UPCOMING EVENTS
The Active Voice: A Writer's Workshop with WFMJ's Chris Cerenelli
Wednesday, July 6, 2022
10:00 AM-Noon
YSU, 116 Meshel Hall
YPC Members: FREE - Non-Members: $20
Registration is limited. Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-active-voice-a-writing-workshop-with-wfmjs-chris-cerenelli-tickets-366922494057.
Writing in the active voice is easier than you think, even for longtime, passive voice-writers. Learn (or relearn) the difference between active and passive voice. This kind of writing translates into more readers, more clicks, and better retention. Regardless of your industry - news, advertising, marketing, PR, non-profit - or you've just been handed the keys to writing your companies press releases, this is a workshop you won't want to miss.
Here's what Chris has to say about this workshop: "I truly relished the chance to do a workshop like this because I’ve worked to develop my writing over the 15 years I’ve been in the business, and I still am. Writing is the one thing you can always get better at. The stuff I’ll cover is material I’ve both learned from my time in markets like Nashville and Dayton, and that I’ve passed on to producers and reporters since then. Whether you’re in print, TV or PR, keeping your writing focused and active is central to effectively communicating your message."
Chris Cerenelli, WFMJ
After ten years and six cities, Chris Cerenelli's journalism career brought him home in 2018. Chris has since taken on dual roles on 21 News' new, reformatted weekend evening newscasts, serving as co-anchor alongside his good friend Corey McCrae, as well as a weather forecaster. Chris also delivers concise, top-notch reporting with clarity and urgency three nights a week.
Chris was born and raised in Youngstown and came to 21 News from WEVV 44 News in Evansville, Indiana. There, he was a weeknight evening co-anchor and producer. He helped relaunch the station's news department in 2015. Before that, Chris did nearly every job you can think of during stops in Nashville, Dayton, Lima, Erie, and Zanesville. His responsibilities included anchoring, weather forecasting, shooting and editing his stories and running the assignment desk.
Chris has racked up several accolades during his time at WFMJ, including a 2019 Emmy Award and two Ohio Associated Press awards. His political reporting in Indiana earned him first-place honors from the Society of Professional Journalists in 2017.
Away from his weather and news duties, you'll most likely find Chris pursuing his passions in the gym or on the golf course. Chris is also a nature lover and a loyal fan of traditional country music. He's an experienced singer and musician who's performed with some of the top touring musicians in Nashville.
Wednesday, July 6, 2022
10:00 AM-Noon
YSU, 116 Meshel Hall
YPC Members: FREE - Non-Members: $20
Registration is limited. Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-active-voice-a-writing-workshop-with-wfmjs-chris-cerenelli-tickets-366922494057.
Writing in the active voice is easier than you think, even for longtime, passive voice-writers. Learn (or relearn) the difference between active and passive voice. This kind of writing translates into more readers, more clicks, and better retention. Regardless of your industry - news, advertising, marketing, PR, non-profit - or you've just been handed the keys to writing your companies press releases, this is a workshop you won't want to miss.
Here's what Chris has to say about this workshop: "I truly relished the chance to do a workshop like this because I’ve worked to develop my writing over the 15 years I’ve been in the business, and I still am. Writing is the one thing you can always get better at. The stuff I’ll cover is material I’ve both learned from my time in markets like Nashville and Dayton, and that I’ve passed on to producers and reporters since then. Whether you’re in print, TV or PR, keeping your writing focused and active is central to effectively communicating your message."
Chris Cerenelli, WFMJ
After ten years and six cities, Chris Cerenelli's journalism career brought him home in 2018. Chris has since taken on dual roles on 21 News' new, reformatted weekend evening newscasts, serving as co-anchor alongside his good friend Corey McCrae, as well as a weather forecaster. Chris also delivers concise, top-notch reporting with clarity and urgency three nights a week.
Chris was born and raised in Youngstown and came to 21 News from WEVV 44 News in Evansville, Indiana. There, he was a weeknight evening co-anchor and producer. He helped relaunch the station's news department in 2015. Before that, Chris did nearly every job you can think of during stops in Nashville, Dayton, Lima, Erie, and Zanesville. His responsibilities included anchoring, weather forecasting, shooting and editing his stories and running the assignment desk.
Chris has racked up several accolades during his time at WFMJ, including a 2019 Emmy Award and two Ohio Associated Press awards. His political reporting in Indiana earned him first-place honors from the Society of Professional Journalists in 2017.
