WKYC's Director's Cut with Frank Macek

WKYC To Air: "To The Moon: Ohio's Journey"

noreply@blogger.com (Frank Macek) — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 19:00:00 +0000

Editor's Note: In case you missed the original airing of "To the Moon: Ohio's Journey" in April, WKYC will rebroadcast the show on Saturday, July 18th from 7 until 8 p.m.

-------
As the high definition leader in locally produced programming in Northeast Ohio, WKYC is proud to showcase our region's efforts in space exploration.

We have always looked to the sky. And for a brief moment, mankind walked on a heavenly body other than earth. Ohio was at the heart of it all. Pioneering the technology and sending our bravest into space.

WKYC Channel 3, in partnership with NASA Glenn Research Center, presents a high definition hour long special.

As we celebrate the 40th anniversary of the moon landing, we honor the Ohio men and women who dreamed of a journey beyond all others. We celebrate the local companies that created products and solutions for America's space program. And we take a look back…and a look forward... at what the next missions mean to our region.

"To the Moon: Ohio's Journey" features rare interviews, fascinating archive footage, and a behind the scenes glimpse of the next generation of moon exploration.

The show includes exclusive interviews with John Glenn, James Lovell, NBC space correspondent Jay Barbree, and Dr. Robert Graham along with comments from Neil Armstrong during Glenn Research Center's NASA 50th Anniversary Gala.

"To the Moon: Ohio journey" is hosted by NBC Nightly News Anchor Brian Williams and WKYC News Anchor Romona Robinson.

ON THE WEB:

Visit our website for more: CLICK HERE

Notes from the Newsroom: July 9th, 2009

noreply@blogger.com (Frank Macek) — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 21:44:00 +0000

By Frank Macek

Just sitting here in the WKYC newsroom getting ready for a 7 p.m. telecast and wondering what to write about.

This summer has been so boring in terms of big news coming from the WKYC Digital Broadcast Center. It's almost a major let down after the transition to all digital television on June 12th and our new tower construction.

The business offices of SportsTime Ohio moved into the building in June, so we are all one big, happy family. If only the Indians could turn things around. Prior to the move, only the productions were done here with the business office off site.

June 26th we finally turned off our analog transmitter for the final time. WKYC was a "night light" station for the local market which aired non-stop programming in English and Spanish for those viewers who still had not made the conversion.

The July sweeps period started last Thursday, July 2nd, and runs through Wednesday, July 29th.

The drama of the Michael Jackson story is finally beginning to wane after wall to wall coverage it seemed. We heard from a lot of viewers who were sick and tired of all the coverage. Cable newschannels were the worst. Most of the Cleveland stations seemed pretty balanced, in my opinion.

Still no announcements about any changes to the morning show after Abby Ham's departure back to Knoxville in early June. The economic climate continues to make it difficult for local stations to staff like they used to. Hopefully this will change by next year as we feel we have already reached a bottom in terms of advertising issues, but in the meantime - Mark Nolan is the solo news anchor of Channel 3 News Today with Hollie Strano on weather, Maureen Kyle out and about and Pat Butler with those great traffic updates.

So we just wanted our viewers to know, we are still alive and well. Hopefuly we'll have something fresh, really fresh soon.

In the meantime, I hope you'll continue to enjoy many of the features in our archives and news coming about Jay Leno's debut at 10 p.m. on September 14th. It's a show that will make or break NBC and their local affiliates.

----

trif6csyu7

From the Wires: 30.9 Million Watched Jackson Memorial

noreply@blogger.com (Frank Macek) — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 21:46:00 +0000

NEW YORK -- Just under 31 million people in the United States watched the Michael Jackson memorial on television.

Nielsen Media Research says that's a smaller audience than for Princess Diana's funeral or President Barack Obama's inauguration -- but it's still impressive in today's TV world. Millions more watched video streams on their computers.

The Jackson memorial on Tuesday afternoon was carried live on some 19 different networks, including all the big broadcasters and cable news stations.

By comparison, President Obama's inauguration in January had an audience of nearly 38 million. Nielsen says 33.2 million people in the U.S. watched Princess Diana's funeral in 1997.

