Betsy Kling has won Emmy awards as both Chief Meteorologist and Anchor here at WKYC.
Born and raised right here in Northeast Ohio, Betsy's hometown, Copley, is in Summit County just to the west of Akron. After graduating from Copley High School she went to Bowling Green State University where she earned her journalism degree and a minor in meteorology. She finished her remaining meteorology coursework through Mississippi State University. Betsy worked in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and Jacksonville, Florida, before coming home in 2003. In 2008 she became Cleveland's first female Chief Meteorologist.
Betsy is part of a small (but growing!) group of women in the country who have earned the prestigious Certified Broadcast Meteorologist (CBM) accreditation from the American Meteorological Society, as well as the Seal of Approval from the National Weather Association (NWA). Betsy was named National Weather Association 2021 Broadcaster of the Year and is the only person to be named Member of the Year twice by the organization.
In January, 2020, Betsy teamed up with Jay Crawford to debut What's New, a newscast with a mix of personality and credibility like no other. Now at 4PM daily, Jay and Betsy guide those watching on-air and on-line through the day's news and the latest happenings. Then Betsy and Jay team up with Christi Paul and Carmen Blackwell for the first half of What's Now at 5PM.
In 2018, 3News tapped Betsy to start a multi-year initiative to encourage and promote girls and women in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math). Calling it "Growing Curiosity: Girls In STEM", the station quickly gained recognition for shining the spotlight on women in STEM careers and highlighting "STEMbassadors" -- women and girls doing great things in STEM. The collections of stories and interviews are available at WKYC's Growing Curiosity: Girls in STEM.
Her industry awards include:
Emmy Awards
2023 Emmy Award for News Special (As Executive Producer/Writer/Host) "Inside Artemis"
2023 Emmy Award for Crafts: Weather
2022 Emmy Award for News: Weathercast
2021 Emmy Award for Best Daytime Newscast (Large Market) as Anchor
2020, 2012 Emmy Awards for News: Weathercast
2009 Emmy Award for Crafts: Weather
2003 Emmy Award for Team Effort News Event Coverage of the Columbia Shuttle Tragedy
in addition to Emmy Nominations
Continuing Coverage 2023
Best Daytime Newscast 2021, 2022
Talent: Anchor - News 2021
Best Evening Newscast 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019
Crafts: Weather 2020, 2019, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2005
News: Weathercast 2020, 2012, 2008
Health/Science Program 2020 Orion: The Next Frontier (Executive Producer and host)
News Series: Education 2019
All-Ohio Excellence in Journalism Awards
Best Weathercast 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019
Best Weathercast Second Place 2023
Best TV Program 2020 Orion: The Next Frontier (Executive Producer/Host)
Best TV Program Second Place 2023 "Inside Artemis" (Executive Producer/Writer/Host)
Ohio Associated Press
2007 Best Regularly Scheduled Weather
In November of 2015, Betsy was the 8th recipient of one of the highest honors in Northeast Ohio media -- The Chuck Heaton Award from The Press Club of Cleveland. It is given to an individual who best exemplifies the qualities of Chuck Heaton, the late Plain Dealer reporter and Press Club Hall of Famer who passed away in February 2008. Heaton was known for his lifelong dedication to journalism, his fairness, his concern for community and helping others.
Betsy has been named the "Best of Cleveland" Weather Forecaster by the readers of Cleveland Magazine in 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023. She's also been featured on the magazine's cover of the "City List" issue and is a "Most Interesting People" alumna.
Additionally, KIing is a "Best of" in other publications like Cleveland Scene (2023, 2022, 2021 Best Anchor/Personality, 2019 Best Anchor, 2018 Best TV Personality, 2016 Best Meteorologist), and Akron Magazine. Crain's Cleveland named her a Notable Woman in STEM in 2019.
Passionate about teaching people of all ages about the weather, Betsy created and produced 3News' Weather Education Day with the Cleveland Indians (now the Guardians). She often speaks at schools and civic organization meetings, as well as giving her time to many charity events throughout the area. The Hattie Larlham organization, which cares for and promotes the independence of people with disabilities, named her to the elite Rudolph H. Garfield Circle of Caring in 2012, as well as previously honoring her with a 2004 Media Service Award.
Additionally, she is active in the National Weather Association, and serves a the Broadcast Program Chair for the NWA's Annual Meeting. She was a founding director for the National Weather Association Foundation, and has organized numerous fundraisers to support NWA college scholarships for aspiring meteorologists over the last 20 years. Previously Betsy was elected as a NWA Councilor and was honored with the National Weather Association's Member of the Year award for 2004. She received the honor again in 2021 as well as being named the NWA's Broadcaster of the Year. In 2015, she received a Special Achievement Award all of her fundraising efforts.
Her other career is being a mom to daughters Josie and Vi. Once in a while she gets to take a nap, which is quite possibly the best reward ever.
Another little fun tidbit: Betsy threw out the last first pitch for the Cleveland Indians (before the team changed to the Guardians).