Away from his weather and news duties, you'll most likely find Chris pursuing his passions in the gym or on the golf course. Chris is also a nature lover and a loyal fan of traditional country music. He's an experienced singer and musician who's performed with some of the top touring musicians in Nashville.
Podcasting Basics with Mary Beth Earnheardt
Wednesday, July 27, 2022
10:00 AM-1:00 PM
YSU, 116 Meshel Hall
YPC Members: FREE - Non-Members: $20
More info coming soon.
Wednesday, July 27, 2022
10:00 AM-1:00 PM
YSU, 116 Meshel Hall
YPC Members: FREE - Non-Members: $20
More info coming soon.
Youngstown Press Club 2nd Annual Hall of Fame and Awards Dinner and Ceremony
Wednesday, September 28, 2022
6:00 PM-9:00 PM
Stambaugh Auditorium
More info coming soon.
Wednesday, September 28, 2022
6:00 PM-9:00 PM
Stambaugh Auditorium
More info coming soon.
PAST EVENTS
Youngstown Press Club
Annual Meeting - special guest, Phil Kidd
Tuesday, May 17, 2022
Stambaugh Auditorium - Christman Room
6:00 P.M. to 9:00 P.M.
Annual Meeting - special guest, Phil Kidd
Tuesday, May 17, 2022
Stambaugh Auditorium - Christman Room
6:00 P.M. to 9:00 P.M.
World Press Freedom Day - Reading of the Names
May 3, 2022. Thanks to Mykola Zomchak and Sts. Peter and Paul Ukrainian Orthodox Church.
May 3, 2022. Thanks to Mykola Zomchak and Sts. Peter and Paul Ukrainian Orthodox Church.
Obstacles and Opportunities: The Future of Black Media
Thursday, February 24, 2022
12:30 P.M.
Williamson College of Business Administration
Auditorium (WCBA 1171)
Sponsored by:
The Youngstown Press Club
Youngstown State University Department of Communication’s Anderson Program in Journalism
Youngstown State University’s Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
The Youngstown Press Club hosts “Obstacles and Opportunities: The Future of Black Media” panel discussion, Thursday, February 24, 2022 at 12:30 p.m. in the Youngstown State University Williamson College of Business Administration Auditorium. The event is free and open to the public. Due to COVID protocols, masks are required.
The panel will feature prominent Valley journalists and media producers who will discuss the challenges that face Black journalists and media professionals. Panelists include Ernie Brown (The Vindicator), Aaron Deane (WYTV) and Malaynia Spiva (WFMJ). The panel will be moderated by Youngstown Press Club member and long-time Valley content creator, Art Byrd.
In collaboration with Youngstown State University Department of Communication’s Anderson Program in Journalism and Youngstown State University’s Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, the idea for the panel was developed after conversations among Press Club members on the growing need for diversity among our local newsrooms and media outlets. “As media outlets grow and options for news consumption expand, the importance for representation has never been more important,” said Adam Earnheardt, executive director of the Youngstown Press Club and professor of communication at Youngstown State University.
The Center for Community Media at CUNY’s Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism analyzed the coverage of nearly 100 Black-owned news outlets over 15 months between March 2020 and May 2021. In general, it found that Black media published as much as six times more coverage than mainstream outlets on issues of importance to Black communities, including racism, health disparities, and voting access.
“Many people speak of the importance of Black media in the context of history,” Black Media Initiative Director Cheryl Thompson-Morton said of the sector, which has been vibrant in communities across the country since the early 19th century. “This research shows why Black media is critical today. It provides data and backing of what Black media publishers have been telling us for years. My hope is that this report spurs more support and investment in the sector.”
The “Why Black Media Matters Now” report found that one in four articles in Black media mentioned racism or related issues, as compared with less than one in 10 in mainstream media. When COVID hit, Black media wrote five times more on the disproportionate racial impact of the pandemic and nearly twice as much on frontline and essential workers. Black media stood out in its focus on a variety of other health issues of particular relevance to Black communities, including maternal health, hypertension, diabetes, HIV/AIDS, and sickle cell disease. It also led the way in coverage of voting access, racism, and stories that humanize the individuals and groups in the news.
“When media scholars examine the importance of Black media, reports like this show a distinct ability to find parallels between modern day news events and historical injustices that mainstream outlets tend to ignore,” Earnheardt added. “This report found that Black journalists and media outlets are more likely than the mainstream media to humanize their stories by focusing more often on communities, family, men, women, and children”.