Source: The Associated Press

trif6csyu7

Promo: Why Was A Violent Felon Working With Kids?

noreply@blogger.com (Frank Macek) — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 19:51:00 +0000

How does a violent felon end up working at a school and a daycare? That's what The Investigator wants to know.

Watch Tom Meyer's story this Thursday at 11 p.m. on Channel 3 News.

trif6csyu7

Program Note: Tribe on WKYC This Sunday At 1:05 PM

noreply@blogger.com (Frank Macek) — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 19:00:00 +0000

Catch the Tribe in Detroit to take on the Tigers this Sunday afternoon on Channel 3.

"Indians On Deck" starts at 12:30 p.m. with the first pitch at 1:05 p.m. live from Comercia Park.

New Show Preview: Great American Road Trip on NBC

noreply@blogger.com (Frank Macek) — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 19:54:00 +0000

Special to the Director's Cut Blog
By Mark Barger

Millions of American families are taking road trips this summer, but not quite like this one, the Great American Road Trip. It's NBC's latest entry into the summer programming sweepstakes.

"We don't know what we're in store for. We really don't," said Alecia Montgomery of Montclair, California. Her family is one of seven from across America that will make a cross country journey in this reality series. They'll go from Chicago to California in separate recreational vehicles.

"It's not a race," said the show's host, Reno Collier, "No one's racing in the RVs to go flying down the highway. It's nothing like that." But there is competition. Head to head challenges for the families at stops along the way.

Each week, one team will be eliminated.

"We're a new blended family," said Hyerli Katzenberg, of Westport, Connecticut, "This is definitely going to challenge us, blend us, bond us."

The historic Route 66 provides the setting for this test of families ties. "Route 66 is such a piece of Americana," said Ricardo Rico, of Katy, Texas, whose family is also competing.

The show's host anticipates family fireworks in the RVs. "Stick them in one of these things and you'll find out how close they really are," said Collier. Maybe close enough to win 100-thousand dollars.

Axiom TV Helps Families Find Family Friendly Viewing

noreply@blogger.com (Frank Macek) — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 20:49:00 +0000

Special to the Director's Cut
by Mike Wendland

Axiom TV wants to be the Google of movie download sites. And it's off to a good start, claiming to have the largest database of family friendly movies anywhere, movies you can watch online or order on DVD.

The films and various TV shows are all reviewed and screened for sex and violence so that if Axiom offers it, it is suitable for the whole family.
Axiom claims nothing on the site will make you cringe or cover your eyes, and that parents can feel comfortable watching the movies on axiom with their kids.

What kind of movies? Family friendly doesn't just mean cartoons and children's shows.

While some of the movies may challenge you, and some may not be suitable for small children, all are deemed to deliver a good message or clean entertainment.

You can set parental controls to fine tune exactly what you want to filter out. Prices start at $2.99 for online rental.

Something else: you can even set up custom logins for your kids that will let them only watch the kinds of movies you determine.

Program Note: WKYC to Air Michael Jackson Memorial Tuesday

noreply@blogger.com (Frank Macek) — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 20:00:00 +0000

WKYC will air the NBC News Special: Michael Jackson Memorial on Tuesday, July 7th from 1 p.m. until 3 p.m.

The service will also be carried live on our website: wkyc.com

Also, Dateline NBC will wrap up the day's services with a one hour special Tuesday evening from 10 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Jackson's memorial is planned for Tuesday morning at the Staples Center sports arena in Los Angeles.

Organizers made tickets available free of charge for 11,000 seats in Staples and 6,500 in the adjacent Nokia Theatre.

Jackson died June 25. He was 50.

Promo: Abbey's Story - Monday at 11 PM

noreply@blogger.com (Frank Macek) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 20:49:00 +0000

Learn how one little girl's tragic accident will change the way you think about public and private swimming pools this Monday night at 11 p.m. only on Channel 3 News.

