Director's Cut Blog with Frank Macek

As the WKYC broadcast came to a close today, the final words carried extra weight — a heartfelt tribute to someone whose leadership has shaped the very soul of the station. “We sign off this broadcast with a congratulations to our General Manager Micki Byrnes, who’s retiring after 27 years with WKYC,”  said 3News at 6 anchors Russ Mitchell and Christi Paul. With those words, the newsroom acknowledged the legacy of a woman who has led with grace, innovation, and an unwavering commitment to local journalism. Retiring WKYC President/General Manager Micki Byrnes This afternoon, staff, friends, and community leaders gathered to celebrate Byrnes' remarkable career. The energy in the room reflected both joy and nostalgia — a deep appreciation for the impact she’s had not just on the station, but across Cleveland media. As a fitting tribute to her influence and dedication, Cleveland’s mayor arrived in person to present Byrnes with an official proclamation, honoring her years of service to ...

Special to the Director's Cut Blog By Dave "Dino" Denatle, wkyc.com Sales & Marketing Executives Cleveland (SME Cleveland) has bestowed its 2020 Business Executive of the Year award to our own Micki Byrnes, President and General Manager of WKYC Studios. The award acknowledges excellence in sales and marketing achievement and is based on the demonstration of the highest business, professional and ethical standards. It will be presented at the 59th annual Distinguished Marketing and Sales Awards gala banquet on Thursday evening at Executive Caterers at Landerhaven. WKYC Studios VP/General Manager Micki Byrnes “I’m truly honored,” Micki says “I came up on the marketing side of the business so to receive this particular honor from SME was truly special to me.” Micki joined 3News in 1997 as Director of Marketing and was named Vice President, Advertising and Promotion in 2000, and Station Manager in 2014. She has held broadcast management positions in Boston...

Special to the Director's Cut Blog From wkyc.com Each year TEGNA, WKYC's parent company, hosts an awards ceremony to recognize top employees, campaigns, and unsung heroes. Two of WKYC's own were honored at this year's ceremony in Virginia. We extend a big congratulations to our President and General Manager, Micki Byrnes, who was named Manager of the Year. A live shot from the team at @WKYC as @mickibyrnes was awarded with Manager of the Year! #TEGNAawards pic.twitter.com/Oaz3XqTjEz — TEGNA (@TEGNA) March 8, 2017 She beat out general managers from 46 other stations across the country. We think we're very lucky to have her, too! Congratulations are also in order for our Director of Advocacy and Community Initiatives, Margaret Bernstein, who was honored along with Micki Byrnes with the company's Diversity and Inclusion award. Congratulations to both @Margbern and @MickiByrnes of @WKYC for winning 2017 Individual Diversity Awards #TEGNAawards pic...

Our congratulations to WKYC Vice President and General Manager Micki Byrnes who was named "General Manager of the Year Markets 1-25" for 2016. The honor was announced recently by Broadcasting and Cable Magazine who will feature her and other honorees in the December 19th edition of the television trade magazine. Byrnes joined Gannett Broadcasting (now TEGNA Media) in October of 1997 as Director of Marketing and Promotion for WKYC. She was named Vice President, Advertising and Promotion in 2000, responsible for the branding, graphics, media creation and placement, community engagement and sales promotion efforts of Channel 3. In March of 2014, she was named VP and Station Manager, overseeing the daily operations of the station before becoming VP and General Manager in December 2014. Prior to joining the company, Byrnes worked as Corporate Marketing Director for First Media based in Orlando, FL and has had promotion management positions in San Francisco, Atlanta and ...

