From the Olympics to the Outer Loop, from the Super Bowl to Spaghetti Junction, “Smilin” Mark McKay has enjoyed one of the most interesting careers in modern media history.
After a 28 year run as a sports reporter and anchor at CNN, McKay has transitioned smoothly from the sports world to the world of Atlanta traffic as the airborne traffic reporter for WSB-TV and WSB-Radio during morning drive.
McKay who was a part-time freelance traffic reporter in Atlanta since1991 had the unenviable task of replacing beloved icon Captain Herb Emory in the WSB Skycopter Lounge.
“First, no one can replace Herb Emory,” McKay said. “We all on the WSB Traffic Team can hope to aspire to be half the traffic reporter that he was here for metro Atlanta commuters.”
Ironically, it was Captain Herb that gave McKay the nickname of “Smilin.”
“I believe he bestowed my with my nickname shortly after I joined WSB on a freelance basis reporting traffic in 2001,” McKay said. “He saw something in everyone and I’m glad that I received a rather benign moniker!”
“I’m told by listeners to this day ‘that’s why he’s called Smilin’! It was one of Captain Herb’s many gifts,” McKay said.
Fortunately for Atlanta commuters, McKay’s years as a sports reporter actually prepped him well for the role of airborne traffic reporter.
“What I did at CNN as a sports reporter was work mainly without a script, especially covering live events,” McKay said. “It’s the same flying over North Georgia looking down on our roads and interstates. I’m effectively doing play-by-play every morning trying to get our listeners and views across the ‘finish line’ to their destinations.”
The worst part of McKay’s new gig?
“I would say waking to a 3:59 a.m. alarm but even that’s not half bad,” McKay said. “The toughest part of the job is when interstate problems are breaking out all over Metro Atlanta at the same time and trying to do them justice in our reporting under the time restraints in place.”
McKay admits the job does have its perks.
“Flying in the WSB Radio SkyCopter and sharing what I see with thousands on air and on social media,” McKay said. “The sunrises are indeed spectacular from 800 feet above earth!”
While McKay’s background is in sports he earned his first Emmy covering breaking news; the 1996 Olympic Park bombing.
“In 1996, CNN had a late night sports program that aired at 1:30AM. I, along with a sports producer, were walking through the Olympic Park downtown to get in place at CNN’s live location to wrap up the day’s activities,” McKay said.
McKay was in the park when the bomb went off.
“The bomb, which was placed in the park near a concert venue, exploded and I thought it was pyrotechnics. I felt it go through my body. I saw the rising smoke. My producer said, ‘that’s not part of the show’,” McKay said. “He ran toward the explosion site and I ran to our live location and broke in to regular programming with breaking news. I never left that spot until law enforcement ordered us out of the park thinking there many have been more devises.”
About the Author