For example, according to the report, the “Tuskegee experiment is prominently featured in Black media’s coverage of medical mis/distrust. Jim Crow is emphasized in coverage of mass incarceration. Lynching is frequently included in coverage of slavery and Juneteenth. Even the word ‘history’ itself is uniquely prevalent in Black media across a diversity of topics.”
Off-street metered parking is available near the WCBA building, or park in the Wick Deck off Wick Avenue ($5/vehicle; cash).
Panelists
Ernest Brown, The Vindicator
Ernest (Ernie) Brown was the regional editor for The Vindicator, Ohio’s eighth-largest daily newspaper, from 1986 to 2019. Now retired, Ernie accumulated a wealth of media experience over nearly five decades in the media profession. Along with serving as a reporter for The Vindicator, he was a junior high English teacher and an Adult Basic Education teacher for the Youngstown Board of Education. He got his start as an intern and general assignment radio reporter for WTVN Radio in Columbus.
Ernie has been recognized for his work by several organizations including Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Psi Omicron Chapter’s Person of the Year in 2016, Delta Sigma Theta Youngstown Alumnae Chapter for Political Awareness and Involvement in 2015, honorary co-chairman for the first African-American Male Wellness Walk/Run in 2013, and for community service by the Ebony Lifeline Support Group in 2012. He attended Youngstown East High School where he graduated with honors before heading to Ohio State University for a B.A. in Broadcast Journalism. He earned a teacher certificate in English from YSU.
Aaron Deane, WYTV
Aaron Deane is an anchor for the 33 WYTV evening newscasts, joining the team in April 2021. He serves as a weekday co-anchor for the 6pm, 7pm, and 11pm newscasts while producing the 11pm newscast. He develops and pitches story ideas, conducts live reports in the field, creates engaging content for website and social media platforms, and regularly communicates with WYTV viewers on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter
A native of Roanoke, VA, Aaron is a 2016 graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University, where he obtained a bachelor’s degree in Mass Communications with a concentration in Broadcast Journalism. He was a member of the Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. as well as the National Association of Black Journalists. Prior to joining the 33 WYTV team, Aaron worked as a multimedia journalist and fill-in anchor at WNCT in Greenville, N.C. Before his time in Greenville, he worked as a photojournalist for WFXR in Roanoke. In his free time, Aaron enjoys cooking, getting lost in a good television show, and listening to music, especially Beyonce. As a journalist, Aaron enjoys meeting new people, telling their stories, finding stories that may go untold and keeping balance and telling the truth. He strives to learn something new every day.
Malaynia Spiva, WFMJ
Malaynia Spiva is an Emmy Award winning journalist at 21 News - WFMJ. Spiva joined the 21 News team in 2016 as morning reporter for WFMJ Today and WFMJ Weekend Today. She is an alum of The University of Akron where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Broadcast Journalism in 2012.
During her time in Akron, Malaynia was a disc jockey at z88.1 FM, and a year after graduating college she became the owner of an online travel publication that featured events and entertainment for the state of Ohio. Malaynia is from the Valley, a Warren native and a Howland High School graduate.
Moderator
Arthur Byrd
Arthur (Art) Byrd worked as a video photojournalist at WFMJ TV 21 where he shot and edited news and sports footage for the three daily newscasts. While at WFMJ, he and a colleague received a 2002 first place award from the Ohio Associated Press for “Best Investigative” reporting for a television news story called “Missing Money.”
He is a former instructor at YSU teaching “The History of Motion Pictures.” While at YSU, he taught several telecommunication courses and was the program coordinator of the practicum program where students designed their own communication projects. Arthur is a graduate of YSU with a B.A. in Telecommunications and a minor in Criminal Justice and an associate degree in Applied Business. He is a member of the speaking and leadership club, Toastmasters, which has clubs worldwide. Arthur belongs two local clubs: Executive 408 Toastmasters Youngstown and Warren Toastmasters. He earned the title of Distinguished Toastmaster, the highest honor in Toastmaster education.
Thursday, February 24, 2022
12:30 P.M.
Williamson College of Business Administration
Auditorium (WCBA 1171)
Sponsored by:
The Youngstown Press Club
Youngstown State University Department of Communication’s Anderson Program in Journalism
Youngstown State University’s Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
The Youngstown Press Club hosts “Obstacles and Opportunities: The Future of Black Media” panel discussion, Thursday, February 24, 2022 at 12:30 p.m. in the Youngstown State University Williamson College of Business Administration Auditorium. The event is free and open to the public. Due to COVID protocols, masks are required.
