Director's Cut Blog with Frank Macek

By Dave "Dino" DeNatale Special to the Director's Cut Blog Jim Donovan This is a story that I'm pleased to get to write. On Monday, the National Sports Media Association announced its nominations for their 2019 awards. At the state level, 3News sports anchor and the radio play-by-play voice of the Cleveland Browns, Jim Donovan, is one of three finalists for Ohio Sportscaster of the Year. Jimmy was nominated alongside the voice of the Cincinnati Bengals, Dan Hoard, as well as Jim Day, who serves as the television pregame and postgame show host for the Cincinnati Reds. Voting will take place from December 1 through December 31 by members of the National Sports Media Association. Winners will be announced during the second week of January, then honored at a June awards celebration in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Amazingly enough, in his 35 years of sportscasting in Northeast Ohio, Jimmy has never won the award. However, prior to coming to WKYC Studios ...

Special to the Director's Cut Blog from wkyc.com 3News anchor Sara Shookman and husband Angelo DiFranco are expecting their first child. Sara and Angelo met in 2005 while they were both students at Ohio University. However, Sara says sparks didn’t fly until 2012, when Angelo unexpectedly asked her out during a speech at a friend’s wedding. The two married in the fall of 2017 and now, they’re embarking on a new journey together—parenthood. During a recorded message, where the 3News Team shared what they were most thankful for this holiday season, Shookman made the surprise announcement during 3News’ ‘What Matters Most’ at 6 p.m. See the full clip in the player below. Sara and Angelo are the proud parents of a sweet pup named Basil but are excited to welcome a baby human to their tribe. Baby DiFranco is expected May 2020, something to really be thankful for this holiday season. Join us in wishing them congratulations on this new and exciting chapter!

How many of these familiar faces can you remember from the Channel 3 News team back in 2004? Take a guess first, then click here  for the correct answers! #1. #2. #3. #4. #5. #6.

Special to the Director's Cut Blog from wkyc.com For more than 30 years, Lisa Lowry has made sure that our anchors and reporters at 3News are covering the stories that matter most to Northeast Ohioans. Thursday night, our longtime assignment editor was honored by the Press Club of Cleveland with induction into their Journalism Hall of Fame. The festivities were held at LaCentre Conference & Banquet Facility in Westlake. Lowry joins several other 3News team members who are in the Press Club of Cleveland Hall of Fame including: Leon Bibb, inducted into the Class of 1999; recipient of the 2018 Chuck Heaton Award Jim Donovan, inducted into the Class of 2009 Tom Beres, inducted into the Class of 2011 Betsy Kling, recipient of the 2015 Chuck Heaton Award Russ Mitchell, inducted into the Class of 2017 Denise Polverine, inducted into the Class of 2018 RELATED: Press Club of Cleveland honors WKYC's Leon Bibb and Denise Polverine at Hall of Fame ceremony ...

We are always on the lookout for classic WKYC gems. Let's flashback to July 26, 1996, for Channel 3 News at 11 pm with Judd Hambrick, Dawn Stensland, Amy Hasten and Ron Jantz (filling in for Jim Donovan).