April 2022

THE PRESS CLUB OF CLEVELAND PRESENTS:  Meet the Media luncheon: Cleveland’s New Newsroom Leaders: Lila Mills and Jim Crutchfield Moderated by Cleveland Scene’s Sam Allard   Date: May 19, 2022 Time: Noon – 1:30 p.m. Location: TBD   The Press Club of Cleveland is proud to present the first public program featuring the editors-in-chief of Cleveland’s two new nonprofit newsrooms. The American Journalism Project’s Ohio Local News Initiative, which will focus on community journalism, will be run by Lila Mills. Marshall Project, which will cover the criminal justice system and related issues, will be led by Jim Crutchfield.

Mills is the Associate Director of Neighborhood Connections and is one of the founders of the Cleveland Documenters, a group of community journalists that covers neighborhood issues. The Documenters will also become part of the Ohio Local News Initiative newsroom. The News Initiative will be funded locally by the Cleveland Foundation.

Crutchfield is a longtime journalist who has served in various prominent leadership roles including the Detroit Free Press and the Akron Beacon Journal. The Marshall Project’s newsroom in Cleveland is supported by the Gund Foundation.

The discussion will be moderated by Cleveland Scene’s Sam Allard. A live, Q & A segment will follow the moderated portion of the program.

EQUIPPING EVERYONE: LESSONS FROM TEACHING THE PUBLIC ABOUT PUBLIC RECORDS If you missed this program, you can view on youtube: https://youtu.be/Wr23t2ydkVo Veteran journalist Rachel Dissell

All Ohio Excellence in Journalism Awards Friday, June 10th 5:30 PM - 9:30 PM House of Blues, Cleveland, Ohio

Please join  colleagues, friends and families at   The Press Club of Cleveland's  2022 All Ohio Excellence in Journalism Awards  on June 10th to celebrate  this year's winners.   (Winners will be notified by May 5th)    House of Blues   308 Euclid Avenue  Cleveland, OH 44114    5:30 - 6:30 PM Reception 6:30 PM Dinner 7:15 PM Welcome and awards  Individual and table seating    Early bird Ticket Pricing (one drink ticket is included in ticket price)   Individual ticket $85 Table of 8 $680   You may register online by  clicking this link  Best of Ohio winners will be announced at the end of the evening.   Early Bird reservations must be received by May 10, 2022

APRIL SHOWERS BRING... Spring is a time of renewal. Have you renewed your Press Club membership yet? Or, are you not yet a member? Renew or join today so you don’t miss out on valuable professional development programs and networking opportunities. You can sign up here: or call The Press Club office at 440-899-1112. We look forward to seeing you at future events as a member!

HALL OF FAME INDUCTION EVENT RESCHEDULED FOR NOVEMBER   Plans are moving forward for the Press Club of Cleveland Journalism Hall of Fame induction and Chuck Heaton Award presentation this fall. The event was canceled in 2020 because of the pandemic. It was delayed until March 2022 before being postponed again due to rising COVID-19 transmission rates. However, the Hall of Fame Committee is optimistic the event can take place in early November.   The date and place will be announced soon.   The committee will accept nominations for the Hall of Fame and candidates for the Chuck Heaton Award until June 15.   Press Club members should submit nominations by email to pressclubcle@gmail.com. Please indicate Hall of Fame or Heaton Award in the subject line. Also, include the nominee’s name, email address, phone number, the media outlet the person is/was affiliated with and a brief description of why he or she should be considered for the Hall of Fame or Heaton Award. In addition, nominators should include their name, email address and phone number.   Questions? Contact Carol Kovach at carolkovach@hotmail.com or call the Press Club office, 440-899-1222. The Press Club of Cleveland Journalism Hall of Fame, established in 1981, recognizes the accomplishments of journalists across all platforms who have made a significant contribution to the profession.   The Chuck Heaton Award, created in 2008, is bestowed upon the print, radio, online or television journalist who best exemplifies the sensitivity and humility that, along with his journalistic talents, were traits exhibited by the late Chuck Heaton during his exemplary career as a sports writer with The Plain Dealer. Heaton, a 50-year PD reporter, was inducted into The Press Club of Cleveland Journalism Hall of Fame in 1992. He died in 2008.

Five Journalism Tidbits from Northeast Ohio   -A new nonprofit newsroom funded by the American Journalism Project and the Cleveland Foundation names its editor in chief: Neighborhood Connections’ Lila Mills, who helped launch the Cleveland Documenters project.    -The Marshall Project’s new Cleveland bureau announces its first editor as well: Jim Crutchfield, a media veteran who served from 2001-2006 as the president and publisher of the Akron Beacon-Journal.    -Cleveland Magazine launches “brand refresh” on the occasion of its 50-year anniversary.   -WKYC’s Will Ujek departs for job in NYC.    -Cleveland.com revolving door: Health reporter Evan MacDonald has left for Texas, taking a job with the Houston Chronicle; Reporter Lucas Daprile has been hired from South Carolina and will cover the “Stimulus Watch” beat (tracking ARPA spending) formerly occupied by Robin Goist; Reporter Zack Smith has been hired from New York City and will produce data journalism alongside editor and data guru Rich Exner.     Five Journalism Tidbits from Around the Country + World    Tesla CEO Elon Musk buys Twitter for a reported $44 billion, vowing to take the platform private.    -“Old-school” Joe Kahn is the new editor of the New York Times.    -Former Times editor Dean Baquet will lead a new investigative reporting fellowship focused on state and local accountability journalism.    -More and more digital media companies want to go public, but can their newsrooms survive when growth and revenue are the bottom lines?  -The Chicago Reader, one of the country’s storied alt-weekly, will transition to a nonprofit organizational model, after one of its co-owners steps down amid employee pressure.

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

WE WANT TO SPOTLIGHT YOU! As we do monthly we want to spotlight our members so please consider taking a few minutes to answer these questions below and send a headshot/photo to pressclubcle@gmail.com.  Name Title & Employer/Affiliation Years in current job College/Major Personal Pick 1 1.Who’s your role model? 2.What’s something about you that people find surprising? 3.If you hadn’t chosen a field in communications, what would you probably be doing now for a living? 4.When did you first know you wanted to go into communications? 5.Where else (outside NEO) have you lived, and something about it? Professional Pick 1 1.What’s a story you covered that changed you? 2.Aside from Twitter and other social media, what blog/podcast/etc. do you follow faithfully? 3.What’s your proudest professional moment? 4.What advice would you have for younger people who want to do your job? 5.What’s your favorite part of your job? Fun Pick 1 1.What are one or two favorite places to go for a night out (pre-pandemic) 2.Beer, wine, liquor or none? 3.What’s your favorite vacation spot? 4.What's the most useless talent you have? 5.If you could have dinner with anyone from history or any fictional character, who would itbe and why?

JOIN THE PRESS CLUB TODAY In continuous operation since 1887, The Press Club of Cleveland is a home for working journalists, professional communicators and anyone who supports the media’s role to keep watch over democratic processes. We advocate for the importance of journalism; maintain the rich history of journalism in Northeast Ohio; recognize excellence in the field with the All-Ohio Excellence in Journalism Awards and the Press Club Hall of Fame; and host programs that bring members together for education, networking and comradery.    Special rates for young practitioners, and members receive discounts on Press Club events and entry fees in our statewide awards program. Learn more about the benefits of membership here.  Connect : Facebook: The Press Club of Cleveland Twitter: @PressClubCLE Instagram: @PressClubCLE