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We’re on a mission to ensure all residents of Greater Akron have the local news they need.
What is Signal Akron?
Launched in December 2023, Signal Akron is the second newsroom in the Signal Ohio network of independent, community-led, nonprofit newsrooms. Signal Ohio is one of the largest local nonprofit news startups in the country, with newsrooms in Akron, Cleveland, the Statehouse and Cincinnati later this year, a staff of more than 30 and more than $15 million raised so far. Signal Ohio is backed by a coalition of Ohio organizations, community leaders and the American Journalism Project.
At Signal Akron, we produce authoritative, trustworthy daily journalism across a range of topics, including government, education, public safety, health, and the arts. We’re also home to Akron Documenters, a group of Akron residents who are trained and paid to cover public meetings.
Together, we are a primary source of information for residents who may not otherwise have access to trusted local journalism, and we’re available online, via email, and on social platforms. Our website will feature explainers and guides to help residents navigate life in Akron, and it serves as a growing civic tool for our city. We also hold community gatherings and trainings, and we’ll be present every day in Akron communities.
We’re here to earn your trust
Our values are what set us apart. They help ground us, they guide us back to center when we inevitably make mistakes, and they help us learn from those mistakes. Most importantly, they keep us accountable to our audience:
We inform the community. We harness the expertise of our journalists to hold accountable the people and institutions whose decisions affect the community. We provide insight and information to help our community make informed decisions.
We respect community input and are intentional in seeking it out. We are accountable to community questions and interests and will make community interests and input an integral part of our reporting culture.
We flip the traditional news/civic information dynamic. We will start with providing civic information and tools rather than ending with it or being overly responsive to those in positions of power. Reporting will flow from the community, not from those governing it.
We hold and nurture accessible, informal community gathering spaces where everyone has a voice, power is shared, and civil discussion is valued. In these spaces, people are able to step into civic life in a way that feels safe, fun and productive.
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From police accountability and Akron Public Schools to finding fun things to do, we provide the news and information our city needs and wants. ALL FOR FREE.
Help us share more stories that matter to Akronites with a tax-deductible donation today.
Meet the Signal Akron team (we’re your neighbors!)
Our Editors
Susan Zake
Editor-in-Chief (she/her)
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 in a variety of roles across departments that all help inform her current role as Signal Akron’s editor in chief. Most recently, she was a journalism professor and student media adviser at Kent State University, where she worked with the next generation of journalists to understand public policy, environmental reporting, data and solutions reporting. 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.
Managing Editor (he/him)
Gary is returning to Akron after previously working at the Akron Beacon Journal as a sports reporter from 2003 to 2006. He is committed to delivering authoritative, trustworthy journalism that is accessible to everyone. Gary mostly recently worked as a newsroom leader in Clarksville (Tenn.), Murfreesboro (Tenn.) and Nashville, where he was the business, race and culture editor at The Tennessean. He is a native of New Orleans and a product of Southern University and A&M College. In his free time, you can find him cycling, playing paintball and smoking meats. More by Gary Estwick
Community Journalism Director (he/him)
Kevin leads the Akron Documenters program at Signal Akron, connects with the community and supports the journalists in the newsroom. With a servant leader mindset, he brings more than 30 years of experience in local journalism, media consulting, and education to Akron. Editor & Publisher selected Kevin as top media leader in their “25 over 50” class in 2022. Members of the group were selected for their “strong work ethic, transformational mindsets, commitment to journalistic and publishing excellence, and their ability to lead during challenging times.” Kevin is committed to serving the residents of Akron with an optimistic, inclusive, and innovative mindset to help elevate civic engagement and local journalism.
Audience Editor (he/him)
Jim is a digital media entrepreneur with a focus on audience engagement and data architecture. He has worked in both nonprofit and for-profit newsrooms.
Copy Editor (she/her)
I hunt typos in stories and emails coming from Signal Cleveland, Signal Akron and Documenters in both cities so that our news and information is as clear and accurate as possible. By doing so, I help people build their writing skills and help Clevelanders and Akronites have access to information that makes their lives easier.
Economics of Akron Reporter (she/her)
Arielle is a Northeast Ohio native with more than 20 years of reporting experience in Cleveland, Atlanta and Detroit. She joined Signal Akron as its founding education reporter, where she covered Akron Public Schools and the University of Akron.
As the economics of Akron reporter, Arielle will cover topics including housing, economic development and job availability. Through her reporting, she aims to help Akron residents understand the economic issues that are affecting their ability to live full lives in the city, and highlight information that can help residents make decisions. Arielle values diverse voices in her reporting and seeks to write about under-covered issues and groups.
Culture and Arts Reporter (she/her)
Kelsei centers arts and culture, food and identity in her storytelling. She uses her professional experience and editorial skills to focus a community-first mindset and a strategic approach to her reporting. Kelsei’s previous reporting experiences include food, community and culture coverage at 225 Magazine in her hometown of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Kelsei is a recent alumna of Northwestern University and a 2023 graduate of Jackson State University. More by Kelsei Scott
Government Reporter (he/him)
Doug Brown covers all things connected to the government in the city. He strives to hold elected officials and other powerful figures accountable to the community through easily digestible stories about complex issues. Prior to joining Signal Akron, Doug was a communications staffer at the ACLU of Oregon, news reporter for the Portland Mercury, staff writer for Cleveland Scene, and writer for Deadspin.com, among other roles. He has a bachelor’s degree in political science from Hiram College and a master’s degree in journalism from Kent State University.
Education Reporter
Andrew is a native son of Northeast Ohio who previously worked at the Akron Beacon Journal, News 5 Cleveland, and the Columbus Dispatch before leaving to work in national news with the Investigative Unit at Fox News. A graduate of Kent State University and a current resident of Firestone Park, he returns to his home city of Akron ready to sink into the education beat and provide Akronites with the local reporting they deserve. More by Andrew Keiper
Contributing Reporter
An award-winning journalist with three decades of experience covering cities and schools, interviewing top executives of middle-market companies and bringing awareness to nonprofit organizations, Abby has always believed it is vital to share the stories of the Northeast Ohioans who make our community great. In addition to reporting for several local publications, she was managing editor of AkronLife magazine and associate editor of Smart Business. A lifelong resident of West Akron, she is a proud graduate of Firestone High School and Ohio University. More by Abby Cymerman
Patricia Sheahan is a professor, student teacher supervisor, installation artist, educational consultant for the integration of the arts across all disciplines and a freelance writer. Sheahan enjoys more than four decades of education experience at K-12 schools in New York and Pennsylvania and higher education at Seton Hill University, the University of Pittsburgh, Duquesne University, Penn State and most recently the University of Akron. Her favorite courses to teach are Social Justice Through the Arts, Ethics, Introduction to Critical Education, Classroom Management and Integrating the Arts K-12. Interests include visiting the Akron Art Museum, Akron Library, Civic Theatre, walking downtown to view murals and window light installations plus the stunning flower and plant arrangements, antiquing, especially from her own vendor space at The Brothers North Antiques in Medina. She also frequents Akron restaurants and local boutiques, travels and spends time with her family; a daughter and her newly blended family in North Canton, a son and his family in San Diego and a son in Dallas. More by Patricia Sheahan
