June 2016
In This Issue
2016
Board of Directors

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE


President
Ed Byers
Medical Mutual


Vice President
Thom Fladung
Hennes Communications 


Secretary
Amy McGahan
Dix & Eaton 


Treasurer
Carol Kovach
Diocese of Cleveland 

TRUSTEES

Rita Andolsen
MetroHealth 
 

John Betchkal
Retired, GE Lighting 

 
Mary Lou Brink
The Plain Dealer

 
Toni Garbo
Fox 8 News


Jennifer Keirn
Keirn & Co
 
Russ Mitchell
Russ Mitchell
WKYC - TV3 


Lee Moran
The News-Herald 


Kathleen Osborne
Hathaway Brown School 


Mary Patton
Patton Public Relations 


Denise Polverine
WKYC - TV3 


Joe Pulizzi
Content Marketing Institute 


Todd Schneider
FirstEnergy 

Past President

Michael Bennett
Cleveland Leadership Center 

ADMINISTRATION
Lynn Bracic
Professional Management Concepts, Inc. 
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From the President - Ed Byers

June greetings!

A bit of news. Mostly personal.

After 12 years at Medical Mutual of Ohio, Friday, June 17 will be my last day. Its called retirement and to be clear, it is MY decision.
 
I will be heading off to my summer home in the Allegheny National Forest of NW Pennsylvania. This has been a lifelong dream.
 
Having invested nearly 10 years in Press Club leadership, my Hall of Fame and other Press Club tasks will remain intact. I will be back in town from time to time to take care of business, so I will not become a total stranger.
 
Press Club Vice President Thom Fladung will eventually succeed me. Thom is going to be the best President this Club has ever known. You can take it to the bank. The Club is in very good hands and his super-strong leadership skill set  certainly made my decision much easier to make. Please give him your support.

And a big, big, 'thank you' to the the ladies and gentlemen whose pictures appear up and down the left-hand side of this page, The Press Club Board of Directors. Along with The Press Club's Lynn Bracic and Debi Weslek, they are all simply the best!  

-Ed
Coming up this month

Wednesday, June 8, 2016
"Solutions Journalism"
Why is "solutions journalism" so important to the community -
and important for the media to engage in?

Tired of hearing what's wrong with journalism? Join us for a discussion of journalism that tries to make things right. Solutions journalism - stories that raise issues of community concern and offer answers - is hot in Northeast Ohio. A panel of some of the region's leading editors and newsroom managers, along with their staffers who are in the trenches making it work, will gather to talk about stories that offer solutions.

Media participants include 
and Chris Quinn of cleveland.comModerator is Press Club Board VP Thom Fladung of Hennes Communications

The Cleveland Leadership Center is sponsoring the program as part of its Civic Dialogues series, and your Press Club of Cleveland is a co-sponsor.

When: 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.Wednesday, June 8.
Where: NightTown
Cost: $35 per person, includes heavy appetizers and soft drinks.
 
For more information, go to the Cleveland Leadership Center link: http://www.cleveleads.org/10th/Dialogues
Welcome new members
Theresa Neuhoff
 
Theresa Neuhoff worked for 22 years in the newspaper industry. She was a sports reporter for 20 years and a Community Engagement Editor for two at The Morning Journal in Lorain, Ohio and The News-Herald, in Willoughby, Ohio.

The John Carroll University graduate is an award-winning journalist whose honors include Ohio Prep Sportswriters Association Writer of the Year (2009-2010) and Associated Press Best Feature Writer (2002). She is not only an experienced sports reporter, she has also written numerous columns, features, news and travel stories. 

The Vermilion native is currently working as a freelance writer and editor. Outside of writing and editing, she enjoys running, boating, traveling and gardening. She was invited to a Press Club of Cleveland event by her former Lorain Catholic classmate Kathleen Osborne. Theresa found the meeting on freelance journalism so informative, she decided to join the organization.
Clifton S. Haworth
 
Clifton was born and raised in Lodi, California and moved to Ohio 8 years ago.  I am now in the marketing dept. for a great downtown Cleveland company and love this city and the amazing momentum and development that I have been able to be a part of these last several years.

Reason for joining Press Club:  As a downtown employee (and hopefully future resident) I wanted to get more involved in the community from both a personal as well as business perspective to continue Britton Gallagher's growth.
Sudhir Kade Raghupathy
 
Sudhir Kade Raghupathy has been an avid writer for most of his life, considering it his favorite hobby, with poetry a close second.  Having been validated and praised for quality writing by faculty from CWRU and Carnegie Mellon, he is now energized to ramp up civic journalism, blogging and freelance writing efforts that have also received acclaim.  

He has been recognized for works posted on www.realneo.us, a regional media resource for which he designed the core taxonomy.  He has also been a content provider for Voices and Choices, a program of the Fund for Our Economic Future. 

As a coach and facilitator focused on positive change and quality of life for all our region's stakeholders, Sudhir has worked with dozens of the most influential organizations in the region to encourage team building and experiential leadership development. 