The panel will feature prominent Valley journalists and media producers who will discuss the challenges that face Black journalists and media professionals. Panelists include Ernie Brown (The Vindicator), Aaron Deane (WYTV) and Malaynia Spiva (WFMJ). The panel will be moderated by Youngstown Press Club member and long-time Valley content creator, Art Byrd.
In collaboration with Youngstown State University Department of Communication’s Anderson Program in Journalism and Youngstown State University’s Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, the idea for the panel was developed after conversations among Press Club members on the growing need for diversity among our local newsrooms and media outlets. “As media outlets grow and options for news consumption expand, the importance for representation has never been more important,” said Adam Earnheardt, executive director of the Youngstown Press Club and professor of communication at Youngstown State University.
The Center for Community Media at CUNY’s Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism analyzed the coverage of nearly 100 Black-owned news outlets over 15 months between March 2020 and May 2021. In general, it found that Black media published as much as six times more coverage than mainstream outlets on issues of importance to Black communities, including racism, health disparities, and voting access.
“Many people speak of the importance of Black media in the context of history,” Black Media Initiative Director Cheryl Thompson-Morton said of the sector, which has been vibrant in communities across the country since the early 19th century. “This research shows why Black media is critical today. It provides data and backing of what Black media publishers have been telling us for years. My hope is that this report spurs more support and investment in the sector.”
The “Why Black Media Matters Now” report found that one in four articles in Black media mentioned racism or related issues, as compared with less than one in 10 in mainstream media. When COVID hit, Black media wrote five times more on the disproportionate racial impact of the pandemic and nearly twice as much on frontline and essential workers. Black media stood out in its focus on a variety of other health issues of particular relevance to Black communities, including maternal health, hypertension, diabetes, HIV/AIDS, and sickle cell disease. It also led the way in coverage of voting access, racism, and stories that humanize the individuals and groups in the news.
“When media scholars examine the importance of Black media, reports like this show a distinct ability to find parallels between modern day news events and historical injustices that mainstream outlets tend to ignore,” Earnheardt added. “This report found that Black journalists and media outlets are more likely than the mainstream media to humanize their stories by focusing more often on communities, family, men, women, and children”.
For example, according to the report, the “Tuskegee experiment is prominently featured in Black media’s coverage of medical mis/distrust. Jim Crow is emphasized in coverage of mass incarceration. Lynching is frequently included in coverage of slavery and Juneteenth. Even the word ‘history’ itself is uniquely prevalent in Black media across a diversity of topics.”
Off-street metered parking is available near the WCBA building, or park in the Wick Deck off Wick Avenue ($5/vehicle; cash).
Panelists
Ernest Brown, The Vindicator
Ernest (Ernie) Brown was the regional editor for The Vindicator, Ohio’s eighth-largest daily newspaper, from 1986 to 2019. Now retired, Ernie accumulated a wealth of media experience over nearly five decades in the media profession. Along with serving as a reporter for The Vindicator, he was a junior high English teacher and an Adult Basic Education teacher for the Youngstown Board of Education. He got his start as an intern and general assignment radio reporter for WTVN Radio in Columbus.
Ernie has been recognized for his work by several organizations including Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Psi Omicron Chapter’s Person of the Year in 2016, Delta Sigma Theta Youngstown Alumnae Chapter for Political Awareness and Involvement in 2015, honorary co-chairman for the first African-American Male Wellness Walk/Run in 2013, and for community service by the Ebony Lifeline Support Group in 2012. He attended Youngstown East High School where he graduated with honors before heading to Ohio State University for a B.A. in Broadcast Journalism. He earned a teacher certificate in English from YSU.
Aaron Deane, WYTV
Aaron Deane is an anchor for the 33 WYTV evening newscasts, joining the team in April 2021. He serves as a weekday co-anchor for the 6pm, 7pm, and 11pm newscasts while producing the 11pm newscast. He develops and pitches story ideas, conducts live reports in the field, creates engaging content for website and social media platforms, and regularly communicates with WYTV viewers on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter
A native of Roanoke, VA, Aaron is a 2016 graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University, where he obtained a bachelor’s degree in Mass Communications with a concentration in Broadcast Journalism. He was a member of the Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. as well as the National Association of Black Journalists. Prior to joining the 33 WYTV team, Aaron worked as a multimedia journalist and fill-in anchor at WNCT in Greenville, N.C. Before his time in Greenville, he worked as a photojournalist for WFXR in Roanoke. In his free time, Aaron enjoys cooking, getting lost in a good television show, and listening to music, especially Beyonce. As a journalist, Aaron enjoys meeting new people, telling their stories, finding stories that may go untold and keeping balance and telling the truth. He strives to learn something new every day.
