Producer's Line: 8/27/08

The "Producer's Line" is a feature that lets our evening newscast producers, reporters and anchors give you a look at some of the big stories we are working on for the newscast each night.

Producer Dan has this evening's preview of Channel 3 News at 11 PM:

News: Olympics a BIG hit on WKYC and NBC

Just as Tiger Woods is good for golf ratings, Michael Phelps is great for Olympic ratings. Saturday night, as Phelps went for his historical 8th Gold Medal at the Beijing Olympics and his 14th Gold in his swimming career, NBC enjoyed its most viewed Saturday night in 18 years with 31.1 million tuning in, and jumping to 40 million during the half hour Phelps swam.

NBC has averaged 30 million viewers each night since the Olympics kicked off on August 8th, thanks in large part to Phelps and the gymnastics teams. NBC certainly is looking for its Week #2 darling as the Olympics heads into its second week.

What did NBC air 18 years ago that drew that kind of audience? It was an episode of "Empty Nest."

Gannett cutting 1,000 newspaper jobs

The nation's largest newspaper publisher, and owner of WKYC-TV, is eliminating 1,000 jobs.

The latest cost-cutting move at Gannett includes 600 layoffs. The newspaper industry is trying to cope with declining revenues due to an economic slump and a continuing migration of advertising dollars online.

USA Today, the largest-circulation newspaper in the country, isn't affected by the latest round of cutbacks, but had 45 job cuts of its own last November.

The latest cuts will affect Gannett's other newspapers, which include 84 dailies such as The Arizona Republic and the Detroit Free Press as well as nearly 900 non-daily publications. Other major newspaper publishers have also been slashing jobs.

Courtesy: The Associated Press

News: Browns vs. Jets on WKYC Tonight

CLEVELAND -- The preseason opening game is here and you can catch all the excitement on Channel 3 starting at 7 p.m.

The Jets have a new quarterback, Brett Favre -- and have scheduled a news conference at Browns Stadium to introduce him later Thursday.

Here's the line up for tonight:

7 p.m.: Browns Pre Game (HD)

7:30 p.m.: Cleveland Browns Preseason Football Cleveland Browns vs New York Jets (HD)

RELATED LINKS:
To view more stories about the Browns & Brett Favre, visit WKYC.com: CLICK HERE

News: The Olympics on WKYC and NBC

WKYC is proud to offer our viewers unparalleled coverage of the 2008 Summer Olympics from Beijing, China. And for the first time ever, the games are being completely presented in high definition from start to finish.

NBC Universal, broadcasting its record 11th Olympics and surpassing ABC for the most Olympics broadcast by any network, will present an unprecedented 3,600 hours of Beijing Olympic Games coverage across its various networks, the most ambitious single media project in history.

NBC's coverage features the most live coverage in the United States (75 percent in all), across the most platforms, of any Summer Olympics in history when the Games of the XXIX Olympiad.

WKYC will air the the NBC network schedule which is divided into three dayparts: afternoon, primetime and late night - for a total of 225 hours of coverage over 17 days beginning with the Opening Ceremony on Friday, Aug. 8, at 8 p.m. ET.

Primetime on NBC will feature live coverage of all 32 swimming gold medal finals; four key nights of men's and women's gymnastics led by the women's and men's team gold medal finals, as well as the women's and men's individual gold medal finals; beach volleyball; and, for the first time ever, both men's and women's marathons. The first week of the Olympics features gymnastics and swimming, two sports in which the USA is especially strong this year.

The USA's women's gymnastics team, led by 2007 world all-around champion Shawn Johnson and nine-time world medalist Nastia Liukin, and the USA men's gymnastics team should be strong competitors for Olympic gold. In swimming, the USA is as solid as ever. Michael Phelps, the 23-year-old phenom, looks to make Olympic history and, by the end of the first week, could break the records for most career gold medals by any Olympian (nine) and most golds in one Games (seven), famously held by Mark Spitz. Five-time Olympic medalist Natalie Coughlin leads the women and continues to be the 100m gold medal favorite.

In 2004, the Athens Olympic Games on NBC earned ratings gold. NBC's unprecedented 1,210 hours of coverage from Athens (Aug. 13-29) were watched by 203 million total viewers and earned the distinction of the most watched non-U.S. Olympics in history.

In addition, WKYC will once again present local coverage called "The Olympic Zone" nightly from 7:30 until 8 pm leading into primetime coverage of the game hosted by WKYC Sports Anchors Jim Donovan and Dave Chudowsky.

We'll get you ready for that night's live coverage, profile local athletes and give you a unique perspective of the Olympics Games from Cleveland's own olympic athlete Diana Munz.

WKYC also is providing reports from our embedded blogger, Clevelander Adam Miller, who is reporting for the Today Show. You can find his exclusive blog reports on WKYC.COM: CLICK HERE

You don't forget you can keep up to date with the latest news coming from the games and daily schedule of events with WKYC's Olympic page. It's all the information you need in one place: CLICK HERE

So, just us for the Olympic Games beginning this Friday, August 8th ONLY on WKYC-TV and NBC.

