OU professor to be inducted into Cleveland Press Club hall of fame
An Ohio University employee will be inducted into the Cleveland Journalism Hall of Fame on Friday night. The organization, which was created and is operated by the Press Club of Cleveland, will induct the new members at Executive Caterers at Landerhaven in Mayfield Heights.
Thomas Suddes is an adjunct assistant professor in the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism and an editorial writer at The Cleveland Plain Dealer. Suddes previously spent decades covering Ohio politics for the Plain Dealer and other outlets in Columbus. He writes a weekly column on Ohio politics that is syndicated across the state.
Suddes’ university salary is $56,424.
Suddes said the process of receiving the award makes it particularly special because other journalists decide who gets inducted.
"Induction into the Cleveland Journalism Hall of Fame is something that's decided by inductees' peers, so this recognition means a great deal to me,” said Suddes, who critiques The Post on a weekly basis.
He offered current journalism students advice for their careers.
"Given their ideals and their gifts, the men and women I encounter at Scripps don't need my advice,” he said. “But if any asked, I'd say read everything you see, whether it's on paper, on a screen, or on the phone in your hand, stick up for the average person, because the powerful can take care of themselves, and before you dismiss a tipster as a crank or a kook or a nut, remember that he or she just might point you toward a story that you'd hate to have missed.”
Suddes created the Statehouse News Bureau Fellowship, an internship that gives students the opportunity to report on public affairs at various Ohio news outlets in Columbus.
“We are very lucky to have Tom Suddes teaching for the school of journalism. We knew that before he received this award and we know it after,” said Bob Stewart, director of the journalism school. “I’m only surprised that he’s hasn’t already been inducted. It’s long overdue from where I’m concerned.”
Others who know Suddes on a personal level echo Stewart’s sentiments. Michael Bennett, president of the Press Club of Cleveland, said Suddes has “made a difference through his reporting.”
“He’s all the things that a good reporter and journalist should be — thorough, accurate, he’s fair,” Bennett said. “He cares about people and he uses his reporting to make sure the state is doing right.”
Bennett said there are about five inductees a year and about 15 names up for nomination.
“I’m not at all surprised that Tom would be honored because he deserves it. He worked long and hard to do good journalism in the state,” said Alan Miller, managing editor at The Columbus Dispatch. “I’m so happy for him and proud of him that he’s accomplished so much and that he’s being honored for it.”
Miller, who has known Suddes for almost 30 years, said, “I’ve rarely met anyone in journalism in Ohio who knows as much about Ohio politics and journalism as Tom.
“He’s a walking encyclopedia when it comes to government and politics. He holds extremely high standards of fairness and accuracy when it comes to reporting news. Roll that all together and you’ve got one heck of a human being out there reporting news.”
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