It’s hard to believe, but we’ll be six months old on May 15. Thanks to the Signal Cleveland team of reporters, editors and community listeners and hundreds of Cleveland Documenters, we are now reaching more than 200,000 Greater Clevelanders online and in person every month – and tens of thousands more via our partners at WOVU 95.9 FM and WKYC-TV.
We produce news and information that listens to residents and strives to make a difference in the lives of Greater Clevelanders. Our model is new. It’s innovative. And it works.
By the numbers
| Pieces of news & information published | 327 |
| Public meetings documented | 142 |
| Community gatherings, trainings and office hours hosted | 35 |
A few highlights from our work
Signal report:
Our Signal Crossroads Special Projects combine the curiosity and community expertise of Cleveland Documenters with the accountability work of Signal reporters for a unique collaboration. Recently, Documenters’ questions about casino revenue legislation on City Council agendas led to a series showing how council directs millions of those discretionary dollars.
Student Notebook: AP African American Studies
When reporter Paul Rochford heard about the pilot AP African American Studies course at Lakewood High School, he knew he wanted to hear from students. Lakewood High School is one of about 60 schools in the country piloting the AP African American Studies course this year. It becomes available to all U.S. high schools in fall 2024. The course has been the focus of a lot of public attention nationally, particularly after Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration sent a letter to the College Board saying the course had “no educational value.” The Lakewood High students saw it differently. Check out our Student Notebook here.
Signal Cleveland On Air
Side Hustle: Mikael Ellis works four jobs focused on the LGBTQ+ community (video)
By Jeff Haynes
Mikael Ellis has purposely decided to work at businesses that either primarily cater to LGBTQ+ patrons or have a large clientele from this community.
To reach as many Greater Clevelanders as possible, we are airing an audio version of Documenters’ Public Meeting Briefs so more people can learn about what is happening at local government meetings. Find it on our podcast platforms.
Cleveland Documenters
Cleveland Documenters have covered more than 142 public meetings since we launched in November 2022. Documenter Marian Bryant recently covered the Cuyahoga County Division of Children and Family Services (DCFS) Advisory Board meeting, where officials shared their struggle to find emergency placements for children in need of foster homes. We shared a brief about her coverage on social media. It took off, with hundreds of Greater Clevelanders jumping into the conversation. One Signal Cleveland reader asked about becoming a foster parent; another connected her to the appropriate training to get certified.