We've received a very mixed response to our "move" to social media. While we've received a flood of new Twitter followers, others are openly hostile to that being the only outlet for Ohio Media Watch. And hostile may not be a strong enough a word. So, we'll try this: copying and editing our Twitter posts to a blog post, without all the responses, tags and whatnot. -------- CRONAUER BACK TO RADIO, STILL ON TV: Joe Cronauer is now PM drive at Salem CCMer 95.5 The Fish. Still on WKYC, too, … [Read more...]
John Hambrick Passes Away
Posted on September 11, 2013 · 5 Comments
The anchor who started a family brand name in Cleveland TV news has passed away. John Hambrick, who came to Cleveland in 1967 and helped steer Scripps ABC affiliate WEWS/5 to local TV news dominance in the early 1970's, passed away Tuesday in a Texas hospital after a battle with cancer. (Photo by NewsNet5.com) "TV 5 Eyewitness News" went from the local news cellar to the penthouse with Hambrick and co-anchor Dave Patterson, with household names in local TV news by their sides...sports director … [Read more...]
Partial Quick Hits
Posted on July 16, 2013 · Leave a Comment
Partial, we're calling it, because this brief update has a lot of items and many we missed. Look for more whenever, however we can get a Round Tuit(tm)... LAW AND ORDER, MEDIA DIVISION: No, we're not talking about the Dick Wolf series of TV procedurals (clung, clung!). It's Cleveland's Own version, with a number of media personalities getting on the wrong side of the law. Let's update what we know so far. ROVER'S BACK OVER: Clear Channel talk/rock WMMS/100.7 morning chien Shane "Rover" … [Read more...]
Broadcasting Under The Influence
Posted on June 25, 2013 · 3 Comments
In less than 24 hours, two prominent Cleveland TV personalities got pulled over by the police, in two entirely separate traffic stops. First in the OVI Charges Hopper is someone who's no stranger to the routine. After all, it was in 2003 when local sportscaster Chuck Galeti, a veteran of a number of area TV sports operations, had an alcohol fueled car crash and entered rehab after his first tangle with being caught driving under the influence. In 2013, police in Parma picked him up on OVI … [Read more...]
Quick Hits For May
Posted on May 13, 2013 · 2 Comments
Some quick hits before we focus on Cleveland's media obsession this past week...which will be in a separate item as soon as we get a Round Tuit(tm)... SUNNY FORECAST: Congratulations to former Scripps ABC affiliate WEWS/5 "NewsChannel 5" morning weather forecaster Christine Ferreira. As predicted, she's landed at a TV station in her new/returned to hometown area of Central Pennsylvania, Hearst NBC affiliate WGAL/8 in Lancaster PA...where she's that station's midday and weekend … [Read more...]
Bleeping Bleep, You’re Fired
Posted on April 25, 2013 · Leave a Comment
An administrative note, first: Ohio Media Watch is on "deep hiatus". Things Offline(tm) have conspired to reduce our available free time to almost zero. We'll try to continue getting the Big News up here as soon as possible...items like the last few ones, for example. Any other items will be posted as soon as possible to our growing social media presence. You don't need to be signed up at Facebook or Twitter to read our items... just click here or read the feed at the right of this page. If … [Read more...]
Wilma’s Exit
Posted on March 20, 2013 · 2 Comments
It's no surprise that "Fox 8 News" anchor Wilma Smith would retire sometime soon...it's just not been known when. That changed on Monday, when the long-time WJW/8 anchor (with a total time in Cleveland TV news of some 35 years) announced to viewers that she was calling it a career at the end of May. A lengthy, steady career it's been for the former Wilma Pokorny. Wilma is one of the last remaining members of a class that dominated the local TV landscape in Cleveland for decades. She spent a … [Read more...]
The Matlock Incident
Posted on March 3, 2013 · 2 Comments
Cleveland market TV viewers are no stranger to Ben Matlock in rerun form, or the propensity of local stations to run "Matlock" in prime time occasionally. But this time, Gannett NBC affiliate WKYC/3's decision to bump NBC's Thursday night lineup out of prime time for a 2-hour 1992 TV movie featuring the genial southern lawyer played by Andy Griffith...well, went viral. Almost as soon as ol' Ben started TV lawyering, our own social media presence was swamped. The clamor went nationwide, and … [Read more...]
Of George, Nash And Other Stuff
Posted on January 24, 2013 · 6 Comments
It's a "name" theme this time around for your Mighty Blog of Fun(tm)... GEORGE OF RESERVE SQUARE: Raycom Media CBS/MyNet combo WOIO/19-WUAB/43 has a new anchor who started this week, and he's coming off a national stage. George Smith was a reporter for sports TV giant ESPN for nearly 10 years, and moves to "19 Action News" as 4:30 PM and 5:30 PM weekday anchor (with Danielle Serino) and reporter for the station's 10 PM news on "My43 The Block", and the 11 PM news on "CBS 19". Smith's "Action … [Read more...]
Remembering Danielle Fink, WKYC Assignment Editor
Posted on January 21, 2013 · 2 Comments
In the past, the tragic death of a TV newsroom assignment editor wouldn't register with most members of the "general public". But for some very specific reasons, those beyond the local TV news community are mourning the death of Danielle Fink, who worked as an assignment editor for Gannett NBC affiliate WKYC/3...and earlier, she was employed by Scripps ABC affiliate WEWS/5. Danielle's home station reports that she died in a car crash in North Olmsted sometime late Saturday night/early Sunday … [Read more...]
