressured the city and state to turn over management to the Metroparks, to stories that brought to light the financial and real estate details of Cleveland’s bid for Amazon’s second headquarters, Mark’s journalism has made a difference. And at times, his reporting sparked federal investigations, including one several years ago into the company that managed Cleveland’s JobCorps Center.

"Though I started my journalism career more than 20 years ago with just a pen in my hand, I have come to rely on the power of broadcast and digital news platforms to cover and connect with our community in real time,“ said Naymik. “Channel 3 presents the best of both worlds. I can’t wait to contribute to the WKYC team and plan to try many new approaches to storytelling with enterprising and thorough reporting backing it up. I look forward to hearing from WKYC's viewers and readers and promise to listen first -- and then ask a ton of questions on their behalf."

In his free time, Mark enjoys spending time with his wife, writer and professor Jacqueline Marino, and their two daughters, Stella (15) and Charlotte (11). His hobbies include home improvement, mountain biking and snowboarding. Mark and his family live in Northfield.

Mike Polk Jr.

You know him best from his viral video sensation of "Factory of Sadness" that has over 2.4 million views and counting, Mike Polk Jr. has also joined WKYC Studios.

Mike Polk Jr.

According to WKYC President and General Manager Micki Byrnes, “Mike is one of the most well-established and successful figures in the Cleveland comedy scene and we’re excited that he’ll be bringing a fresh perspective and smart sense of humor to the local news cycle on a daily basis."

Polk was born in Warren, Ohio and attended Warren John F. Kennedy High School. He graduated from Kent State University in 2002 with a bachelor’s degree in communications and psychology. His roots in Northeast Ohio run deep: his father’s entire family is from Brunswick and his mother’s family is from Lakewood. Mike has lived in Lakewood since he graduated from college.

“I was as surprised that WKYC offered me this gig as I'm certain everyone else is, and I told them as much. But for the life of me I could not manage to talk my way out of this tremendous opportunity. I love this city. It's a great place, for all of its nicks and dents and, to a certain extent, because of them. Cleveland's a real city with real history. It has a lovely soul and lots of interesting stories and people, past and present, and I look forward to exploring and presenting all of this to folks in a fun way,” said Polk.

Polk has worked in broadcast and digital media for more than a decade including HBOLab, an online version of HBO and the comedy video website Funny or Die. In 2012, Polk became a weekly contributor on WJW Channel 8’s The Rizzo Show. In 2016, Polk joined The Plain Dealer, writing a periodic column about pop culture and humor. He has written a book called "Damn Right I'm From Cleveland: Your Guide to Makin' it in America's 47th Biggest City.” He hosts a weekly comedy variety show at Pickwick and Frolic in Cleveland.

Welcome to Jay, Mark and Mike!