News: WKYC retains first place at 11 PM

The July sweeps ratings period has come to a conclusion and WKYC comes out a winner again with its first place rating for Channel 3 News at 11 PM in the 12+ Nielsen numbers.

WKYC was nearly a full point ahead of our nearest competitor at 11 pm with a 7.01/12.3 share.

At 6 PM, WKYC was 3rd in the time slot behind WJW and WEWS.

At 7 PM, WKYC was 1st in news, 2nd in the time period.

At 5 & 6 AM, WKYC rated 2nd just behind WJW.

Although July is a strange month for ratings with summer re-runs, nice outdoor weather and Indians baseball as competition, the month is still important as it shows a steady trend toward people making WKYC one of their main choices for news in the evening and early morning hours - two of the most important dayparts.

In addition, WKYC is the area's main choice for breaking political news, as Channel 3 News ranked 1st and 6, 7 & 11 PM for the two days surrounding the Cuyahoga County probe by the FBI and IRS on the County Administration Building earlier this week.

Director's Alert: Monica Robins named Midday News Anchor

On the heels of yesterday's announcement that WKYC's Barbara Gauthier is leaving WKYC, Monica Robins has been promoted to noon news anchor.

Beginning Monday, August 4th, Senior Health Correspondent Monica Robins will take on the additional duties of Noon anchor. "Monica's depth of experience and commitment to the station and the news product will help us explore new directions with the newscast," said WKYC News Director Rita Andolsen.

Congratulations to Monica on her new duties.

Director's Alert: Barbara Gauthier leaving Channel 3

EXCLUSIVE -- WKYC News Director Rita Andolsen has announced that Barbara Gauthier is leaving WKYC to take a main anchor position in her hometown of Columbus, Georgia at WTVM, the ABC affiliate.

Rita says "It's the station Barbara grew up watching and the first place she went looking for a job when she graduated from college."

It's a wonderful homecoming for Barbara who will now get to spend time with her mother, sisters and the rest of her extended family.

"We will miss Barbara's habit of breaking into song at a moment's notice, her wonderful smile and spirit and her dedication and commitment to WKYC," Rita added.

Barbara is currently a morning co-anchor of Channel 3 News Today with Mark Nolan, Abby Ham and Hollie Strano. Plus, she is the anchor of Channel 3 News Midday at Noon.

Congratulation to Barbara!

News: WKYC engineer passes away

This is certainly one of those stories that is very difficult to report this afternoon on our blog.

WKYC has lost one of our long-time and few female engineers, Anjanelle Carter, who passed away peacefully at home on Friday, July 25th.

Anjanelle had been battling cancer for the past several years and will be missed by everyone at WKYC. Although she recently worked the overnight and early morning shift, she had a great impact on the lives of anyone who worked with her. She was always a very happy person who was a Director's delight to work with.

Our heartfelt sympathies to her family, friends and colleagues.

Services for Anjanelle will be held:

Thursday, July 31st, at 6 PM
at St. Aloysius Church
10932 St. Clair Avenue
(corner of Lakeview & St. Clair)

Spotlight Feature: The FCC Rules & The Public File

By Frank Macek

Ever wonder what rules that WKYC and other television stations must follow in order to keep their broadcast licenses?

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) often updates its rules and issues them to stations as a guideline to serving in the public interest. These rules cover such topics as obscene programming, indecent material, children's television programming, lotteries and contests, closed captioning and a myriad of other areas.

Each station must maintain a "public file" which is available to members of the public at any time during regular business hours. This file must contain documents relevant to the station's operation and dealings with the community and the FCC and must be maintained at the station's main studio, which for WKYC is at 1333 Lakeside Avenue in Cleveland. Although you do not need to make an appointment to view the file, making one may be helpful both to the station and to you.

Contents of the public file include the station's license, applications and related materials, citizen agreements, contour broadcasting maps, material relating to an FCC investigation or complaint, ownership reports and related materials, list of contracts required to be filed with the FCC, political file, EEO materials, and letters and emails from the public. Additionally, stations are required to keep quarterly programming reports, children's television programming reports, records regarding children's programming commercial limits, time brokerage agreements, lists of donors, local public notice announcements, must carry or retransmission consent election and the DTV transition consumer education education activity reports.

As you can clearly see, it can be a full time job keeping all these reports. However, it's a requirement for all broadcast stations.

If you would like to read a copy of "The Public and Broadcasting: How to Get the Most Service From Your Local Station," you can download it from us: CLICK HERE

Video Feature: "Lake Erie: Beyond the Surface", Part 4

As the high definition leader in locally produced programming in Northeast Ohio, WKYC is proud to showcase our region's most important natural resource in a year- long effort. Lake Erie: Beyond The Surface is a thirty-minute HD special.

It is the last of four programs dealing with the fate and future of our great lake.

Under the cold murky water of Lake Erie lie thousands of shipwrecks, evidence of our rich maritime heritage.

For centuries, these waters have provided vital shipping lanes, abundant food, and the power to drive industry. But while the water's generosity seemed limitless, the lake itself was not. It's taken decades to reclaim this greatest of resources. We stand by the shores of a cleaner lake, but also at the crossroads of some key decisions.

