We all need makeovers

As we all like to shake it up every now and then or liven it up with a makeover, so does the news business on their sets and in the news room.

Now is the time.

I walked into work today amid hammering, moving, hanging new set pieces, placing new pictures on the newsroom wall, and a whole new bank of television sets near the Sports Department.

What a breath of fresh air.

I have to admit, I don't remember if we've ever done this since we moved in to the new digs. Maybe once, but that's it.

I love the new color scheme with oranges, reds, and blues. Tremendous!

Near the news assignment desk we have two HUGE glass casings which WKYC-HD on them on either side of the news desk. They are a bit slanted, and at times scare me that they will tumble over.

Near Sports, we have some new fancy HD TV's where we can monitor the competition as well as our own news, MSNBC, CNN, and a few other stations.

At various other locations throughout the newsroom, we have some wonderfully painted murals depicting Cleveland: Progressive Field, Cleveland Browns Stadium, the Rock Hall, City Hall, etc.

And directly behind the set, we have a colorful, hanging screen dividing Studio A with the News Room proper.

It makes it much easier for the anchors and weather folks to enter the studio, especially during breaking news and weather. They can hop right on the set.

As with any new set, the first few days are spent checking the lighting, the placement of pictures and monitors and just making sure the whole thing comes together nicely!

Well done everyone who had their hand in this makeover. Bravo!

Weekly Feature: Hidden Gems

Today's Hidden Gem: Friday Night Fever

A long standing tradition with a rich history: Friday Night Fever.

Friday Night Fever has many differing connotations.

First and foremost, FNF consists of wkyc's high school football coverage every Friday night during high school football season.

It usually kicks off in the end of August and goes deep into October with high school football playoffs and championships.

Our zany cast of "Predictors" share their choices during our 6pm news show.

Back in the day before television news and sports began changing, FNF was in its hey-day!

A time when you had to tune into the television sports shows each weekend to get your sports highlights and final scores.

Well, even with cell phones and video cameras, each school having their own multi-media department or television station, skype, highlights on Facebook or even Twitter, wkyc's Friday Night Fever reigns supreme.

The Channel 3 News crews shoot the clearest, crispest video in town.....shoot from down in the mix with the action, and oftentimes becoming part of the action when the teams barrel into their close proximity.

The sports department works closely with the news assignment desk and the crews in order to efficiently cover as many games as possible and offer our viewers multiple highlights from around Northeast Ohio and sometimes beyond!

At the end of the evening, each crew sends all of their highlights to wkyc.com so our customers can view highlights over and over again....as well as Donovan or Chudowsky's entire Friday Night Fever show.

But, wait. There's more.

The 2nd half of FNF consists of the fun, frivolity, and feeling of family back in the newsroom. It has become tradition on this end as well.

Regardless of how many people are working or how many games we are able to shoot, we do it up right.

Pizza, Chicken, Pasta or Sub Sandwiches....coupled with chips and pretzels, cheese and crackers, soda pop and juice, caramel apples, fruit or salads....whatever people dream up, we'll take it!

The star of FNF--drum roll please--Pat Woodside's con queso dip and any cookie he chooses to whip up!

In the olden days, we had the "Chuckie Doll" out covering the Big Game...we had high school bands live on set....we had huge blow up characters outside the station and Mr. Fever covering Akron Sports.

We've managed to adapt to the changing times as we continue putting our superior sports stamp on Friday Night Fever lead by Sports Anchor Jim Donovan, Dave Chudowsky, and Lynn Olszowy....and then wrap it up with a nice bow chomping on a Pat Woodside Reese's Peanut Butter cookie!

Tune into Friday Night Fever every Friday evening during High School Football, and you too, will see why it is this week's Hidden Gem!!

1200+ email did me in

Believe it or not, the barrage of email this week has done me in.

I've been in writhing pain all week long--the symptoms of carpal tunnel in my right arm, right shoulder, and right upper back. It has been constant.

Of course, the diagnosis will not be confirmed until I am able to see a doctor, but all arrows point to the problematic ailment caused by typing on the computer (ironically, what I am doing right now).

This week more than most I've been on the computer non-stop answering between 1200-1600 email accumulated from vacation.

Our webmaster is on vacation for a few weeks and it's my duty to attach a higher volume of video to our website all week long.

That totals over 45 hours on the computer Monday thru Friday.

I will be more sparing, careful, and sensitive to this issue in the coming weeks. I have a feeling these entries (which I find enlightening and oftentimes entertaining) may be curtailed or shortened until further notice. Or at least until I can clear up this war wound.

Be careful out there!

Good Luck, Kelsey!

(l. to r. Danielle, Kelsey, Julie)


I say goodbye to yet another intern extraordinaire!





Sarah left a few weeks ago.





Today is Kelsey's last day at wkyc.