Behind the Scenes: Sketches From A Courtroom Artist

noreply@blogger.com (Frank Macek) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 01:10:00 +0000

Our flip cams caught up with Ed Freska who was doing courtroom sketches today for Tom Beres & Tom Meyer's coverage of the first two defendants in the FBI/IRS federal corruption probe into Cuyahoga County government officials -- J. Kevin Kelley and Kevin F. Payne -- they pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court.

Since cameras weren't allowed in the courtroom, we have to rely on sketch artists to paint a picture of the expressions, moods and emotions of those involved as the proceeds happen.

Ed Freska got his BFA in Industrial Design Cleveland Institute of Art in 1969. He worked for two years as an auto designer at Ford when the Cleveland Plain Dealer offered him a position as picture editor. Ed was also syndicated with the Los Angles Times OpEd group.

He eventually established Freska Graphics and worked as the editorial cartoonist for the Sun News group in Cleveland.

See how those images go from rough sketch to being watercolored into the images you see on the air.

From the Wires: Gannett To Cut 1,400 Jobs In New Round Of Cuts

noreply@blogger.com (Frank Macek) — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:22:00 +0000

NEW YORK (AP) -- Newspaper publisher Gannett Co. plans to cut 1,400 jobs in the next few weeks, about 3 percent of the work force, as it faces a prolonged slump in advertising revenue.

Bob Dickey, head of the company's newspaper division, informed staff of the layoffs in a letter Wednesday. He told employees that "there have been some promising signs of a recovery, but the reality is the improvements are not broad-based and the economy continues to be fragile."

The majority of layoffs will come by July 9, he said.

The move follows a 10 percent cut at Gannett last year, which left the company with about 41,500 employees.

Gannett publishes USA Today, the largest newspaper by circulation in the U.S., along with dozens of other newspapers.

Gannett also owns WKYC-TV/Cleveland.

Source: The Associated Press

Meet the NBC All-Stars: Ann Curry

noreply@blogger.com (Frank Macek) — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 21:21:00 +0000

Ann Curry is the news anchor of NBC News' "Today," America's number one morning news program, and the anchor of "Dateline NBC," the network's award-winning newsmagazine. Curry joined the "Today" show in March of 1997, and in May 2005, she was named co-anchor of "Dateline NBC." Curry also regularly substitute anchors for "NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams."

Curry has distinguished herself in global humanitarian reporting frequently traveling to remote areas of the world for under-reported stories. During the span of one year, from March 2006 to March 2007, she traveled three times to Sudan to report on the violence and ethnic cleansing taking place in Darfur and Chad. While there, she provided in-depth reports focusing on the victims who have been caught in the deadly conflict of that region, and she also conducted exclusive interviews with Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir and Chadian President Idrsiss Deby.

In spring 2008, Curry broadcast live from the Democratic Republic of the Congo where she reported on the horrific struggles of the women and children from the city of Goma. She also traveled to Serbia in 2008 where she examined the deplorable conditions of Serbia's mental institutions. Curry was the first network news anchor to report on the humanitarian refugee crisis caused by the genocide in Kosovo in 1999, reporting for NBC News from Albania and Macedonia.

Curry has conducted numerous exclusive interviews with world leaders and dignitaries including a one-on-one with Dalai Lama during his trip to the U.S amid violence in Tibet in April 2008, and a sit-down with former Pakistan Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto just two months before her assassination in December 2007. Curry also talked to Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari in his first-ever interview with an American news organization.

Other Curry exclusives include Liberia's Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, the first female elected President of an African nation; the first highly sought after interview with Thomas Hamill, the truck driver for Halliburton subsidiary KBR, who escaped captivity in Iraq; the first interview with accused spy Wen Ho Lee after he was cleared of all charges of espionage against the United States; and the first interview with the parents of the McCaughey septuplets. Curry also repeatedly landed the first exclusive interview with Lance Armstrong after his Tour de France wins.

In July 2006, Curry reported on the Israel-Lebanon war, and she was one of the only American reporters to file stories on both sides of the conflict from Beirut and Northern Israel. In the summer of 2005, Curry traveled with First Lady Laura Bush throughout Africa to examine the continent's HIV/AIDS epidemic, women's rights and education.