WKYC General Manager and President Micki Byrnes was honored on Monday at the YWCA Women of Achievement Awards Luncheon and Conference. Micki received the 2016 Women of Achievement Award, along with the following recipients: Lee Friedman, Chief Executive Officer, College Now Greater Cleveland Kathryn “Kit” Jensen, Chief Operating Officer, ideastream Kym Sellers, Founder, Kym Sellers Foundation; television and radio personality Robyn Minter Smyers, Partner-in-Charge, Thompson Hine LLP – Cleveland Office Maryrose Sylvester, President and Chief Executive Officer, Current Powered by GE Nancy Tinsley, President of Parma Medical Center, University Hospitals Sue Tyler, Executive Vice President and Chief Experience Officer, Medical Mutual of Ohio The 2016 Women of Achievement Awards Luncheon and Conference marks the 40th year of honoring the most distinguished and notable women in Northeast Ohio. Congratulations to Micki on this well deserved honor. --- Follow Frank Macek on...

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...

Micki Byrnes “I am pleased to announce that Micki Byrnes has been named President and General Manager of WKYC-Cleveland,” announced Dave Lougee, president of Broadcasting for Gannett Co. Inc. “Micki is the perfect leader for our Cleveland operation. She is a natural leader who knows all facets of our business, and she has a passion for everyone at the station, and for that matter, everyone in Northeast Ohio.” Brooke Spectorsky will continue in his role as a Senior Vice President for Gannett Broadcasting managing all syndicated programming efforts for the combined Gannett/Belo television group. Spectorsky also oversees three additional Gannett television station markets. Byrnes joined Gannett Broadcasting in October of 1997 as Director of Marketing and Promotion for WKYC, NBC in Cleveland, Ohio. She was named Vice President, Advertising and Promotion in 2000, responsible for the branding, graphics, media creation and placement, community engagement and sales promotion efforts of C...

WKYC Station Manager Micki Byrnes painting More than 1200 volunteers participated in 'Make A Difference Day' in Northeast Ohio on Saturday, October 25, 2014. This day of service began more than twenty years ago by WKYC's parent company, Gannett. Channel 3 News employees rolled up their sleeves to paint rooms at the Boys and Girls Clubs of Cleveland's Broadway and Heights Youth Club locations. "When you think about the kids that we work with 90 percent of our kids are at or near poverty, 74 percent come from single parent families they're probably not living in the best of locations," says Boys and Girls Clubs of Cleveland President, Ron Soeder. "We want to make sure they have a fresh place, a place that's vibrant and colorful and brings them to life so that when they come in they have a different experience than they may have day to day or it's added to the experience that they have." In Akron, nearly 150 people joined in the...

Micki Byrnes WKYC has announced that Micki Byrnes has been named VP/Station Manager for WKYC while Brooke Spectorsky will remain as President/GM and SVP Gannett Broadcasting. “I am pleased to announce the promotion of Micki Byrnes to VP/Station Manager for WKYC-Cleveland,” announced Dave Lougee, president of Broadcasting for Gannett Co. Inc. “She will be responsible for WKYC’s daily operation with all departments reporting to her.” Brooke Spectorsky will remain as WKYC’s President and General Manager, and continue in his role as a Senior Vice President for Gannett Broadcasting managing all syndicated programming efforts for the combined Gannett/Belo television group.  Spectorsky also oversees three additional Gannett television station markets. Byrnes joined Gannett Broadcasting in October of 1997 as Director of Marketing and Promotion for WKYC-TV3, NBC in Cleveland, Ohio.  She was named Vice President, Advertising and Promotion in 2000, responsible for the bra...

CLEVELAND – The Public Relations Society of America, Greater Cleveland Chapter, is awarding WKYC-TV’s Brooke Spectorsky and Micki Byrnes the 2011 John W. Hill Award for outstanding leadership for internal and external communications by chief executives. The honor will be presented on March 16 at PRSA’s Hill Lighthouse Young Awards ceremony. The award is the highest honor an organization’s leader can receive for communication practices. Spectorsky, Senior VP Gannett Broadcasting, and Byrnes, VP Advertising and Promotions, are the first couple to win the honor in the history of the Hill Award for Cleveland PRSA. Brooke and Micki will be recognized for exceptional strategic communications outreach initiatives including: WKYC’s leadership role in emerging content delivery platforms, including broadcast, web, social media and mobile. As a result of their work, WKYC, one of 22 Gannett-owned television stations, is considered a leader in emerging platforms for the corporation’s broadcast...