Fond Farewell

It is going to be very strange tuning in at 630pm or 10pm and not seeing the Akron-Canton News.

Or not having Hyser or Kim tell me they are using one of my reporters LIVE during their shows....or not having to send a live truck to Akron for an Akron-based story needing a microwave truck....

Friday, May 30th was the fond farewell of our Akron-Canton news show.

Everyone working in the Akron-Canton newsroom did a great job for the 7 + years that it aired. It was a joint effort. Everyone in the Cleveland newsroom, control room, studio and master control contributed to the broadcasts as well...

Eric Mansfield lead the charge and did an absolutely tremendous job reporting the stories that were important to the residents south of Cleveland.

Even before the broadcast came about, he had the strongest Akron Bureau in town. He was (and still is) first on any breaking news in his area..has contacts galore who not only tip him off on breaking news but constantly give him viable news stories that make a difference and affect our customers in our southern counties.

TV and the TV business is changing. We have to remember it IS a business which relies on revenue. When the revenue is not there, something has to give.

The good news is that Eric Mansfield and Videographers Carl Bachtel and Larry Baker will continue pounding the pavement in our Akron-Canton Bureau bringing our viewers the latest, top of mind stories affecting the Akron-Canton area.

Eric also tells me that PBS 45/49 and WKSU are moving into our current Akron-Canton Newsroom on July 1st and will house the space along with our WKYC group. Eric says this partnership allows the taping of "NewsNight Akron" in our Akron office, which still caters to the Akron area, their issues, top of mind questions, regional issues, and so many other topics.

I want to thank everyone in the Akron-Canton newsroom for their dedication and commitment over the last 7 years. Thank you to Eric Mansfield, Chris Hyser, Kim Graves, Larry Baker, Carl Bachtel, Tim Coffey, Mark Smilor, Vic Gideon and to the countless others who have worked in the Newsroom over the years!