Malaynia Spiva, WFMJ
Malaynia Spiva is an Emmy Award winning journalist at 21 News - WFMJ. Spiva joined the 21 News team in 2016 as morning reporter for WFMJ Today and WFMJ Weekend Today. She is an alum of The University of Akron where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Broadcast Journalism in 2012.
During her time in Akron, Malaynia was a disc jockey at z88.1 FM, and a year after graduating college she became the owner of an online travel publication that featured events and entertainment for the state of Ohio. Malaynia is from the Valley, a Warren native and a Howland High School graduate.
Moderator
Arthur Byrd
Arthur (Art) Byrd worked as a video photojournalist at WFMJ TV 21 where he shot and edited news and sports footage for the three daily newscasts. While at WFMJ, he and a colleague received a 2002 first place award from the Ohio Associated Press for “Best Investigative” reporting for a television news story called “Missing Money.”
He is a former instructor at YSU teaching “The History of Motion Pictures.” While at YSU, he taught several telecommunication courses and was the program coordinator of the practicum program where students designed their own communication projects. Arthur is a graduate of YSU with a B.A. in Telecommunications and a minor in Criminal Justice and an associate degree in Applied Business. He is a member of the speaking and leadership club, Toastmasters, which has clubs worldwide. Arthur belongs two local clubs: Executive 408 Toastmasters Youngstown and Warren Toastmasters. He earned the title of Distinguished Toastmaster, the highest honor in Toastmaster education.
Meme Culture with Dr. Shane Tilton
Wednesday, November 10, 2021
4:00 P.M. (via WebEx)
Join us for a lively discussion on the importance of meme culture with Dr. Shane Tilton, author of Meme Life.
Dr. Shane Tilton is an associate professor of multimedia journalism at the Ohio Northern University. Tilton is also a Fellow for the Ohio Northern University Institute for Civics and Public Policy, the Leyline Geek Therapy Advisory Board, and the Center for Society and Cyberstudies. He was named the 2018 Young Stationers’ Prize for his work advancing journalism and communication scholarship and education in United States higher education for nearly two decades. Tilton was honored twice by the Society for Collegiate Journalists as his work advising the Northern Review, the campus newspaper. His latest award happened in 2018 when he was named the Sheridan Barker Advisor of the Year. Tilton’s research normally falls in the realms of collegiate game-based pedagogy, the psychological issues surrounding ludology, multimedia journalism’s influence on society, social media engagement, and memetic communication practices. His work on social media and its connection to university life earned him the 2013 Harwood Dissertation award from the Broadcast Education Association.
Wednesday, November 10, 2021
4:00 P.M. (via WebEx)
Join us for a lively discussion on the importance of meme culture with Dr. Shane Tilton, author of Meme Life.
Dr. Shane Tilton is an associate professor of multimedia journalism at the Ohio Northern University. Tilton is also a Fellow for the Ohio Northern University Institute for Civics and Public Policy, the Leyline Geek Therapy Advisory Board, and the Center for Society and Cyberstudies. He was named the 2018 Young Stationers’ Prize for his work advancing journalism and communication scholarship and education in United States higher education for nearly two decades. Tilton was honored twice by the Society for Collegiate Journalists as his work advising the Northern Review, the campus newspaper. His latest award happened in 2018 when he was named the Sheridan Barker Advisor of the Year. Tilton’s research normally falls in the realms of collegiate game-based pedagogy, the psychological issues surrounding ludology, multimedia journalism’s influence on society, social media engagement, and memetic communication practices. His work on social media and its connection to university life earned him the 2013 Harwood Dissertation award from the Broadcast Education Association.
Youngstown Press Club Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Dinner
September 29, 2021
6:00 PM
Stambaugh Auditorium
Sponsored by Farmers National Bank
The Youngstown Press Club is pleased to announce its inaugural Hall of Fame class and First Amendment award honoree.
The inaugural class to be inducted next month includes local media icons the late Robert “Bob” Black, Stan Boney, and Ralph Zerbonia. Also receiving the first-ever Youngstown Press Club First Amendment Award is The Vindicator Printing Company.
The awards ceremony and dinner will take place Wednesday, September 29, 2021 at 6 P.M. at Stambaugh Auditorium, 1000 Fifth Ave., Youngstown. Ticket information can be found at www.yopressclub.com.
