1ST QTR. 2021 VOL 1 ISSUE 1

TOP OF THE HILL

IN THIS EDITION Employee Spotlight Page 02

Welcome New Employees

Message from Dan goes here

Page 04

Congratulations Page 05

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Employee Spotlight Getting to know Donnie Beal What do you do at WBAL-TV? Ingest for all programs and commercials via file transfer for air on WBAL-TV and MeTV Baltimore. You've seen a lot of changes in technology over your 40 years at WBAL-TV. How have they changed what you do? Programs used to be shipped in from California or New York. They were on 2" tape reels that weighed about 20 pounds. Now, it's a 30 minute file transfer. All studio cameras used to be manned by engineers. Now they are run remotely. What do you like most about your job? Always something new to learn. Do you have a memorable moment to share? Yes, but most are not for print! Preakness remotes were what I enjoyed most. What do you enjoy when not at 3800? Water skiing, snow skiing, jet skiing, shooting trap and kayaking

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Where the News Never Stops The big project planned for radio for 2020 was the much-anticipated WBAL Newsradio newsroom rebuild. Years of preparations and coordination went into the huge upgrade, and the much-needed larger space with new stateof-the-art capabilities.   Radio News Director Jeff Wade is very pleased with the results. “Despite the challenges brought on by the pandemic—both in making sure construction moved forward safely while adapting our setup on the fly to bring it in line with Hearst’s guidelines for a COVID-safe workplace-our engineering team did outstanding work in getting this project done and elevating our newsroom to a first-class operation. “   News anchor Robert Lang remembers the start of the project. “We moved to temporary spaces on March 13th. Then COVID hit. Suddenly the engineers needed to configure production studio D to be our temporary news booth for the two remaining news people coming into the building.”OVID hit. Suddenly the engineers needed to configure production studio D to be our temporary news booth for the two remaining news people coming into the building.”

 by Mike Wellbrock

Radio Chief Engineer, Drew Pinkney, had to revise how the construction would take place. “It was a new challenge to build a radio newsroom during a pandemic when you can only have one radio engineer in the building at a time.” Drew and Engineer Bryan Harz alternated working on the new space, even while keeping the largest number of remote broadcasts in the radio station’s history up and running with almost every on-air person for WBAL Newsradio and 98 Rock broadcasting remotely, plus virtual Ravens road games from M&T. Bryan added “Even with the greater distances, the newsroom is built for easy collaboration and great site lines, something that will come in handy once we have more news people back in the building.”   News Director Jeff Wade is looking forward to having the rest of the staff work in the new space. “I can’t wait for the rest of the team to get a chance to use it—to say nothing of the new office that’s waiting for me upon my return!” Rob’s message for when more of the news staff returns to 3800 Hooper: “The rest of the radio news team will love it!” TOP OF THE HILL | page 03

WELCOME New Employees Sarah Cornell

Aletha Ridout

Photographer/Editor TV News

Assistant Creative Services Director

Recent Emmy Award winner A "pretend" chef Knows sign language

Grew up in Elmira, NY Loves to travel - Ireland is the farthest so far! Has dyslexia, so she might ask you to double chck her full screens!

Shelly Walton

Amy Lu

Account Executive, TV Sales

Reporter, TV News

Mom of three Enjoys Glamping (glamour camping) Likes to cook and entertain (pre-Covid)

Classically trained pianist Spent her freshman year of college in Shanghai, China. Loves all things aquatic and would like to get her diver's certification

Alexis Gorenstein

Tyler McDermott

Producer, TV News

Born in Brookly, raised in Jersey and lived in central PA. Favorite food is cheese, even though lactose intolerant Loves the theater

Josh Starkey

Pgm & Public Affairs Coordinator Radio & TV

Former WBAL-TV Intern Graduated York College of PA Grew up in Havre de Grace

Associate Producer, TV News

Enjoys photography, playing guitar listening to music and writing From Frederick, MD, currently living in Bel Air Photo taken in Seattle while visiting his sister

Kamille Davis

Account Executive, TV Sales

An 80's fanatic Loves Chinese Cooking Fourth-generation Howard Universrity graduate

Jeff Young Director, TV News

Enjoys photography, playing guitar listening to music and writing From Frederick, MD, currently living in Bel Air Photo taken in Seattle while visiting his sister

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WELCOME New Employees

Melissa Kim Reporter, Radio News

Moved to Baltimore in her junior year in high school Born in LA, and has lived in NY, Maine, Alabama and Wisconsin. She was a WBAL-TV Sports Intern

Veronica Robinson Reporter, Radio News

Newsnerd Broadcast journalist for 30+ years Enjoye singing - sung in a band in college

Gleniece Smith Producer, Radio Programming

Recently lived in Abu Dhabi, UAE Was once featured in an Air Force commercial Visited 11 countries in 2 years

Mike Madison Client Services Specialist Radio Sales

A morning person, usually up by 5am Enjoys solo travel Thrifts on wkends & resells online!

Andrea Ruano Digital Client Specialist Radio Sales

Traveled to Europe & Central America after graduation. A native Baltimorean Fluent in Spanish and interned in El Salvador to improve writing skills!

Savannah McCann Reporter, Radio News

Loves to travel & has visited 14 countries across 5 continents A huge sports fan, she has covered 4 champagne celebrations with the Nats in 2019 Performed at NBA games and Disney World as a former competitive dancer

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Patricia....

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Join your Hearst Baltimore family in serving our community WBAL-TV, WBAL News Radio & 98 Rock will support the Maryland Food Bank to combat the ongoing fight against food insecurity and feeding Marylanders in need. Join your colleagues at the MD Food Bank on Monday, April 19th or Tuesday, April 20th. Thirty, eight-hour shifts are available on both days from 8:30am-4:30pm. Volunteers will work in the kitchen to prepare Grab & Go meals and in the warehouse, sorting and packing donated food. The itinerary for each day is: 8:30am 9:00am 12:30pm 1:30pm 4:30pm

Arrival & setup Group 1-Kitchen Duty Group 2 - Warehouse Duty ) Lunch Group 1 - Warehouse Duty Group 2 - Kitchen Duty Dismissal

Your participation will count toward the Hearst volunteer time-off program. To participate in this great opportunity, you must: Register at https://mdfoodbank.org/ways-to-give/volunteer/ Be able to stand for 3 hours Be able to lift 15 pounds Full-time employees must work an 8-hour shift. Part-time employees must work a 4-hour shift. Any questions, please email [email protected]

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MILESTONES

40 years 25 years 20 years 20 years 15 years 10 years 10 years 05 years 05 years

Don Beal Dan Armola Dan Sponsler Jen Franciotti Nate Russell Jordon Poston Steve Pozniak Lacee Griffith Tracey Seifert

Next Station Meeting is date

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EXTRA! EXTRA! T

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