Our 2026 “Best of the City” contest will showcase something all Akronites crave: Eats! We’re setting out to discover what makes Akron authentically Akron, at least on the food and dining front. In the city that claims the first hamburg(er), blimps, Devo, Chrissie Hynde and devil strips — don’t forget tires — we want to hear about your favorites.
Author Archives: 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.