Tickets for the event are $40, while tables of eight are $300. Farmers National Bank is the presenting sponsor.
Ticket form: https://forms.gle/9ojPjqs8cnctkBC39
“The Press Club established the Hall of Fame and awards to celebrate members of our local communication, media and advertising community who have had long and distinguished careers,” said Adam Earnheardt, executive director.
Nominees for the Hall of Fame must have a minimum of 20 years professional media experience including journalism, public relations, advertising, and/or writing. “In other words, they must have made notable contributions in the Valley media markets,” Earnheardt added.
The First Amendment Award is given to honor a person or organization who has taken a stand with the risk of personal or professional harm. “It was created to honor those who have staunchly defended the freedoms protected by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution,” Earnheardt added.
The nominee must have a connection to the Mahoning Valley region. This award will only be given in instances where the actions of the awardee are exceptional. The action meriting this award must have happened in the past five years.
Contact Youngstown Press Club executive director Adam Earnheardt at 330-941-1845 or email at youngstownpressclub@gmail.com with questions.
Biographies
Bob Black’s interest in broadcasting began as a teenager when he was an announcer for WEDA-FM radio in Grove City, Pa. While attending Penn State University he continued working as an announcer and news editor at the college radio station WDFM. Black first worked as a Grove City Junior High School teacher for nine years after college until he scored a job in journalism in 1978 as a part-time weekend sports announcer WKBN-TV. He was named anchor of WKBN-TV News at Noon in 1979, anchoring the show for 17 years until 1996 when the station was sold. In 1997 he was hired by WFMJ-TV and became co-anchor of their 6 P.M. and 11 P.M. newscasts until his retirement in 2015. Black received three Cleveland Emmy Awards as well as various accolades for his coverage of Congressman James Traficant; of political corruption in the Valley; of General Motors Lordstown plant; and of the United Autoworkers Union among many other important topics. He continued contributing even after his retirement in 2015 with coverage of the 2016 Presidential election while serving on the 21 News political team. Black died in 2017.
Stan Boney is a 40-year-plus veteran of television news in Youngstown, joining WKBN-27 First News in 2015 after 36 years with 33-WYTV. He was born and raised in Findlay, Ohio and is a graduate of Ohio University. After a brief stint in Dayton, Boney arrived in Youngstown in 1979 and began his career at 33-WYTV. His first job at 33-WYTV was as the weekend sports anchor, later covering Trumbull County. In 1981, he took over weather duties, a position he held for 30 years. In 2008, Boney became the co-anchor of 33-WYTV News, and in 2011 he moved on from his weather job after being named anchor of the 33-WYTV News at 5:30, 6 and 11 P.M. His enthusiasm for writing and story-telling is evident through his coverage of major news such as Lordstown’s closing, local and national politics, and of hundreds of human-interest stories.
For 47 years, Youngstown native Ralph R. Zerbonia has been an entrepreneur and start-up launch specialist, starting numerous new media companies in the Valley. While working as a stockbroker he founded the Youngstown Publishing Company and in 1984 founded and became the first publisher of The Youngstown Business Journal. In 1995 he began cboss, an early internet services and programming company. They operated one of the first news aggregation sites in the state. With cboss and his consulting company Universe Central Corp they arranged for the Mahoning County Board of Elections to become the first site of election results being published live ever. cboss also created OPLATES which became the world’s largest registrar of vehicle plates. Having retired, he decided he didn’t like it, so he quit and is now working with Microsoft virtual reality technologies.
The Vindicator Printing Company, along with the Brown Family, provided a family-run newspaper to the Mahoning Valley for 150 years. The paper began in 1869 when it launched as The Mahoning Vindicator. It became the Youngstown Vindicator shortly after. Its reporting on the mafia, political corruption, and big business matters garnered the paper a reputation of fearlessness. In 1984, the paper became The Vindicator. The paper provided a heritage of reporting to uncover corruption and to be the watchdog for a community, the importance of good story-telling, and the celebration of the past while emphasizing the importance for future First Amendment rights through journalistic freedom and longevity.
September 29, 2021
6:00 PM
Stambaugh Auditorium
Sponsored by Farmers National Bank
The Youngstown Press Club is pleased to announce its inaugural Hall of Fame class and First Amendment award honoree.
The inaugural class to be inducted next month includes local media icons the late Robert “Bob” Black, Stan Boney, and Ralph Zerbonia. Also receiving the first-ever Youngstown Press Club First Amendment Award is The Vindicator Printing Company.