What does the future hold for this lake? Our region?

Channel 3 explores the growth of international shipping, lakefront development, how Lake Erie will be managed to ensure its future, the newest environmental threat and the lake's role as a renewable energy resource.

VIDEO FEATURE:

To watch the show, click on the picture below:

Director's Alert: WKYC Nominated for Numerous Emmy Awards

The NATAS Regional Emmy Nominations were announced tonight, with WKYC receiving the following:

Outstanding Newscast

• Channel 3 News at 7 pm - Tim White, Romona Robinson, Amanda Subler (producer)
• Channel 3 News at 7 pm - Dave Grendzynski (producer)

Outstanding Weekend Newscast

• Missing Pregnant Mom Found - Lydia Esparra, Scott Newell, Carrie Young (producer), Julie Ocepek (assignment editor)

Investigative Reporting

• Prison Problem - Bill Safos
• Euclid Creek - Bill Safos

Breaking News

• SuccessTech Academy Shooting - Kim Wheeler, Danielle Fink (assignment editor), Tim White, Monica Robinsn, David Grendzynski (producer), Lisa Lowry (assignment manager), Allen Wohl (director), Romona Robinson, Dave Summers, Brandi Paulson (editor), Amanda Subler (producer), Maureen Kyle, Michael O'Mara, Rita Andolsen (news director)

News Report within 24 hours

• Elliot Ness: Not Untouchable - Paul Thomas, George Payamgis (photog), Chris Mizell (editor)

General Assignment within 24 hours

• Ice Rescue - Dave Summers

Continuing Coverage

• The Search for Jessie Davis - Danielle Fink (assignment editor), Paul Thomas, Eric Mansfield, David Grendzynski (producer), Lisa Lowry (assignment manager), Romona Robinson, Maureen Kyle, Michael O'Mara

Arts/Entertainment Special

• Broadway Series Sneak Peak - Andrea Vecchio (host), Mac Mahafee (producer/editor), Steve Pullen (photog), Steve Citerin (associated producer)

Health/Science - Single Story

• Growing Fingers - Monica Robins

Health/Science - News Story

• Unsanitary Conditons - Carl Monday

Public/Current/Community Affairs

• Lake Erie: Beyond the Surface - Micki Byrnes (executive producer), Steve Pullen (directory of photography), Vagn Steen (editor, post production producer), Jeff Reidel (photographic/researcher), Mac Mahaffee (editor)

Promotion - Campaign

• Report Respect Image Campaign - Monique Jackson (senior promotion producer)

Promotion - Station Image

• Back with the Faces - Monique Jackson (senior promotion producer)

Crafts: Graphics/Animations - News

• 2007 Channel 3 News Redesign - Greg Goyla (animator/designer), Joseph Van Eck (animator/designer), Ian Zeigler (animator/designer), Joe Wood (animator/designer)

Crafts: On Camera Talent - Reporter

• So Long Target 3 - Dave Summers

NOTE: Sportstime Ohio also received a number of nominations. The cable channel is a 10 year partnership between the Cleveland Indians and WKYC-TV.

For a complete list of nominations: CLICK HERE

News: May Demographic Ratings Strong for WKYC

As you have heard me mention many times before, ratings periods are all about the demographics - or the individual age groups - that advertisers target when making their television advertising buys.

In the case of WKYC, the overall audience ratings closely matched the demographic ratings for May 2008.

Here are some of the demographic highlights for WKYC:

5AM News
*WKYC ranked #2 in the key demos.

6AM News
*WKYC ranked #2 in the key demos.
*KWYC grew from February in Adults 25-54, Women 25-54 and Men 25-54

6PM News
*WKYC ranked #2 in the key demos.

7PM News
*WKYC ranked #1 in men 25-54
*WKYC ranked #2 in other key demos.

11PM News
*WKYC ranked #1 in key demos
*WKYC's share size was up 8% from February
*WKYC increased NBC's Adults 25-54 lead in by 9%.

Weekend Morning News
*WKYC grew 30% from February and 27% from May of 2007.

Director's Alert: WKYC launches new website called Metromix

WKYC has launched a brand new website this afternoon.

Metromix.com is your complete, comprehensive guide to all things entertainment going down in C-Town, from concerts and clubs to music, movies and more.

It's an all-access pass you can access from home, from the office, from your phone, from just about anywhere ... and in an instant, you are linked to everywhere you were, everywhere you are and everywhere you need and want to be!



The following is a news release from Metromix:

Metromix.com Comes to Cleveland

WKYC-TV Launches New Local Entertainment Website

CLEVELAND, OH (June 5, 2008) -- WKYC-TV announced today the launch of Metromix.com (http://cleveland.metromix.com/), a hip, new website for socially active taste-makers and young professionals looking to be one-step ahead of Cleveland's latest trends and hotspots.

Within a complete, comprehensive database of venues throughout Greater Cleveland and the surrounding areas, site users can search thousands of bars, clubs and restaurants by neighborhood, type of food, music or specific date. Metromix.com also gives users the power to become an insider by finding fresh, new and unexpected ideas for going out, as well as critiques and exclusive information regarding TV, movies, style and more.

