Frank's Take: The Unsung Heroes Behind the Lens and in the Edit Bays at WKYC

By Frank Macek

In every newsroom, there are the familiar faces viewers see each day—the anchors, the reporters, the meteorologists guiding us through another unpredictable Cleveland forecast. But the real heartbeat of a station like WKYC lies with the people you rarely see: the photographers and editors. They are the unsung heroes who make the stories come alive, the ones who quietly transform chaos into clarity and turn everyday news into something that connects us all.

At WKYC, the photographers are often the first to hit the road and the last to come back. When the rest of Northeast Ohio is tucked inside avoiding the blinding snow, these men and women are out there—battling the elements with cameras slung over their shoulders, trudging through drifts and ice to capture the story for the evening newscast. The cold cuts through layers of clothing, the wind howls across the lakefront, and yet, they stand firm, focused on getting the perfect shot that will help viewers understand the conditions for themselves. Their batteries die faster in the freezing air, their lenses fog and freeze, and tripods seize up like rusted machines. But they find a way. Because they know that when a viewer turns on 3News, they deserve to see what’s really happening out there, not just hear about it.

WKYC Photojournalist/Editor George Pyamjis

You’ll find them on overpasses filming long lines of stranded cars during a blizzard or hiking into neighborhoods after a storm to document the damage left behind. They are part journalist, part technician, part problem-solver—and always part storyteller. They frame every shot with intention, capturing emotion and detail in ways that words alone could never express. A father shoveling snow off a car, a nurse walking through sleet to reach the hospital, the moment sunlight breaks through after the storm—it’s the photographer who sees those moments, who understands instinctively that those are the images that make a story human.

And when breaking news hits, their jobs demand everything. Fires, floods, crashes, protests—whatever happens, they’re the first out the door. They make split-second decisions under pressure, navigate dangerous situations, and somehow maintain the composure to capture footage that tells the truth without sensationalism. There’s no script in those moments—only instinct and experience. And through it all, they work side by side with reporters and producers, finding the visuals that best illustrate the facts, the emotions, and the impact on our community.

While the photographers are out in the field, there’s another group back at WKYC working just as hard to bring those stories to life—the editors. They are the quiet artists of the newsroom, sitting in the soft glow of their monitors, headphones on, piecing together raw video into something powerful and polished. They work in the background, long after others have left, timing every shot, cleaning up every sound bite, and weaving words, images, and emotion into one cohesive story. When a photographer returns with hours of footage, it’s the editor’s job to find the magic inside it—the perfect shot, the sound of children laughing, the sigh of relief after tragedy avoided, the brief pause that tells you everything.

Photojournalist/Editor Bailey Lustic

Editors have an extraordinary sense of timing and rhythm. They know when to cut, when to linger, and when to let the natural sound breathe. A good editor can take a routine story and turn it into something unforgettable simply through pacing and tone. They can feel when a story should make you smile, when it should make you think, and when it should make you stop and just listen. They are part artist, part psychologist, and part engineer.

The pace they work under is intense. The 6 p.m. show doesn’t wait for anyone, and a story that breaks at 5:15 might be on-air by 5:45—polished, captioned, and clean. That’s possible because the editors thrive under pressure. They think fast, move fast, and execute flawlessly. And even after the newscast ends, many stay behind to re-edit pieces for the web, digital streaming, or social media—because storytelling doesn’t stop when the lights go down on the set.

What ties both the photographers and editors together is their shared dedication to the craft. Neither expects applause. Their work isn’t about recognition—it’s about doing the job right. They find fulfillment in the moment a story airs, knowing they helped shape it. They’re the ones who take pride in the shot that made someone feel something, or the sequence that perfectly captured the heart of a moment.

At WKYC, collaboration is everything. The photographers and editors are in constant sync with producers, reporters, and engineers, forming a team that functions like a finely tuned machine. Communication, trust, and respect drive every decision, from how a shot is captured to how a story is cut. When the newsroom is buzzing before deadline, and tension fills the air, it’s the calm focus of these behind-the-scenes professionals that keeps everything on track. They are the glue that holds the storytelling process together.

And make no mistake—what they do comes at a personal cost. The long hours, unpredictable shifts, and missed family moments are part of the deal. News doesn’t take weekends off or wait for the weather to improve. Photographers head out in freezing rain on Christmas Eve. Editors stay late reworking a story because the facts changed at the last minute. They do it not because someone told them to, but because they care deeply about the integrity of the work. They know the people watching at home are counting on WKYC to get it right—and they take that responsibility seriously.

There’s something humbling about watching a photographer frame a perfect sunrise over downtown Cleveland or seeing an editor tighten the last seconds of a story before air. You can see the pride in their faces—the quiet kind of satisfaction that comes from knowing their work helps the community stay informed and connected. It’s not glamorous. It’s not easy. But it’s essential.

Every story you watch on Channel 3—every piece that moves you, teaches you, or inspires you—has their fingerprints all over it. They’re the ones who turn a jumble of video and audio into something that feels real and alive. They’re the reason WKYC continues to deliver powerful, visual journalism that reflects the heart and spirit of Northeast Ohio.

So, the next time you tune in and see a beautiful wide shot of snow falling over Public Square, or a tight close-up that captures the emotion of a family reunited, take a moment to think about the person behind that camera and the one sitting in the edit bay, bringing it all together. They are storytellers in the truest sense of the word. They are artists who translate reality into understanding. And they are a vital part of what makes WKYC the station it is today.

In this business, the spotlight will always fall on the faces you see on screen—but it’s the people behind the lens and behind the keyboard who make television what it is. Their work is often invisible, but its impact is undeniable. Without them, there would be no story to tell.

At WKYC, we are lucky to have some of the very best photographers and editors in the industry—people who give their all every single day to ensure that every frame, every sound, and every story is done right. They might not get the credit they deserve, but their dedication is seen and felt in every broadcast we put on the air.

That’s why, for me, this “Frank’s Take” isn’t just about giving them credit—it’s about reminding everyone that great storytelling is a team effort. The faces you see on camera may represent WKYC, but the people behind them define it. They are the backbone of this newsroom, and without them, there is no show, no story, and no connection to the community we serve.

So here’s to the photographers who brave the snow and rain to bring us the truth, and to the editors who shape that truth into something powerful. They may work in the shadows, but their work shines every single day.

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**EDITOR NOTE: "Frank's Take" articles are the expressed written opinions of the blogger and not necessarily those of WKYC-TV or TEGNA Media.