The awards ceremony and dinner will take place Wednesday, September 29, 2021 at 6 P.M. at Stambaugh Auditorium, 1000 Fifth Ave., Youngstown. Ticket information can be found at www.yopressclub.com.
Tickets for the event are $40, while tables of eight are $300. Farmers National Bank is the presenting sponsor.
Ticket form: https://forms.gle/9ojPjqs8cnctkBC39
“The Press Club established the Hall of Fame and awards to celebrate members of our local communication, media and advertising community who have had long and distinguished careers,” said Adam Earnheardt, executive director.
Nominees for the Hall of Fame must have a minimum of 20 years professional media experience including journalism, public relations, advertising, and/or writing. “In other words, they must have made notable contributions in the Valley media markets,” Earnheardt added.
The First Amendment Award is given to honor a person or organization who has taken a stand with the risk of personal or professional harm. “It was created to honor those who have staunchly defended the freedoms protected by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution,” Earnheardt added.
The nominee must have a connection to the Mahoning Valley region. This award will only be given in instances where the actions of the awardee are exceptional. The action meriting this award must have happened in the past five years.
Contact Youngstown Press Club executive director Adam Earnheardt at 330-941-1845 or email at youngstownpressclub@gmail.com with questions.
Biographies
Bob Black’s interest in broadcasting began as a teenager when he was an announcer for WEDA-FM radio in Grove City, Pa. While attending Penn State University he continued working as an announcer and news editor at the college radio station WDFM. Black first worked as a Grove City Junior High School teacher for nine years after college until he scored a job in journalism in 1978 as a part-time weekend sports announcer WKBN-TV. He was named anchor of WKBN-TV News at Noon in 1979, anchoring the show for 17 years until 1996 when the station was sold. In 1997 he was hired by WFMJ-TV and became co-anchor of their 6 P.M. and 11 P.M. newscasts until his retirement in 2015. Black received three Cleveland Emmy Awards as well as various accolades for his coverage of Congressman James Traficant; of political corruption in the Valley; of General Motors Lordstown plant; and of the United Autoworkers Union among many other important topics. He continued contributing even after his retirement in 2015 with coverage of the 2016 Presidential election while serving on the 21 News political team. Black died in 2017.
Stan Boney is a 40-year-plus veteran of television news in Youngstown, joining WKBN-27 First News in 2015 after 36 years with 33-WYTV. He was born and raised in Findlay, Ohio and is a graduate of Ohio University. After a brief stint in Dayton, Boney arrived in Youngstown in 1979 and began his career at 33-WYTV. His first job at 33-WYTV was as the weekend sports anchor, later covering Trumbull County. In 1981, he took over weather duties, a position he held for 30 years. In 2008, Boney became the co-anchor of 33-WYTV News, and in 2011 he moved on from his weather job after being named anchor of the 33-WYTV News at 5:30, 6 and 11 P.M. His enthusiasm for writing and story-telling is evident through his coverage of major news such as Lordstown’s closing, local and national politics, and of hundreds of human-interest stories.
For 47 years, Youngstown native Ralph R. Zerbonia has been an entrepreneur and start-up launch specialist, starting numerous new media companies in the Valley. While working as a stockbroker he founded the Youngstown Publishing Company and in 1984 founded and became the first publisher of The Youngstown Business Journal. In 1995 he began cboss, an early internet services and programming company. They operated one of the first news aggregation sites in the state. With cboss and his consulting company Universe Central Corp they arranged for the Mahoning County Board of Elections to become the first site of election results being published live ever. cboss also created OPLATES which became the world’s largest registrar of vehicle plates. Having retired, he decided he didn’t like it, so he quit and is now working with Microsoft virtual reality technologies.
The Vindicator Printing Company, along with the Brown Family, provided a family-run newspaper to the Mahoning Valley for 150 years. The paper began in 1869 when it launched as The Mahoning Vindicator. It became the Youngstown Vindicator shortly after. Its reporting on the mafia, political corruption, and big business matters garnered the paper a reputation of fearlessness. In 1984, the paper became The Vindicator. The paper provided a heritage of reporting to uncover corruption and to be the watchdog for a community, the importance of good story-telling, and the celebration of the past while emphasizing the importance for future First Amendment rights through journalistic freedom and longevity.