She's on her way to another exciting adventure as an intern with Scrubs and Cougar Town (I think that's the name of the new show).





Kelsey came to Channel 3 willing to work, do anything, and learn everything and anything she could hoping to find her niche.





She fit in right away.





Did not mind doing anything and everything asked of her.





I hope she enjoyed herself (she said she did) as she got an idea of what it's like to work in television news.





I really think she got closer to knowing what she does and does not want to do, and let's face it, that is one of the main reasons for internships!





There are interns you know you won't ever speak with again. Kelsey is not one of them. I know we will keep in touch if it's via Facebook, email, post cards or even a periodic phone call.





I wish Kelsey the best of luck on her extraordinary adventure.





To be continued. . .

An 'almost' sick day

Holy Smokes!

I am rarely sick. Even when I am ailing, I usually drag myself into work!

So when I call off, it's either because I can not see from my allergies or can not detach myself from a 'certain' room in the house long enough to make it into work OR a family member is ill.

Today was a close one.

I really thought I was going to have to burn a sick day, but thankfully, I did not.

A family member of mine was in bad sorts after having a bad reaction to new medication. I had to monitor her like a hawk.

We were not sure if she would wind up at the doctor's office, or worse, in the hospital (and become an actual news story!).

Fortunately, with age comes wisdom.

We were able to diffuse the situation somewhat before any doctors even called us back.

By the time I was supposed to exit for work, she was back up to 80 percent.


Now, me, on the other hand --a different story!

I still have my aching right arm, shoulder and upper back!! I'm a mess but trudged into work to continue wading through and eliminating the 1200+ email which accumulated during my vacation last week!!

Honestly, that's pretty much all I've been doing this week so far.

Email email email and then web work. It's been interesting, busy, and very time consuming.

But, I know when I delete that last email, a huge weight will be lifted off of my shoulders! A real sense of accomplishment!

1000+ email and counting...

Back in the saddle, the big chair.

As I drove up to the building, I saw yellow crime tape draping the entrance-way and said, 'oh my?' Don't worry folks, it appears that we've re-done our front walkway.

Then I entered the newsroom and saw a new desk person sitting at the news assignment desk (much anticipated and quite expected). I met her before I left for vacation. A bright young woman looking forward to this experience welcoming everything and anything with open arms.

Our main web woman is off so for the next week or so, I am web girl as well attaching video from our news shows as well as the normal web work I do.

And next, we have a few new monitors back near sports. I never made it out of the newsroom but apparently, a lot can happen in a week!


I'd like to say I'm back 100% refreshed, but really, do any of us ever get totally rejuvenated in today's world?

I had a wonderful vacation (though much of it was spent chasing fruit flies--those pesky critters).

I still had home obligations but did not have to race into work each day. I had the luxury to finish a chore, an errand, a phone call, or just finish my sudoku without having to put it down and head into the office.

Cleveland Indians games night after night--and they had a great stretch!

Seeing college friends, former co-workers, and neighbors normally not in the mix.

My time away from the news desk was well spent in preparing myself for coming back to the news assignment desk!

It did not go too fast or too slowly. As Goldilocks said, it was 'just right!'

And for some reason, I did not freak out a few days before (like I normally do) realizing the daunting task of 'catching up.'

I knew full well that I'd have email up the kazoo....I made a point of watching any newscast I could so I was kind of up to speed on our coverage as well as keeping track of the local papers to be aware of the happenings around town.

But I knew the email would be tremendous.

And at last count I am over 1000+ and still counting...

The 'new' Danielle takes one email at a time knowing her limits and capabilities.

Glad to be back aching to kick a little booty!

a time of dancing.....(and baseball...)

Swing by and Spray will be on hiatus for a week while I take a long anticipated and much needed vacation away from the office.

When I first entered the broadcasting business oh so many years ago, I was on 24/7, even when I was taking an 'official vacation break.'

With time and age comes wisdom. Just like a fine wine.

Of course, I am still on 24/7 (it's in my blood) and if I see news happening, I'll be right on it and the first to report it!

But, I have a friend who was on vacation this week....you would not know it by the website posts that continued popping up.

Oh, maybe in my younger days...

However, I would like to quote from two very serious, two very credible, and two very legitimate sources on how life should be lived in order to preserve its essence and one's sanity.

First, regardless of your religion, the Book of Ecclesiastes gives wonderful insight as it recites: "For everything there is a season, and a time for every activity under the heaven....a time to laugh.....a time of dancing.....I know that there is nothing better for them than to be happy and enjoy themselves during their lives."

Next, the most trusted man in America and probably the greatest news broadcaster to ever live believed, and not only believed but LIVED out first hand this wonderful directive: "To do your job the best you can, you've got to 'play' in equal amounts."

On that note, I hear my sanity in the far off distance calling me. . . . .see you in a week or so. . .