Director's Cut Blog with Frank Macek

By Frank Macek Danita Harris There are broadcasters, and then there are broadcasters who change the communities they serve. Danita Harris is very much the latter — and it's why she has been named this year's Distinguished Service Award honoree by the Cleveland Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists.  Harris joined us here at WKYC Channel 3 in April 2024 as co-anchor of our morning news broadcasts, bringing with her a résumé that most journalists could only dream about. Before landing in our studios, she spent 24 years at WEWS TV-5, building a reputation that one writer summed up perfectly: "one of Cleveland's most beloved anchors, as well as a prominent inspirational voice in Northeast Ohio." That kind of description isn't handed out lightly — and in Danita's case, it's backed up by a career full of hardware to prove it. Among her many honors are multiple Emmy Awards, an Edward R. Murrow Award, induction into the Ohio Broadcasters Hall o...

Tom Beres, WKYC Senior Political Correspondent Our congratulations to WKYC Senior Political Correspondent Tom Beres who was honored Tuesday by the Society of Professional Journalists. Tom was given the Distinguished Service Award, for his contributions to journalism, at a luncheon held at the City Club of Cleveland. Tom has been with WKYC for 34 years and is the longest-tenured reporter at a Cleveland station. The best news is Tom has just signed on for more with Channel 3 News, which means you will continue to see on the air for some time to come. Also honored Tuesday include WTAM-AM/1100's Tom Moore with the Distinguished Service Awared and Tom Hamzik of Padua who won the Philip Porter Scholarship.

The Award Winning News Team of Channel 3 News WKYC has once again been honored with a prestigious award for the station's coverage of the Chardon, Ohio, school shootings on February 28, 2012. The Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) recognized the staff of WKYC with a Sigma Delta Chi Award for "Breaking News Coverage (Large - Market Station: 1-50 market)" category. This was the second award received by Channel 3 News on the heels of a regional Edward R. Murrow Award under the leadership of former News Director Rita Andolsen.  Andolsen is currently the station's Director of Advocacy and Community Initiatives. This year, the Society of Professional Journalists judges selected 84 honorees from nearly 1,700 submissions. Entries included selections from television and radio broadcasts, newspapers, online news outlets and magazines. The Sigma Delta Chi Awards date back to 1932, when the Society honored six individuals for their contributions...