Youngstown Press Club Hosts Virtual Workshop with Bonnie Jean Feldkamp
Contact: Adam Earnheardt, Executive Director
acearnheardt@ysu.edu
August 8, 2021
YOUNGSTOWN – The Youngstown Press Club announces a workshop, “The Art of Pitching,” via Zoom, featuring Bonnie Jean Feldkamp of Creators Syndicate on Monday, August 16 at 1:00 PM.
Creators Syndicate, also known as Creators, is an independent distributor of comics and syndicated columns to daily newspapers, websites and other digital outlets.
The workshop is free for Press Club members and $10 for non-members. Those interested should email Adam Earnheardt at acearnheardt@ysu.edu for registration and payment details.
Award-winning freelancer and syndicated columnist Bonnie Jean Feldkamp will offer real-life examples to effectively pitch stories to publications. Information about finding leads, researching publications, writing pitches, and landing real assignments will be shared, and participants will receive a valuable resource sheet on where to find leads.
Earnheardt said, “More writers are turning to freelance work in this gig economy making the art of the pitch so important.”
Feldkamp is a wife and mother of three kids, and an award-winning columnist from northern Kentucky. Her most recent award came from the National Federation of Press Women, and in 2021, she earned first place in the editorial/opinion category for the third year in a row. Her columns often seek to understand how current events and family life intersect. She ties personal experiences to social issues to help readers empathize, relate and care.
She is the media director for the National Society of Newspaper Columnists, a member of the Cincinnati Enquirer editorial board and a board member of the Greater Cincinnati Society of Professional Journalists. An avid conservation enthusiast, she serves on the board of the Fort Thomas Forest Conservancy. She is a believer of the importance of strong community resources of which journalism is vital.
More information about Feldkamp is at WriterBonnie.com.
For more information on the Youngstown Press Club including membership options, visit yopressclub.com
Contact: Adam Earnheardt, Executive Director
acearnheardt@ysu.edu
August 8, 2021
YOUNGSTOWN – The Youngstown Press Club announces a workshop, “The Art of Pitching,” via Zoom, featuring Bonnie Jean Feldkamp of Creators Syndicate on Monday, August 16 at 1:00 PM.
Creators Syndicate, also known as Creators, is an independent distributor of comics and syndicated columns to daily newspapers, websites and other digital outlets.
The workshop is free for Press Club members and $10 for non-members. Those interested should email Adam Earnheardt at acearnheardt@ysu.edu for registration and payment details.
Award-winning freelancer and syndicated columnist Bonnie Jean Feldkamp will offer real-life examples to effectively pitch stories to publications. Information about finding leads, researching publications, writing pitches, and landing real assignments will be shared, and participants will receive a valuable resource sheet on where to find leads.
Earnheardt said, “More writers are turning to freelance work in this gig economy making the art of the pitch so important.”
Feldkamp is a wife and mother of three kids, and an award-winning columnist from northern Kentucky. Her most recent award came from the National Federation of Press Women, and in 2021, she earned first place in the editorial/opinion category for the third year in a row. Her columns often seek to understand how current events and family life intersect. She ties personal experiences to social issues to help readers empathize, relate and care.
She is the media director for the National Society of Newspaper Columnists, a member of the Cincinnati Enquirer editorial board and a board member of the Greater Cincinnati Society of Professional Journalists. An avid conservation enthusiast, she serves on the board of the Fort Thomas Forest Conservancy. She is a believer of the importance of strong community resources of which journalism is vital.
More information about Feldkamp is at WriterBonnie.com.
For more information on the Youngstown Press Club including membership options, visit yopressclub.com
Bonnie Jean Feldkamp
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World Press Freedom Day - Reading of the Names
May 3, 2021
Below are images from the Youngstown Press Club May 3, 2021 World Press Freedom Day commemoration event. Readers from left to right were C. Aileen Blaine (The Jambar), Derek Steyer (WFMJ-TV), Aundréa Cika Heschmeyer (Marquee Creatives), JoAnn Kolarik (WFMJ-TV), and Ralph Zerbonia (Virtual Scholars, Inc.). Thank you to all who attended. (photos courtesy George Nelson)
May 3, 2021
Below are images from the Youngstown Press Club May 3, 2021 World Press Freedom Day commemoration event. Readers from left to right were C. Aileen Blaine (The Jambar), Derek Steyer (WFMJ-TV), Aundréa Cika Heschmeyer (Marquee Creatives), JoAnn Kolarik (WFMJ-TV), and Ralph Zerbonia (Virtual Scholars, Inc.). Thank you to all who attended. (photos courtesy George Nelson)