She was the first network news anchor to report from inside the tsunami zone in Southeast Asia, filing reports from Sri Lanka for all NBC News and MSNBC programming. As part of "Today's" unprecedented Ends of the Earth series, Curry has extensively examined the effects of climate change traveling to Antarctica and the South Pole in November 2007, and climbing Mount Kilimanjaro in November 2008.

In the first two weeks following the attacks of September 11, Curry reported live from ground zero every day. When the United States bombed Al Qaeda targets in Afghanistan in November 2001, she reported extensively from the USS Theodore Roosevelt in the Arabian Sea, and landed the first exclusive interview with the war's military commander, General Tommy Franks. Curry reported from Baghdad in the weeks leading up to the war in Iraq, and then from the USS Constellation as the war began, interviewing fighter pilots who flew the first wave of bombing runs over Iraq. She also filed reports from inside Iraq, from Qatar, and Kuwait during the first weeks of the war.

Curry first joined NBC News in August 1990 as a Chicago-based correspondent. In 1992 she was named anchor of "NBC News at Sunrise." She later helped launch MSNBC and then became news anchor at "Today." Before coming to NBC, Curry was a reporter for KCBS in Los Angeles. In 1981, she was a reporter and anchor for KGW, the NBC affiliate in Portland, Oregon. Curry began her broadcasting career as an intern in 1978 at KTVL, in Medford, Oregon, near her hometown, rising to become that station's first female news reporter.

Curry has earned four Emmys Awards, four Golden Mikes, several Associated Press Certificates of Excellence, two Gracie Allen Awards, and an award for Excellence in Reporting from the NAACP. In June 2007, Curry was honored with the Simon Wiesenthal Medal of Valor for her extensive reporting in Darfur. She has been awarded by Americares, Save the Children, the Anti-Defamation League as a Woman of Achievement, and the Asian American Journalists Association, receiving its National Journalism Award in 2003. She has also won numerous awards for her charity work, primarily for breast cancer research.

Curry graduated from the University of Oregon School of Journalism in 1978.

Source: NBC

Spotlight Feature: Dealing With Multiple, Breaking News Stories

noreply@blogger.com (Frank Macek) — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 23:12:00 +0000

by Frank Macek

In the 15 years I have been working at WKYC, Thursday had to be the one day where more breaking stories happened at once than I had ever seen. On September 11th, 2001, for example, we all focused on one big event. But, what happened on Thursday can quickly become a news staff's worst nightmare.

Earlier in the day, we had the confirmation the Cavs acquired Shaquille O'Neal and a new day was beginning in Cleveland. This was a huge story in itself. Besides Lebron, Shaq is the biggest player to come to the Cavs in recent years.

Cuyahoga County Commissioner Jimmy Dimora unloaded both barrels on his Republican critics, denying any wrongdoing and getting a lot off his chest.

We heard the bad news Farrah Fawcett lost her battle with cancer.

Severe weather was breaking out across northeast Ohio. The first round of storms brought several thunderstorms warnings. The second round looked even more threatening as it headed across the lake and began to intensify just in time for the start of the 6 pm newscast.

Then we heard the shocking news that Michael Jackson was being rushed to the hospital. We wondered if this was just another chapter in the entertainer's saga or if something bigger was at hand.

Soon, we found out as online and news sources began to confirm the worst: Michael Jackson was dead at age 50.

Five big stories...the last two were late breaking...what do you lead with?

That was the question our news team and other stations in the city had to face. Which was more important? On any other day, they all could lead the newscast.

But since local stations usually give precedence to a local story lead first, it was logical that we would acknowledge the Shaq deal, then get right to weather. Storms were potentially the most life threatening to our viewers. We were still waiting for official confirmation of Jackson's death.

That was the decision.

Following weather, it was to the Michael Jackson story, the full Shaq deal, and Dimora. Farah Fawcett would wind up further down the rundown.

These types of decisions are what the producers and news management face every day. They are decisions that must be made almost instinctively.

However, Thursday was an exceptional day. How would you have handled the day? I think our team played it just right.