"Metromix is where you go before you go out," said Fredric Coffey, Metromix Cleveland's Managing Producer. "We go everywhere, we eat and drink everything, all so our users know what's hot in Cleveland. Never, and I mean never, should the question be belted once everyone is in the car: 'So what do you want to do?'"

All advertising and editorial features for Metromix.com cater to the 21 to 34-year-old demographic. Metromix.com provides a unique experience for advertisers as they can present their brand and offering at the time when this discerning audience is trying to figure out what to do, where to go. Advertisers will also have the opportunity to utilize the Metromix street team -- the site's local events team -- who will have a presence at various events throughout the city, as well as make appearances at events created and hosted by Metromix.com. Target ad categories include liquor, restaurants, nightlife, auto, music, movies, fashion and more.

Metromix Cleveland is the 14^th Metromix site to have launched across the nation. Originating in Chicago over 11 years ago, under the development of the Chicago Tribune, Metromix.com has become the No. 1 "go to" source for local entertainment information in the city. As announced last year, Tribune Interactive and Gannett Co. formed a joint venture to expand Metromix into over 40 markets, including 25 of the top 30 markets. Metromix has earned numerous awards including the EPpy Award for Best Entertainment Site and the Digital Edge Award for Best Advertising Program.

"We're looking forward to this new venture, and reaching out to a new young audience," stated Brooke Spectorsky, President and General Manager of WKYC. "Metromix has a great track record in Chicago and other markets and we believe it will successfully promote the vibrant night life and entertainment options here in Northeast Ohio."

###

ABOUT METROMIX:Metromix is a national network of local entertainment websites that target 21 to 34 year-olds and provides information on where to go and what to do. Formed through a joint venture between Tribune Interactive and Gannett Co., Inc. (NYSE: GCI), two of the country's largest media companies with newspapers, TV stations and websites in the nation's top markets, Metromix is currently operating in 14 markets and is planning rapid expansion into 25 of the top 30 markets. Metromix has received a number of awards, including an EPpy Award for Best Entertainment Site and the Digital Edge Award for Best Advertising Program. The network currently attracts over 2.0 million monthly unique visitors and generates over 20 million monthly pageviews.

News: Murrow Award Presented to WKYC

Today was a big day at WKYC as the station was presented the regional Edward R. Murrow award for "Overall Excellence" - the 2nd year in a row the station has won this coveted honor.

The "Overall Excellence" category encompasses all aspects of the news operation including spot news, special projects, community involvement, sports, and weather. WKYC is part of Region 7, an area that covers all of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Michigan - including such major market cities as Chicago and Detroit.

This year's winning entry was from a compilation of big news stories of 2007 including the tragic SuccessTech Academy shooting, Jessie Davis murder coverage and "Race for the Cure" coverage.

Edward R. Murrow's pursuit of excellence in journalism embodies the spirit of the awards that carry his name. The Radio-Television News Directors Association has been honoring outstanding achievements in electronic journalism with the Edward R. Murrow Awards since 1971. Murrow Award recipients demonstrate the spirit of excellence that Edward R. Murrow made a standard for the broadcast news profession.

RTNDA chairman Ed Esposito, who is also the Vice President of Information Media for the locally owned Rubber City Radio Group in Akron, presented the award to WKYC-TV Vice President/General Manager Brooke Spectorsky and WKYC-TV News Director Rita Andolsen Wednesday.

The station will now be competing for a national award from the other regional areas.

Congratulations to the entire staff of WKYC for their commitment to excellence.

News: Indians Programming Change on WKYC

The Cleveland Indians and WKYC have announced a slight programming change for two games in July.

The July 5th game against Minnesota will not air on WKYC.

Instead, the July 12th game against Tampa Bay will air on WKYC in Prime Time...with a 7:10 PM start.

Director's Alert: WVIZ & WKYC to build & share new transmission tower

We couldn't divulge this secret until it was official, but since Ohio Media Watch and FCC datbase are both reporting it, we'll making a quick mention of it.

WVIZ is indeed going to making a move of their broadcast location from the WNCX tower in North Royalton to the WKYC facility in Parma later this year.

After a long running dispute between WVIZ and CBS Radio, their current tower owner, the station has come to terms with WKYC owner Gannett about working with WKYC to build a brand new tower that will support both station's digital broadcasting antennas. WKYC's old tower will be razed after the February 17, 2009 transition date according to WKYC Director of Engineering, Mike Szabo.

This will finally give viewers of WVIZ-DT a much clearer signal since the station has been broadcasting from a mini tower on the old studios on Brookpark Road.

As we have told you in the past, WKYC will be busy this year building out another new digital transmission facility that will move WKYC-DT from digital channel 2 to digital channel 17 by February 17, 2009.

This will eliminate many of the problems over the air viewers are currently having with reception of WKYC-DT 2. However, we will not be able to make the channel switch until a station in the Canton area moves to their new digital home in early 2009.

