Staff @ Cleveland Free Press
Cleveland Free Press is what is commonly known as "grassroots journalism" - a mix of professionals and the public they serve - all working together for the better of the community as a whole. In our case, the community includes all of Northern Ohio, a wonderful place to live and work and play.
Cleveland Free Press was launched on December 3, 2010, as an effort to help the people of Cleveland and Northern Ohio. To do that, we are working on putting together a top notch team of journalists, community leaders, and citizens who are passionate about improving their quality of life.
This is a quick look at our current staff. If you are interested in becoming involved, please contact us. We are always looking for talented freelancers and volunteers to help make Cleveland Free Press a better place for everyone.
K. Paul Mallasch - Publisher / Editor
Born in Medina County and raised on Cleveland's West Side, K. Paul Mallasch has spent the last 22 years in Indiana. For 17 of those years, he has been working toward launching a website like Cleveland Free Press.
From five years at Ball State University to seven years with a Gannett owned newspaper to over five years working for himself on a variety of local community websites, he has the experience, knowledge and passion needed to form a new media source for Northern Ohio.
Mansfield Frazier - Columnist
Born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, Mansfield Frazier is a former newspaper editor, an avid gardener, and someone who believes in Cleveland. He resides in the Hough neighborhood of Cleveland with his wife Brenda and their two dogs, Gypsy and Ginger.
He also runs, Neighborhood Solutions, INC, which is a 501 C (3) formed in 2004 to provide educational services directed at varied populations on multiple topics.
The organization's efforts are focused on promoting and improving the communication, dissemination and use of information and knowledge for the benefit of the general public in the areas of literacy, employment and entrepreneurial skills.
Larry Durstin - Columnist
Larry Durstin is an independent journalist who has covered politics and sports for a variety of publications and websites over the past 20 years.
He was the founding editor of the Cleveland Tab and an associate editor at the Cleveland Free Times.
Durstin has won 12 Ohio Excellence in Journalism awards, including six first places in six different writing categories.
Contact him at LarryDurstinATyahoo.com
Laylah Salman - Video Report / Operations
Born and raised in Youngstown, Ohio, Laylah Salman has proudly made herself a Clevelander for the past 11 years. She has attended and graduated from the Ohio Center for Broadcasting, Cosmetology School and Youngstown State University.
She has been reporting and writing for the Sports Gab Network since 2009. She has previously worked as a sports talk show producer for the Digital Sports Network.
While being a mother of two, she also enjoys her career in writing, reporting, and creating extraordinary videos.
Stacey Kay - Fashion / Thrifting Blogger
Stacey Kay Thomas is a freelance fashion writer based out of Cleveland.
She has written for fashion websites such as FashionablyCleveland.com and Collegefashionista.com, and also produces her own personal blog, Goodwill Huntingg
Jen Verrillo - Blogger / Humorist (Journalist)
Originally from Syracuse, New York, Jen has made her home in Lakewood for the past 15 years. She’s an avid Cleveland sports fan, although the Browns sometimes make her feel like a battered wife. She vows to end that relationship at least a dozen times each season, but always comes back for more.
Jen was a featured columnist with The Cleveland Independent and hosts her own blog The Broad’s Side. Her cynical sense of humor and warped way of looking at life help to take the edge off the daily grind.
Jennifer Caceres - Health Blogger
Jennifer Caceres is a graduating senior at The Ohio State University, soon to obtain degrees in Human Nutrition and Psychology.
She is a member of the Nation’s first and largest co-ed Latino Fraternity, Alpha Psi Lambda.
In her four years at Ohio State she has been a leader on Ohio State’s campus for academics, as reflected by her membership in Sphinx Senior Honorary Society, as well as community service and Greek life through her fraternity.
Jennifer’s career goals include remaining in the field of Dietetics, where she has participated in numerous research studies during her college career, to aid others in understanding healthy behaviors and eventually becoming a professor of Human Nutrition.
Mara Robinson - Photographer / Staff Writer / CLE Music Maven
Mara is an independent Writer/Editor/Photographer who focuses on documenting the indie rock scene. She has more than 10
years of experience in advertising/marketing, has contributed
copy/concepts for Ocean Spray, Sherwin-Williams and Cleveland Clinic
among others, and has served as editor of two novels and a nationally
distributed home-decor magazine. She's available for short-term and
long-term assignments, and in-studio or on-location photo shoots.
330.414.4651
Mara@MaraRobinson.com
http://www.MaraRobinson.com
Josh Flagner - Sports Blogger - Cleveland Indians +
Josh Flagner was born in Cleveland, raised in Olmsted Falls, and has continued his trek south to make Medina home.
He is a lifetime supporter of Cleveland's history, future, and most of all, it's sports teams.
Josh also covers the Indians for 90FeetandRunning.com and dabbles in a little bit of everything at railbirdj.wordpress.com
Cris Glaser
Cris Glaser is a veteran broadcast and newspaper reporter, whose 25-year career has included interviews with U.S. presidents, sports icons and Hollywood movie stars. Most recently, he was an entertainment editor for Scene Magazine in Cleveland and won numerous awards from the Ohio Associated Press, the Press Club of Cleveland and the Ohio chapter of the Society for Professional Journalists. He's a native of Amherst, a graduate of Kent State University and a longtime resident of Lakewood.
Independent Journalists
- John Lasker
Guest Columnists