News: NBC Announces Fall Premiere Dates

noreply@blogger.com (Frank Macek) — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 22:30:00 +0000

NBC has released the premiere dates for our new and returning series on Channel 3 this fall.

9/13: Football Night in America at 7 pm; NBC Sunday Night Football at 8:15 pm
9/14: The Jay Leno Show at 10 pm
9/15: The Biggest Loser at 8 pm
9/17: Saturday Night Live Weekend Update Thursday at 8 pm; Parks and Recreation at 8:30 pm; The Office at 9 pm; Community at 9:30 pm (Community moves to Thursdays at 8 pm on October 8)
9/21: Heroes at 8 pm
9/23: Parenthood at 8 pm; Law & Order: SVU at 9 pm
9/25: Law & Order at 8 pm; Southland at 9 pm
9/26: Dateline NBC at 8 pm; Saturday Night Live at 11:30 pm
9/28: Trauma at 9 pm
10/15: 30 Rock at 9:30 pm

Promo: Channel 3 News - People & Invitation

noreply@blogger.com (Frank Macek) — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 21:04:00 +0000

Here are two of our brand new Channel 3 News promos and our connection to the people of our community.

News: DTV Readiness Improves Slightly Following The Transition

noreply@blogger.com (Frank Macek) — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 20:33:00 +0000

The Nielsen Company reported Wednesday that 2.1 million American households, or 1.8% of the U.S., still could not receive digital television signals through the week ending June 21st. This is an improvement of 400,000 homes since the week of the June 12th digital television transition.

In the Cleveland/Akron/Canton market the number fell to 38,276 households from nearly 55,000 prior to June 12th. Still, this number represents 2.51% of all local viewers who are not receiving digital tv signals "over the air."

One factor playing into these numbers may be these households can still get limited signals from low power tv stations that were not forced to switch to digital.

Across the nation, Nielsen estimates 59% of the completely "unready" homes receive at least one low power station or a foreign station from Mexico or Canada that also remain analog.

And in many markets, an average of 3.6 low power stations remain available to viewers who may be content with that limited programming, for now.

Source: Nielsen

WKYC Job Opening: Multi-Media Journalist For AM Newscast

noreply@blogger.com (Frank Macek) — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 01:07:00 +0000

WKYC has a new job opening if you are looking for a rewarding career experience with us at the market's most "state of the art" digital broadcast center.

Current WKYC Job Opening:

WKYC-TV is currently accepting applications for the position of Multi-Media Journalist for AM newscast.

POSITION SUMMARY DESCRIPTION: * Shoot, write, edit, and report stories for daily AM newscasts. * Enterprise stories and package ideas. * Deliver live stories and packages from remote locations and in studio. * Produce daily content for website and social media platforms. * Work with desk on follow-up. * Other related duties as assigned.

POSITION REQUIREMENTS: * Minimum 3 years medium market television news reporting experience. * "Live" on scene reporting experience. * Strong writing skills, web and social media skills, outstanding news judgment, excellent communication and people skills. * Ability to enterprise story ideas. * Strong live/breaking news skills. * Broad knowledge of Cleveland area issues and news contacts is a plus. * Must work quickly and efficiently in rapidly changing broadcast environment * Degree in Journalism or relevant major. * Must have valid driver's license. Interviews will be by appointment only. No phone calls, please.

Resumes and audition tapes should be sent to:

Rita Andolsen, News Director (randolsen@wkyc.com)
Howard Fencl, Asst. News Director (hfencl@wkyc.com)

WKYC-TV Inc.
1333 Lakeside Avenue
Cleveland, OH 44114

WKYC-TV, INC. IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

For other job opportuniteis and application procedures, be sure to visit our WKYC Career Page: CLICK HERE

"Tonight" Sidekick Ed McMahon Dies In LA At 86

noreply@blogger.com (Frank Macek) — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 14:54:00 +0000

LOS ANGELES - Ed McMahon, the loyal "Tonight Show" sidekick who bolstered boss Johnny Carson with guffaws and a resounding "Heeeee-ere's Johnny!" for 30 years, has died at a Los Angeles hospital. He was 86.