More on this as construction begins for both stations.

Additional Information:
To read more about WVIZ's plan to the FCC: CLICK HERE
To read the application permit to the FCC: CLICK HERE

Director's Alert: WKYC Wins Edward R. Murrow Award

WKYC has been named as a winner of a regional Edward R. Murrow Award for "Overall Excellence" it was announced today, April 11, 2008.

Our winning entry included WKYC's 2007 coverage including the Success Tech Academy Shootings, Painesville Train Derailment, the Jessie Davis story, CSU Death, Mirage, TSA Theft, Boulevard of Broken Dreams, the Home Made series, Race for the Cure Special, Officer West's Funeral and the 7pm newscast the day after Virginia Tech.

The RTNDA (Radio & Television News Directors Association) has been honoring outstanding achievement in electronic journalism with the Murrow Awards since 1971. Radio and television news managers from markets across the country judged the entries in March.

Regional winners automatically become eligible for the national awards competition, which will be judged in early June. The national Edward R. Murrow Awards will be presented in October at the RTNDA Awards Dinner in New York.

RTNDA is the world's largest professional organization devoted exclusively to electronic journalism. RTNDA represents local and network news professionals in broadcasting, cable and other electronic media in more than 30 countries.

For a complete list of winners: CLICK HERE

WKYC Wins National TV Award

WKYC-TV has won a national Humane Society Award for a series of reports by WKYC reporter Bill Safos.

Bill accepted the award at a star-studded Hollywood event.

The Humane Society of the United States rolled out the red carpet at the 22nd annual Genesis Awards. CNN's Anderson Cooper, NBC's Hayden Panettiere and celebrity Chef Wolfgang Puck were among the eclectic honorees announced on Saturday, March 29th in Beverly Hills, California.

The Genesis Awards honor the news and entertainment media for showcasing animal protection issues, highlighting emerging concerns or bringing a fresh perspective to long-standing ones.

Hosted by Bill Maher, winners included 60 Minutes, a CNN documentary called "Planet in Peril", a episode of CSI "Lying Down with Dogs," a Paramount film titled "Year of the Dog", and local news features on Cleveland's WKYC, WAGA in Atlanta, and KHOU in Houston.

The WKYC news feature was a no-holds barred look at the appalling abuse inflicted upon pigs in a factory farm. The story launched an in-depth investigation by local and regional authorities.

"We have always believed that animal cruelty need not be exaggerated or embellished, rather it just needs exposure," says Wayne Pacelle, President and CEO of the Humane Society.

"As soon as we saw the video, we knew this was a story that had to be told," explained reporter Bill Safos. "We received more email and more phone calls about this series than anything the station has ever done."

PHOTOGALLERY:
*To view more pictures from the event: CLICK HERE

VIDEO FEATURES:
*To see Bill accepting his award at the ceremony: CLICK HERE
*To watch Bill's original report: CLICK HERE (Caution: Video is disturbing)

From the mailbag: Where's Scott Newell?

From: Chuck in Cleveland

Q: Did Scott Newell leave your station? Lydia said that Chris Tye is her new co-anchor on the weekend news...I loved Scott!

A: As we mentioned in an earlier posting (Chris Tye named weekend anchor), Chris Tye was recently named new weekend co-anchor replacing Scott.

Scott was offered a different position with WKYC, but decided his true love is freelancing and working for the networks as a producer which gives him the chance to travel. So, unfortunately, Scott's last day with us was last week. We'll all miss him greatly.

You can email your questions to me: fmacek@wkyc.com

Video: "Indians 2008: It's Our Time Now"

UPDATE: 3/31/08 - Video added of the special -- see below

The Indians Home Opener against the Chicago White Sox is this Monday, March 31st.

As the official broadcast home of the Cleveland Indians, WKYC Channel 3 will present special, live opening day coverage beginning at 1 pm called "Indians 2008: It's Our Time Now."

For those Tribe fans at the office, away from a TV set or just living outside our viewing area, WKYC.COM will provide a live stream of our special.

Plus - between 1 and 1:30 pm - we'll be giving away a pair of tickets to the sold out home opener. If you are winner, you can tell the boss you are leaving early and heading to the game.





VIDEO FEATURE:
To watch our special, click on the following segments:

• Segment #1
• Segment #2
• Segment #3
• Segment #4
• Segment #5
• Segment #6
• Segment #7
• Segment #8
• Segment #9

News: Happy Retirement Marlene!

A note to pass along from Danielle Fink in our new WKYC blog: Swing by and Spray

Marlene Olbrysh, longtime newsroom administrative assistant, is turning in her time sheet for the very last time on Thursday.

Marlene has touched everyone's life in one way or another in the newsroom, if not the whole building! Her infectious laugh, quick wit, and "motherly love" for her staffers will be greatly missed!

One chapter may be ending for us, but an exciting adventure is just beginning for Marlene, her husband Nick, and their family!

Little does she know that we all programmed her number into our speed dials!

Good luck, we love you, visit often, and WHO WILL ORDER THE HO-HO CAKES?!?!??

