Chelsea Simeon
When Chelsea Simeon came out of Youngstown State University in 2011 and got her first job at the Elyria Chronicle Telegram, her focus was simple.
“You wrote a story and that’s it,” said Simeon, of Brookfield.
Journalism has changed a lot since then. More people consume news on the internet, and writers have had to adapt.
“Now, you have to think about Google keywords and here’s what’s gonna pick up on search and video and social media,” Simeon said. “It’s a lot to juggle and think about.”
Apparently, she has done it pretty well. The Youngstown Press Club has announced that Simeon will receive an Excellence in Media Award at its Sept. 24 Hall of Fame and Awards Dinner.
A digital executive producer for WKBN-TV and WYTV since 2015, Simeon manages website and social media content, edits copy and stories, and works with reporters to develop story ideas, she said. She does some reporting, when she can fit it into her schedule.
Simeon described the web team “a great group of hustlers.
“I think a lot of our success can be attributed to how well we work together and how much work they do,” she said.
Simeon moved into the digital side of news when it became apparent that that was the direction news was heading.
“As I went along with my career, more and more stuff’s online,” she said. “You have to get it online quickly because you know someone else’s gonna have it, either another news source or even social media, someone taking pictures and putting it online. There’s a different market now, and it’s fast-paced.”
Simeon said she enjoys the fast pace, but also is aware of the ethics of journalism, which can be subverted in the race to get something out first, and the validity of more investigative, thought-provoking pieces that cannot be done hurriedly.
“That’s been a challenge,” said the 2007 Brookfield High graduate.
More changes in the news business are afoot. Some news agencies are using artificial intelligence (AI) to write news stories, and the results have not always been positive. The 24-hour demand for news has also gotten newsrooms thinking about alternative delivery platforms.
“We recently launched a CTV (connected TV) app, so we’re gonna start doing more 24-hour programming stuff,” Simeon said. “It’s run through the digital department but also TV so we kind of work together in that regard.”
As much as news organizations have embraced new technology, they continue to shed employees and many have gone out of business. Simeon said she still sees a future in journalism.
“I would hope people would still realize the importance of local journalism and journalism in general,” she said. “There’s things that AI can’t do, and I feel like later on won’t be able to do, and that’s why I feel it’s important to have local journalists.”
In addition to Simeon, Excellence in Media Awards will be presented to WFMJ-TV reporter and anchor Sydney Canty and Margie Lenhart, morning show talent at Willie 95.1.
These people will be inducted into the hall of fame: Marie Cartwright, former vice president of corporate communications for DeBartolo Properties Management Inc.; the late Paul C. Jagnow, who was managing editor for news at The Vindicator; the late John Nagy, who was WKBN radio news director; Tony Paglia, former senior regional editor at The Vindicator; and Lisa Solley, former managing editor at the Tribune Chronicle.
While Simeon feels “weird” about the notoriety, she said she is honored to be associated with the other awardees.
“It was nice because being nominated by the people I work with and the press club is people that I worked with in the past,” she said. “To get an honor like that from them is really nice.”
The Youngstown Press Club’s website is at yopressclub.com
