About Plain Press
Plain Press is an independent, nonprofit community newspaper serving the West Side neighborhoods of Cleveland, Ohio since 1971. The Plain Press covers neighborhood news not covered by the major media; gives critical support to the community (i.e. is an advocate, but criticizes when appropriate); covers grassroots issues and city, county, state and national issues that affect the community; provides self-help information and information about neighborhood service sand events; and is a forum for discussion of community issues.
To celebrate our 20th anniversary in 1991, Plain Press published a scrapbook documenting the early days of the paper.
Our distribution
The Plain Press distributes 21,000 newspapers monthly to over 500 locations. The primary distribution area ranges from Lake Erie on the north to the Upper Big Creek Valley on the south and from the Cuyahoga River on the east to W. 140th Street on the west. The distribution area includes the following Cleveland neighborhoods: Bellaire-Puritas, Brooklyn Centre, Clark Fulton, Cudell, Detroit Shoreway, Edgewater, Jefferson, Ohio City, Old Brooklyn, Stockyard, Tremont, West Park, West Boulevard and Westown.
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Board of Trustees
Keith Brown
Peggy Davenport
David Gamble
Dr. Leo Jeffres
Joe Narkin
Helen K. Smith
Our team
Want to write for Plain Press? Submit a pitch to [email protected] or use our contact form.
Chuck Hoven
Chuck Hoven has been the Managing Editor for Plain Press since 1988. He previously served on the Board of Trustees.
Abe Kurp
Abe Kurp has been Editorial Assistant since Fall 2023. He enjoys reading, spending time in nature, playing piano, and fighting to make the world a slightly better place.
Email: [email protected]
Gregory Cznadel
Greg Gznadel covers Old Brooklyn, green events anywhere, anyplace; tree stewards in our parks, on our streets; music in our schools, in our garden.
Email: [email protected]
Lynette Filips
Community journalist
Roldo Bartimole
From 1968 to 2000, iconoclastic journalist Roldo Bartimole rocked the boat in Cleveland politics with his biweekly newsletter, Point of Viəw. Roldo left the conventional journalism world at the age of thirty-five, because as he said it was "impossible for me to remain a neutral observer." For 32 years, Point of View served as Cleveland's conscience, exposing "... not only the machinations of Cleveland's ruling class - the politicians, the corporations, the real estate interests, the fourth estate - but also the city's charities, foundations and labor unions." Professional journalist turned pioneering citizen journalist, Roldo Bartimole continues to speak truth to power.
Dakotah Kennedy
Dakotah Kennedy is a freelance reporter with local bylines in The Buckeye Flame, The Marshall Project-Cleveland and Signal Cleveland. She also runs her own free weekly newsletter -- Upbeat Nonsense -- about the city's politics and pop culture.
Coriana Close
Plain Press Photo Editor. Coriana Close was born and raised in Cleveland Heights and is a graduate of Ruffing Montessori, Westover School, Oberlin College and the University of Arizona. In addition to photo editing, she is a digital artist and photographer.
Bruce Checefsky
Bruce Checefsky is a filmmaker and photographer, and published writer. A longtime resident of Tremont, Checefsky writes about local politics, fair housing and voting issues, covers City Hall, and neighborhood block club meetings.
Email: [email protected]