Pictured are Marlene (l) and Diana Pollack(r) -- two women who keep Channel 3 News churning like a well-oiled machine.

Enjoy your free time now Marlene. We'll all miss you!

VIDEO FEATURE:
To watch video from Marlene's retirement from our 6 PM news 3/27/08: CLICK HERE

News: Former WKYC radio man Jack Armstrong passes away

Ohio Media Watch is reporting this afternoon that former WKYC radio man Jack Armstrong has died in North Carolina.

Big Jack Armstrong (born John Charles Larsh 1945 to 3-22-2008)... aka Jack Armstrong, Jackson W. Armstrong, Big Jack Your Leader... was a Top 40 disc jockey of the 1960s and 1970s.

First surfacing at WCHL in Chapel Hill, NC in 1960, the 14 year old DJ began his radio career. Personable, friendly, young, and with the ability to talk at speeds beyond that of most humans, Larsh was well liked and well received by audiences. He developed 2 imaginary sidekicks - the Gorilla, who speaks in a raspy bass, and likes women, banana juice, and whiskey, in that order - and the Old Timer, who wheezes, tells lame jokes, and was always getting shot after one of them.

Larsh worked at several stations in the Deep South in the early 1960s, including WCOG in Greensboro, NC, and WAYS in Charlotte, North Carolina. His first big break came in 1966, when he landed a job at WIXY/1260 in Cleveland, OH. The evening disc jockey at this station was always called 'Jack Armstrong,' after the 1930s radio serial Jack Armstrong the All American Boy. With his fast talking, young, friendly approach, Larsh became a huge hit in Cleveland - so huge that floundering WKYC/1100 asked him to break his WIXY contract, and come to work for the 50,000 watt blowtorch in January of 1967.

'Jack Armstrong' was a copyrighted moniker in the market, so Larsh adopted the alias 'Big Jack Your Leader,' and went to work for WKYC. He also occasionally taunted WIXY by calling himself Jackson W. Armstrong.

With WKYC being heard all over the Eastern half of the US, Larsh finally went national. He attracted fans all over the region, and became a huge hit. WKYC was listed as the #3 record buying influence in Miami, FL in that era, no doubt due to 'Big Jack' and the 50,000 watt night time signal that was so strong over the East Coast of the US.

Larsh moved on, working at other 50,000 watt stations like WMEX/1510-Boston, MA; CHUM/1050-Toronto, Ontario, Canada; KFI/640-Los Angeles, KTNQ/1020- Los Angeles and WKBW/1520-Buffalo, NY. It was at the latter that he developed his 'Motormouth' character, and was listed in the Guinness Book of World Records in 1971 as the world's fastest talking human. Larsh was one of the original disc jockeys hired for the all new 13-Q in Pittsburgh, PA in the early 1970s.

Larsh was working for WWKB/1520-Buffalo, N.Y. when the sudden format change in 2006 to liberal talk put him in the unemployed ranks. He passed away on March 22, 2008 at his home in North Carolina.

VIDEO FEATURES:

• Video of Jack Armstrong at WIXY-1260 reunion in 1988 on WMJI-FM
• Video of Jack Armstrong at KKHR in Los Angeles in 1985
• Video of Jack's famous sign-off line

Read more about Jack on his MySpace page: CLICK HERE

Information courtesy: Wikipedia, Photo Courtesy of Jack Armstrong website

News: New WKYC Blogs

As part of the WKYC Information Center, several of our staff members are taking a cue from the popularity of the Director's Cut Blog to do a little bloggin' of their own.

Here are a couple of new blogs to check out when you get a little web surfing time.

• Swing By and Spray - a blog from our evening Assignment Editor Danielle Fink about what goes on while at the desk when talking to viewers and listening to the scanners in the WKYC newsroom.


• WKYC Fantasy Sports - WKYC Producer Chris Hyser and Overnight Assignment Editor Russ Simeone talk fantasy baseball as the season gets underway.

For more blogs from the WKYC Digital Broadcast Center: CLICK HERE

Many of our staff members also have profiles on Facebook. You can sign up for a free account and then join our groups and interact with many of us online about the station and the news stories we cover. Just search "WKYC". To join Facebook: CLICK HERE

Director's Alert: WKYC announces Opening Day coverage

It's getting to be that time of the year again - Indians fever is striking at the very heart of all us winter weary Clevelanders.

But, we've got the cure.

Coming up March 31st, it's the 2008 Season Home Opener as the Cleveland Indians take on the Chicago White Sox live on Channel 3 in High Definition.

Once again, WKYC Channel 3 is your official Cleveland Indians station. Plus, this year we'll be bringing the action to you from the newly renamed Progressive Field (formerly Jacobs Field).

Here's WKYC's Game Day lineup:

• Special pre-game coverage will begin at 1:05 pm
• Indians on Deck at 2:30 pm
• First pitch at 3:05 pm

VIDEO FEATURE:
If you can't see our Indians promo below: CLICK HERE

News: Working with the Bloggers on Election Night

As I mentioned earlier this week, WKYC presented our viewers with expanded coverage of the March 4th Primary on Tuesday including our partnership once again with "Meet the Bloggers" - a group of some of the most influential political bloggers in town.

