WNED Is Strong As Steel

By Annmarie Dean


Well, it looks like it’s award season here at WNED. Don’t worry, we aren’t prancing around in tuxedos and designer dresses (sigh), but we are super excited to share these honors with you! As Suzanne Kashuba mentioned last week, our AM 970 News team won some pretty distinctive AP Awards and now it’s WNED-TV’s turn.

Back in September 2010, we aired “Buffalo’s Voices of Steel,” a WNED production, which showcases the steel industry of Western New York, interviews with workers who aided in making the industry boom and the ever-present spirit of blue-collar Buffalo. The film won Best Documentary Program by the New York State Broadcasters Association (NYSBA), on Monday night!

"Working on ‘Buffalo's Voices of Steel’ was a rewarding experience and to have it recognized is truly an honor,” said producer Andy Grant. “This program tells the stories of real people whose hard work forged an industry and in the process built a community.  This award further extends the applause to these individuals for their significant contributions,"

“Buffalo Voices of Steel

Not only does the documentary feature awe-inspiring photos and footage of hot steel (which looks more like liquid light), but the history of the industry is told by the people who worked in the mills. Twenty-three people appear in the film and their stories are nothing short of spectacular. As you hear these accounts, you feel the excitement during the explosive rise of the steel industry and you feel the sadness when the same industry began crumbling like the buildings that once stood in Lackawanna, New York.


Ultimately, this film is about the people and communities that grew and prospered close to the mills. Friendships and camaraderie were forged by hard work and common bonds; this legacy was, and continues to be, just as unyielding as the steel it produced.


A big thank you to everyone who helped with this project and to NYSBA for bestowing this amazing accolade upon us. Most importantly, thank YOU! Whether you are a member who helps support us or an occasional viewer (or listener), we are always grateful for all the support we receive from the communities of Western New York and Southern Ontario.


Do you have any fond memories to share about the steel industry in Buffalo? Feel free to comment below.


Note: I’d like to dedicate this post to my great-uncle, Jack Fabbiano, who passed away last year and worked for Bethlehem Steel from 1947-83.