Why We Are Here

JVS Recognizes Local Reporter

At its October 23 monthly meeting, The Upper Valley JVS Board of Education recognized WHIO-TV Reporter Steve Baker for being named to the 2009 Ohio School Board Association (OSBA) Media Honor Roll. Baker was selected for this honor because of his responsible reporting and decision making regarding the news that is shared with the community and the attention and tone that he gives to the issues that are pertinent to local schools and education.

The OSBA Media Honor Roll is intended to recognize print and broadcast journalists who give a high profile to good news about schools; report school news in a manner that is fair, accurate and balanced; and maintain a positive working relationship with school districts.

Supervisor Deb Holthaus made the presentation before the Board and shared, "We express our appreciation for your balanced and accurate approach to sharing with this community both the challenges facing our schools and the successes achieved by the staff and students of the Upper Valley JVS and the other area school districts. Your work has aided this community in focusing on the goal of providing the best public schools we can for every child who attends them."

Baker began covering the news in February 1970 working at WPTW Radio in Piqua. While still working at the station, he began shooting film for Channel 2 WDTN in 1974. In April 1980, he began working part time for WHIO TV Channel 7. He left the radio station in September 1983 for full-time employment at WHIO.Baker opened the Northern Bureau in Troy in October 1988 and continues to cover the news for Miami, Darke, Shelby, Mercer and Auglaize Counties. He shares, "I am a one-man band—I shoot, write, voice and set up my own live shots. My stories are edited in Troy and transmitted to Dayton via a microwave system."

At the presentation, Baker said, "The 35th anniversary of the JVS was of special interest to me. I covered the meetings that lead up to the founding and location of the JVS in Piqua. In fact, my parents were on the bus that retired State Representative Bob Netzley sponsored to take community leaders on a visit to other JVS facilities in Ohio prior to the decision to start Upper Valley JVS."

In addition to his professional work, Baker serves on the Boards of Directors for Leadership Troy and the Miami County Board of Developmental Disabilities at Riverside of Miami County. Over the years, he has received several awards, including the National Leadership Award. He also holds commendations from the Ohio New Photographers Association, Queen City Society of Professional Journalists, National Commission Against Drunk Driving, Ohio Association of Chiefs of Police, and the Ohio House of Representatives.

Baker is a graduate of Brunnerdale High School in Canton. He also attended Edison Community College and Wright State University. Currently, he and his wife Marty reside in Troy. They have two grown children Mark and Stephanie.