One of the ways we are moving WKYC's Information Center forward is to embed bloggers with our reporters and technical crews in the field.

Take a look one of our first endeavours that shows some of the behind the scenes at the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections on Tuesday Night.

You'll also find more video on their website: www.meetthebloggers.net

VIDEO FEATURE:
If you can't view the video below: CLICK HERE

News: WKYC.COM launches new daily CommuterCast

Join WKYC every weekday at 4:30 for the brand new "WKYC CommuterCast."

It's a five minute look at the very latest traffic and weather conditions around Northeast Ohio before you leave the office.

Plus, you can chat live with us about the current conditions or with others getting ready to travel.

WKYC Weather Plus Meteorologists AJ Colby and Bruce Kalinowski will help you smooth out your ride home with the WKYC CommuterCast.

It begins at weekdays at 4:30 PM exclusively on WKYC.COM.

Click here to watch or chat live

Spotlight Feature: Jonathan Murray

Channel 3 alumnist, Jonathan Murray, is taking Hollywood by storm and is credited with beginning this whole modern reality television craze that has taken over our television screens in recent years.

Murray was one of the creative geniuses here at WKYC-TV who worked as a producer in the news department and was instrumental in developing the successful "Cleveland Challenge" series where Cleveland was compared to other cities.

His work was always excellent according to those who worked with him, including WKYC's Scott Newell, who remembers him well. Scott says it was fairly easy to see he was going to be a production star just by watching his work here at WKYC.

Scott recalls Murray was impressed by the PBS Series, "An American Family," first broadcast by PBS in 1973. In that series, the Loud family allowed cameras to document their everyday life for seven months, becoming perhaps the first "reality show" ever. From there, Murray would go on to co-create "The Real World" as a real-life soap opera...and the rest, as they say, is history. Today, he is Chairman and President of Bunim-Murray Productions.

According to his biography, Murray, has created and executive produced more than 50 seasons and close to 2000 hours of the industry's most innovative, unscripted entertainment television, as well as its first unscripted feature film. His local tv stints include spending six years at WLUK-TV, WXIA-TV and WKYC-TV in news, station management and programming at WOKR-TV.

He then worked with the television rep firm HRP, Inc. where he helped local stations buy and schedule their syndicated programming. In 1991, Murray and Mary Ellis Bunim pitched their idea for an unscripted drama series to MTV executives over breakfast. MTV bought the show before lunch time, and the landmark success of Bunim-Murray Productions was underway. The innovative series merged Bunim's experience in scripted dramas with Murray's documentary and news expertise and it broke all the rules of television production. The Real World quickly became part of the cultural DNA of young people the world over and continues to thrive.

Throughout the 1990's Murray and Bunim grew their production operation from a two person shop into an industry powerhouse. Over the years, the partners created and executive produced an incredible array of entertainment including The Real World, Road Rules, Real World/Road Rules Challenge, The Simple Life, The Real Cancun, Starting Over, Making the Band, and Love Cruise.

Even after the pasing of Mary-Ellis Bunim to cancer in 2004, Murray continues to lead the company they founded together to new heights. Today as Chairman and President of Bunim-Murray Productions, Murray guides the creative process that has distinguished the company's shows since the early 1990s.

In 2004, the company produced projects for cable, syndication and primetime including the 15th season of The Real World (MTV), the premiere season of The Rebel Billionaire: Branson's Quest For the Best (FOX), the second season of Starting Over (syndicated by NBC Universal), and the second and third installments of The Simple Life (FOX). The company also began production on The Scholar (ABC) and announced a partnership with Baywatch co-creator Gregory Bonann to produce Point Dume, a scripted drama series set in the Southern California beach community of the same name.

Murray graduated from the University of Missouri School of Journalism. He currently lives in Los Angeles.

For more information on Jonathan and his company and the shows he has created, you can visit Bunim/Murray Productions and their website: CLICK HERE

Video Feature: "Lake Erie: Beyond The Surface" - An HD Special

In case you missed the show on Saturday, you can watch it online right now, or a historic KYW Special Report on the state of Lake Erie from 1964. Just follow the links provided below.

As the high definition leader in locally produced programming in Northeast Ohio, WKYC is proud to showcase our region's most important natural resource in a year-long effort.

Lake Erie: Beyond The Surface is a thirty-minute HD special that aired on Saturday, February 2nd, at 7pm, and was hosted by AM news anchor Mark Nolan. It is the third of four programs dealing with the fate and future of our great lake.

Two hundred years ago, 9 American ships fought off a foreign invader on the waters of Lake Erie. Today, there's a new invasion, this one below the surface. Though the lake is significantly cleaner than in the late 1960's, there are serious concerns that we're sliding back into trouble. The dead zone is growing yearly, every eight months a new invasive species drops anchor, and water-hungry states vie for our resources. With water levels dropping, and Lake Erie most vulnerable to changes in the eco-system, we are at a very pivotal point.

