Akron, OH – Signal Ohio, a nonprofit news organization with a mission to produce local journalism in service of Ohio communities, announced today that it has hired Susan Kirkman Zake as editor-in-chief of Signal Akron.
Signal Ohio is one of the nation’s largest local nonprofit news startups in the country, with a growing statewide network and nearly $14 million raised. Signal Ohio is transforming local news with a community-centered journalism model that ensures residents get the news and information they need about issues that affect the economic trajectory of their cities.
Zake’s hire marks the launch of Signal’s second newsroom in Ohio. Under her leadership, Signal Akron will be representative of the communities it serves, and lower barriers to access by offering its content digitally, free, and across multiple formats. The newsroom will replenish critical reporting resources in the area to provide unbiased coverage of government, economy, health, education, arts, culture, entrepreneurship, and other topics that bring Akron communities together.
Zake has deep roots in Northeast Ohio journalism. She was the managing editor for multimedia and special projects at the Akron Beacon Journal, where she began work as a staff photographer in 1986. Over a 20-year career, Zake worked as an assignment editor, picture editor, graphics editor, assistant metro editor and assistant managing editor. She most recently served as a professor and newsroom adviser at Kent State University. Among her accomplishments was the launch of the Kent State NewsLab, an experiential and collaborative news commons that connects student reporters with outside professional partners.
“We are excited to welcome Susan to the Signal Akron team. She brings not only valuable journalism expertise, but also the proven leadership skills and entrepreneurial spirit necessary to build the Signal Akron newsroom,” said Rita McNeil Danish, CEO of Signal Ohio. “It’s an important time for Signal Ohio as we embark upon our second newsroom launch in the state.”
Zake’s hire catalyzes further buildout of the Signal Akron newsroom, which has raised nearly $6 million and is expected to begin publishing by the end of 2023. Investors to date include the American Journalism Project, Knight Foundation, Akron Community Foundation, GAR Foundation, Goodyear, the Greater Akron Chamber, Huntington Bank, United Way of Summit & Medina, and the University of Akron Foundation.
“Knight Foundation is thrilled to see Akron’s civic and philanthropic leadership stepping up to invest in Signal Akron,” said Karen Rundlet, senior journalism director, Knight Foundation. “A healthy community depends on local news providers to inform residents and neighbors about issues that affect all Akronites.”
Signal Akron joins Signal Cleveland in the Signal Ohio network. A component of Signal Akron’s operations will include a new local affiliate of the Documenters program, which will train and pay residents to document local government meetings with notes and live-tweet threads.
“I’m honored to be selected as Signal Akron’s founding editor in chief and can’t wait to get started,” Zake said. “Our newsroom will focus on journalism that is truly from the community and for the community – we’ll be partnered closely with our Documenters program to more deeply understand the information Akron residents need and work in service of the idea people trust information that honestly includes them.”
The search committee for the editor-in-chief position included Henry Gomez, senior national political reporter, NBC News; Debra Adams Simmons, executive editor of history and culture & vice president, diversity, equity and inclusion, National Geographic Magazine; Kyle Kutuchief, program director, Knight Foundation; Mizell Stewart III, president and CEO of Emerging Leaders and former Akron Beach Journal managing editor; Jody Miller Konstand, board member, Akron Community Foundation; and Rita McNeil Danish, CEO, Signal Ohio.
The search was also informed by a panel of interviewers from the Akron community, including Kemp Boyd, executive director, Love Akron; Carla Davis, marketing communications director, Akron-Summit County Public Library; Lisa Mansfield, director of development and community partnership, Vantage Aging; Rodney Matthews, executive director, Urban Vision; and Doug Kohl.
Zake’s first day in the position is July 17. Signal Akron is actively recruiting for a community journalism director and other positions at https://localnewsforohio.org/jobs.
About Signal Ohio
Signal Ohio is a network of independent, community-led, nonprofit newsrooms backed by a coalition of Ohio organizations, community leaders and the American Journalism Project. It’s one of the largest local nonprofit news startups in the country, with a newsroom in Cleveland and one upcoming in Akron, a staff of 19 and nearly $14 million raised so far. It receives support from a broad coalition of local and national philanthropies, organizations, and individuals for its mission to ensure every resident of Ohio has the local news and information they need. Learn more at SignalOhio.com.