Publicist Howard Bragman says McMahon died early Tuesday at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center surrounded by his family.

Bragman didn't give a cause of death, saying only that McMahon had a "multitude of health problems the last few months."

Source: The Associated Press

News: Forests Becoming Dumping Ground For Old TVs

noreply@blogger.com (Frank Macek) — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 21:09:00 +0000

Special to the Director's Cut
By Glenn Farley

A few miles from Washington's Interstate 90 there is a pristine waterfall feeding a crystal clear stream.

At the base of that waterfall sits two old analog TVs and a computer monitor.

Somebody picked this spot to throw them away.

Friends of the Trail, a non-profit organization based out of North Bend, specializes in cleaning up debris and garbage left in the forest.

Wade Holden runs the organization.

He says they're finding lots of TVs dumped, and even shot up in places where people do target practice.

"I'm sure there's lots of people doing the right thing. There's always going to be that small percentage of people who don't," said Holden.

The Washington state Department of Ecology says 15 million pounds of TVs, monitors and other hazardous electronics were legitimately recycled so far this year, and still, people bring TVs out to the woods to dump them or shoot at them.

Friends of the Trail says the DTV transition has made it worse.

"It's probably several hundred, I would say, so far this year," said Ed Dodd, also with Friends of the Trail.

It's hard to imagine why people go to the trouble of ditching their old technology out in nature when they can do it in town for free.

Former WKYC Graphic Artist Brian Chalmers Passes Away

noreply@blogger.com (Frank Macek) — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 19:38:00 +0000

Our heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of former WKYC graphic artist, Brian Chalmers, who passed away suddenly over the weekend.

Brian spent a decade as part our WKYC family and was responsible for many of the daily news graphics you saw on Channel 3 News.

As many of you know, Brian was also well known for his next generation work on the WMMS Buzzard logo that was originally brought to life by David Helton.

NEW INFORMATION (6/24/09):

The memorial service for Brian has been moved to the North Royalton Christian Church, 5100 Royalton Rd. (Rt.82) in North Royalton this Saturday, June 27, with visitation from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., followed by the service at 1 p.m.

The church is just west of State Rd. (Rt.94) on the north side of Royalton Rd.

You can leave your thoughts on Brian's facebook page: CLICK HERE

John Gorman has a nice tribute to Brian at the following link: CLICK HERE

News: 2009 Excellence In Journalism Award Winners Announced

noreply@blogger.com (Frank Macek) — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 03:31:00 +0000

Congratulations are in order to several of my WKYC colleagues, once again.

WKYC-TV won four awards including a first place award for Television Spot News at the 2009 Ohio Excellence in Journalism Awards at the Press Club of Cleveland. The event was held Friday evening at the Marriott Downtown Cleveland at Key Center.

Here is a list of WKYC winners:

1. Television Spot News - First Place
Paul Thomas, Mike Greene, Danielle Fink
"Officer Owens Shot"

2. Television Spot News - Second Place
Danielle Fink, Randy White, Brian Johnson
"Fuel Tank Rescue"

3. Television General News - Second Place
Dave Summers
"At the End of the Day"

4. Television Human Interest - Second Place
Monica Robins, Sarah Montgomery, Shane Snider
"Sleep Deprivation"

Behind The Scenes: WKYC Tower Construction

noreply@blogger.com (Frank Macek) — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 15:36:00 +0000

It's finally over - the DTV transition.

As many of you know, the entire engineering team of WKYC worked their butts off to make this happen on time and to give you a much improved "over the air" signal after years of us being stuck on digital channel 2.

One of those actively involved in the construction of our new tower and transmitter, Dave Kushman, built a brand new webpage where you can see the behind the scenes.

Our sincere thanks to Dave and everyone else involved in making WKYC the best television station in Cleveland.

To visit Dave's page: CLICK HERE

News: Al Roker Visits The West Side Market Friday

noreply@blogger.com (Frank Macek) — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 00:26:00 +0000

CLEVELAND -- You see him every morning live on the Plaza in New York City. He is the NBC Today Show meteorologist.

Al Roker took the show on the road Friday and returned home to Cleveland.