VIDEO FEATURE #1: The Show
*To watch "Lake Erie: Beyond the Surface: Part III" - CLICK HERE

VIDEO FEATURE #2: KYW Special Report - 1964
*Double click "play" to watch a segment from the WKYC archives featuring a 1964 package from KYW regarding the state of the lake. If you can't see the video on this page: CLICK HERE

News: WKYC's Terry Moir New Morning Co-Host at WDOK

Terry Moir, WKYC's Director of Local Programming, has been named co-host of the WDOK Morning show with Trapper Jack. (Terry is pictured with Fred Griffith)

She will be heard weekdays mornings with Trapper and newsman Jim McIntyre starting at 5:30 AM it was announced Friday by the CBS Radio station. Her first regular day on the air will be Monday, January 28th. She had been filling in on the morning show recently and was quickly seen as a natural fit with Trapper and Jim according to station officials.

Terry will continue her programming duties at WKYC while getting up early to awaken morning listeners on the radio with her witty humor and contagious energy level.

You have been hearing Terry's voice for years on many Channel 3 commericals. She has also starred in a number of "Terry Godmother" programming commercials explaining to viewers changes in our on-air lineup. Plus, she was the driving force behind launching a local morning talk show on WKYC called "Good Company Today" - which airs weekday mornings from 10 - 11 AM.

Prior to joining WKYC, Terry was the Executive Producer of the "Morning Exchange" on WEWS-TV here in Cleveland.

Where Are They Now? - Joe Mosbrook

This month, the "Director's Cut Blog" touched base with former WKYC reporter Joe Mosbrook. Although semi-retired, Joe continues to be one of our favorite, traditional journalists whose high integrity for the product and booming voice will forever have a place in the history of WKYC.

I can't help but remember Joe standing in the snowy Ashtabula field in 1981 after our chopper at the time "Newshawk 3" went down and flipped over in near blizzard conditions. There was a calm and collected reporter and his photographer, Dave Hollis, doing a matter of fact feature on themselves. Although Joe doesn't mention it below, it was certainly one of the memorable moments in local television most folks working here still remember about Joe's career. (Watch the video below)

We asked Joe to share, in his own words, a little about his past, present and future.

THE PAST:

I joined WKYC TV & Radio in March of 1967 and formally retired in April of 1998, although I continued for three or four additional years on a part time basis, doing some "Look Back" features and serving as Channel 3's voice-over announcer. I was mainly a reporter (usually politics and government), although in almost 35 years I did almost every job in the shop at one time or another. When I retired, someone said I had probably covered more news stories than anyone in Cleveland TV history. In the late 1960s and early '70s, I was the radio news supervisor and produced and anchored a number of NBC Radio Network newscasts from both Cleveland and New York City. Probably the biggest story was the assassination of Robert Kennedy. I was anchoring the radio network from Los Angeles when he died. Other big stories included the elections and administrations of Cleveland Mayors Carl Stokes, Ralph Perk, Dennis Kucinich and George Voinovich. and such continuing court cases as the Cleveland schools desegregation case, the Sam Shepherd murder case, the Kirtland cult killings, and the Kent State shootings. A report I did on WKYC led to the overturning of the Kent State civil verdict.

THE PRESENT:

I'm still on the air (55 years since I first started in radio), doing the weekly Cleveland Jazz History series on Monday nights on WCPN. That radio series, now in its 20th year, led to a book that was published in 2003. Last year I was inducted into the Radio/ Television Broadcasters of Ohio Hall of Fame and have gotten several other awards including a Silver Circle Award from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. I also serve as president of the Cleveland local of AFTRA (the broadcasters' union) and have been on the boards of the Northeast Ohio Jazz Society, the Cleveland Jazz Orchestra, the Cleveland TOPs Swingband, and Fairmount Presbyterian Church in Cleveland Heights. At the moment, I'm finishing up another book, not on jazz, but on the history of a colorful little resort community in northern Pennsylvania, and working on a TV presentation for the TOPs Swingband.

THE FUTURE:

I just plan to continue what I've been doing, broadcasting and writing, spending time with our four grown children and two granddaughters, and not worrying about doing 6 a.m. live remotes during snowstorms or asking grieving mothers how they feel about seeing their children killed. But I still get bad dreams at times about failing to have a TV report ready in time to get it on the air -- something that never happened when I was reporting every day.

You can reach Joe by email: joe.mosbrook@multiverse.com

VIDEO FEATURE:
The following is Joe discussing the 1981 "Newshawk 3" helicopter incident. If you can't see the video on this page, CLICK HERE

Comedian Frank Caliendo pays a visit to Channel 3

CLEVELAND -- Monday morning, Comedian Frank Caliendo and his many personalities stopped by "Channel 3 News Today" and provided some laughs.

Frank has been busy lately appearing on the new TBS series "Frank TV." Whether he's lampooning the President or sending up the hottest celebs, you never know who Frank will show up as next. Frank's new show is shot in front of a live audience, but also includes segments filmed at a variety of locations. Everything from current events to icons of the past is fair game for this comic chameleon.

Among the impressions he performed for WKYC viewers this morning included John Madden, President Bush and Robin Williams.