Friday, May 30, 2008

"Will anchor for food" :)

I'm trying to keep a sense of humor today .. with so many emotions going in so many directions. My phone hasn't stopped ringing .. and the email has long since hit capacity.

UPDATE: TONIGHT'S FINAL AKRON-CANTON BROADCASTS TO BE STREAMED LIVE ON WKYC.COM!

I just feel like I can't keep up. Our newsroom is already smaller .. so I'm the only one answering the phones while also writing my part of the show scripts for 6:30 p.m.

Couldn't believe how much the ABJ published this morning about the end of the show. Very nice to receive that much ink. Hope everyone realizes that this broadcast has always been a team effort and the producers and videographers have worked their you-know-what's off for the last seven years too.

Had a great time reminiscing with Matt & Angela at WKDD and also with Ray Horner at WAKR. Thanks to both stations for their support .. and for the chance to talk candidly. Matt and I will visit the topic again later this afternoon .. around 5:35 p.m. on his talkshow on WHLO.

It was ironic to talk about the newscast's end during today's taping of NewsNight Akron, which airs at 9 p.m. on PBS 45/49. The loss of the show is newsworthy in itself and changes the media landscape of how the area is covered.

Jody Miller of the Bath Country Journal made me feel quite special with a special bouquet of roses. She's a gem .. both as a person and as a journalist.

I've put together a few short stories to keep tonight's broadcasts local. Tomorrow is a big "walk away from violence" event at Leggett Elementary School in Akron, and I also have a short piece on David Giffel's new book -- two stories that are the type that will rarely see air on most Cleveland broadcasts.

We'll also have a good piece on the traveling Viet Nam Wall arriving in Wadsworth and what that means to our local veterans.

I still have no idea what to say at the end of the broadcasts tonight ... just trying to get my head above water and make sure we've covered all of the day's top stories.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Eric,

I will miss you friendly face doing the news with such professionalism. It somehow even makes bad news seem palatable. You don't know me, I am just one of those people who is greatly saddened by the loss, to us and to you.
It will never be the same.

Keep on keepin' on.

Go do great things.

We love you.

One of your fans

Unknown said...

It's gonna be weird driving by Main and Market and not seeing the station. Always drove by, wondering what you were up to and what you were working on.
Amazing that Akron hasn't been able to keep a local news station for any length of time.

Anonymous said...

Best of luck, Eric. We're really going to miss your local broadcasts. Amy and I have been in Akron for just under a year, and your news (and blog) have really helped us learn the local landscape. We'll be watching tonight.