He is also founder and principal of Kade Social Ventures, a boutique consulting agency focused on the innovative design, prototype and delivery of globally significant and sustainable social enterprise solutions. He is a proud double alumnus and graduate of Case Western Reserve University and lifelong resident of Cleveland, Ohio.

I am excited to be a new member of The Press Club of Cleveland and have been encouraged by recently appreciated pieces of civic journalism and blogging to further a more serious pursuit of writing for positive change via online media. I really enjoyed the recent Press Club Panel on freelance writing. Core topics of expertise include matters related to positive change, social enterprise, sustainability, climate change, and community development.
Paid internships available -
Cleveland Jewish News

FALL NEWSROOM INTERNSHIP POSITION
 
The award-winning Cleveland Jewish News is looking for a fall editorial intern. This Violet Spevack Editorial Internship is for a high school senior or local college student who has a passion for journalism. Candidates will be assigned stories for publication in print as well as online. Interest in photography and social media helpful.
 
The 10-week position begins in September.
This is a 20-hour per week paid internship. (We will work around your school schedule)
Applicants should submit a resume and three writing samples to editorial@cjn.org and place "Fall Intern" in the subject line.
 
Deadline for applications is August 19. Interviews held August 22 to August 25.
 
For questions, contact Managing Editor Bob Jacob at  bjacob@cjn.org.

YODA NEWTON EDITORIAL INTERNSHIP
 
The Cleveland Jewish News is seeking candidates for the inaugural Yoda Newton Editorial Internship, which will begin in the fall. The internship will offer four candidates an opportunity to work for 10-week "semesters," beginning in October 2016 and through May 2017. Interns gain on-the-ground journalism experience in a fast-paced, professional newsroom environment. Interns will be involved in all facets of the newsgathering process including but not limited to assisting reporters with research, verification, securing and speaking with sources, proofreading, copy editing, etc.  Editorial interns will have an opportunity to pitch and write stories for all CJN platforms and publications, including all digital, social and magazine properties. Yoda Newton Editorial interns will learn about all facets of the Cleveland Jewish community, gaining new appreciation and insights into the people, congregations, agencies and organizations that comprise our vibrant community.

At the conclusion of the internship, it is expected that the intern will have a robust portfolio of published and accomplished work. 

This is a 20-hour per week paid internship over the course of 10 consecutive weeks.

Applicants should submit a resume and three writing samples to editorial@cjn.org and include "Yoda Newton Editorial Internship" in the subject line.

Deadline for applications is August 25.

For questions, contact Managing Editor Bob Jacob at bjacob@cjn.org.

The Cleveland Jewish Publication Company is an equal opportunity employer.
Freelance Writing - Making it Pay
By Carol Kovach, Press Club of Cleveland Treasurer
 

Press Club board member and 
program chair Jennifer Keirn
put together the freelance
writing program held at the Market Garden Brewery. 
The event attracted 50+ 
attendees. 


       
Panelists discuss how they make freelancing pay
 
The idea of freelance writing may appeal to some people: being your own boss, setting your own hours and choosing intriguing assignments.
 
But that's not necessarily true, according to four well-known Cleveland area freelancers. Annie Zaleski, Peter Chakerian, Afi-Odelia Scruggs and Nikki Delamotte joined moderator Jennifer Keirn, a Press Club board member and freelancer, on May 26 at the Market Garden Brewery to discuss "Making Freelance Writing Pay."
 
The panelists had some sage advice for those considering freelancing.
 
"Freelancing is a choice you have to make. It can mean long days, long nights ... I can't remember getting a day off," Chakerian said.
 
"Don't look at it as a romantic thing," Keirn said. "Your words are your product."
 
Scruggs said you need to carve a niche in the market. She chooses to be a freelance journalist, does a great deal of networking and makes frequent, strong pitches. She got a referral that helped land her a job as the Tamir Rice reporter for The Guardian. "I am journalism focused and I don't apologize for it," she added. However, she took classes to learn graphic design and works content migration jobs for a steady source of income. "It's dull as hell," she said, but the hours are flexible and she earned enough to buy a car.
 
The panelists said good freelancers know what their editors want and deliver it on time.
 
Delamotte said it's critical to fact-check everything. "Your words will follow you forever."
 
Regarding rates, the panelists said there are different rates for various jobs, with corporate work generally higher. Some clients pay an hourly rate, while some pay by the job. In Cleveland, rates may be lower than other areas of the country.
 
"Start high and throw out a rate, then negotiate down," Zaleski advised.
 
Most freelancers have no support staff, "so there is a lot of paperwork," Zaleski said. "You're your own billing department; you must stay on top of your taxes and be organized and disciplined. Don't live beyond your means."
The Press Club of Cleveland's All Ohio Excellence in Journalism was a
sell-out event
 
        
       
More photos from the event can be found on The Press Club of Cleveland's website (www.pressclubcleveland.com)

Thanks to The Press Club of Cleveland's All Ohio Excellence supporting sponsor
 
Thanks to 2016 Corporate Sponsor:

 

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