Longtime WKBN/WYTV employees to be inducted into Youngstown Press Club Hall of Fame

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) – Five local journalists will be inducted into the Youngstown Press Club Hall of Fame, including two of our own.

Len Rome, a news anchor for WYTV’s Daybreak, and longtime videographer Nick Rich are among the inductees.

Len, a native of Pittsburgh, got his start in radio, working at WKJF, a Pittsburgh easy-listening station. He later landed a job on TV as an anchor at WSEE in Erie, Pa., also working at WFBC in Greenville, SC, and WAKR in Akron before coming to WYTV in Youngstown, where he has been for 40 years.

Len said he fell in love with the work at WYTV — and learned the most — as news directors here gave him the freedom to tell stories in his own style. He has always looked for ways to innovate in the position and says he doesn’t go to work every day, he “goes to fun.”

Co-anchor Jim Loboy says about him, “Len Rome has taught me how to be a journalism professional. A few of his gems: ‘Words matter.. choose them with care,’ ‘Pack your own parachute. If you’re saying it, you better have the facts double-verified,’ and ‘Deliver the news in people-speak, not news or legal speak.'”

Nick Rich was born in New Castle, Pa., and he currently resides in Neshannock Township. He received a bachelor’s degree in broadcasting and film from Temple University, where he worked on several documentaries at the university.

He began his news videographer career in 1975 at WYTV, where he worked for 32
years. Nick was instrumental at WYTV in creating an archiving system that preserved
thousands of news stories. In 2007, Nick began working at WKBN when the two
stations merged.

Over the years, he has covered many major news events in the area, including the closure of the steel mills in the 1970s and most recently the explosion of the Realty building downtow n.

He has received numerous awards during his career and has continuously worked to perfect his craft, keeping up with the latest technology. He is always willing to help his fellow employees and goes above and beyond to contribute to the team.

Also among the inductees are Mona Alexander, the recently retired news director of WFMJ; William Lewis, a retired photographer for the Tribune Chronicle and The Vindicator; and the late William Fleckenstein, co-founder and general manager of WHOT Radio.

Longtime journalist Lisa Abraham is also being awarded the First Amendment Award, WFMJ news anchor Madison Tromler is receiving the Excellence in Media Award, and WFMJ account executive JoAnn Kolarik is receiving the Medal of Merit, recognizing outstanding contributions to the press club.

The inductions and award presentations will be at 5:30 p.m. Sept. 25 at Stambaugh Auditorium in Youngstown.

Tickets are required to attend the dinner and may be purchased at youngstownpressclub.com .

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