Roker was live at the West Side Market and even took some time to talk with our own Mark Nolan and Hollie Strano.

You might remember the days when Al was a meteorologist for WKYC.

News: WKYC-TV Channel 3 Launches "Hero Central"

noreply@blogger.com (Frank Macek) — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 00:22:00 +0000

Channel 3 is unveiling a new series of reports we are calling "Hero Central," where we spotlight people taking the initiative to help others in these trying times.

Our first spotlight focuses attention on what you can do this weekend to help fight a growing problem in our communities: hunger.

Nearly one in every four Ohio children is listed as "food insecure," which means they don't know where their next meal is coming from.

Channel 3, in partnership with the Cleveland FoodBank, the Cleveland Indians and Giant Eagle, are helping to address the problem this weekend.

Kids who bring a non-perishable food item to this Sunday's Indians game will get a free ticket to that night's game or tickets to any other game that falls on a "Kids Fun Day."

Adults who bring non-perishable items to Monday's or Tuesday's game will be given the same offer.

Giant Eagle will then match the amount of food donated and donate the entire amount to the Cleveland FoodBank.

"Over recent months, we have noticed our shelves are more and more bare," says Lou Keim, of the West Side Community Corner in Cleveland, a facility that helps families in need of food.

"We are seeing a lot of families that we saw years ago, who thought they were done needing our services, but they are back," Keim says.

Among them is Amanda Voytovich, a mother of two who is going back to school to try to get a job as a nurse's assistant.

"I come here to get food for my son as often as I can," she says. "I always tried to help the community, and now the community is giving back to me."

DTV Arrives: Television Stations End Analog Broadcasts

noreply@blogger.com (Frank Macek) — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 00:11:00 +0000

Special to the Director's Cut Blog
By Mike O'Mara

The dawn of digital television is getting a big reception today. But the big question is whether some TV owners will be getting any reception at all.

History was made a few seconds after 10 a.m. this morning on WKYC TV3 as Michael Cardemone said, "Good morning! welcome to 'Good Company' today." Regular television programming in analog was suddenly over for WKYC. The digital age for television had truly begun.

Thousands of old unconverted television sets went to a silent black screen across Northeast Ohio. For viewers who had not updated their old analog televisions with a digital converter box and a good antenna, life became challenging.

The switchboard at WKYC lit up. Receptionist Katrina Thompson and a phone bank of engineers were ready for the outpouring of calls.

"Hi. I am not getting any signals on my TV. What happened?", said one of the 300 callers.

On Fulton Road, at the DTV Walk-In Help Center, volunteer Irma Colon has been answering questions all day.

"The key is getting people to go to the TV menu and do a re-scan of the channels," said Colon. "You wouldn't believe how many people have the converter box but forget to scan the channels."

Israel Torres and his mother came to the center for help. "I should have taken care of this before," said Torres.

He added, "When I turned on the TV this morning I went 'uh-oh!' It's like now, OK, I've got to do this after putting it off for too long."

Conversion day just happened to also be trash day in the City of Cleveland. All across the city, we found televisions dumped on the tree lawn.

Melvin Demmmings stopped his city dump truck and said, "Oh, we've been seeing a lot of TV's today. You wouldn't believe how many we've picked up."

Liz Fontanez watched the crew load her old TV into the compacter. "My kids bought all new TV's," said Liz, "so we didn't need the old analog one. I'd rather switch than fight."

WKYC is a "nightlight" station for the Cleveland/Akron/Canton market. Those who have not yet made arrangements to receive a digital signal will see information instructing them how to do so in both English and Spanish. The information includes addresses of walk-in help centers and phone numbers for more information. You can also log on to dtv.gov for help on-line.

It's estimated that more than 1 million homes are unready for the switch. Cable and satellite subscribers won't be affected.

The changeover was supposed to take place last February. But the government's fund for $40 converter box coupons ran out of money, prompting the delay.

The Federal Communications Commission has put 4,000 operators on standby for calls from confused viewers, and set up demonstration centers in several cities.

For a list of walk-in centers for Northeast Ohio: CLICK HERE