Board Names O'Bryan To Media Honor Roll

Lakewood Observer Publisher Jim O'Bryan with (from left) Board President Linda Beebe, Editor-in-Chief Margaret Brinich, Associate Editor Betsy Voinovich and his wife, Debra.

The Board of Education, at its meeting on Nov. 3, named Lakewood Observer publisher and founder Jim O’Bryan to the Ohio School Boards Association 2014 Media Honor Roll, which recognizes media representatives statewide for fair and balanced reporting of news about public schools. O’Bryan is one of approximately 100 media members recognized from across the state.

“Jim has always done the hard work to understand what makes the district work,” said Board President Linda Beebe.

The Lakewood Observer, published bi-weekly, runs columns by Superintendent Jeff Patterson and Assistant Superintendent Roxann Ramsey-Caserio and reserves at least two full pages each issue for Lakewood City Schools news. O’Bryan is always only a phone call or email away when the district is seeking coverage of an event.

“OSBA joins those districts in congratulating honorees and thanking them for fairly and accurately reporting on the successes of students, teachers and school boards, as well as conveying the many challenges they face,” said OSBA Executive Director Richard Lewis.

Criteria for the selection to the OSBA Media Honor Roll include efforts to get to know the superintendent, Board president, and district mission and goals; report school news in a fair, accurate and balanced manner; give a high profile to positive news about schools; visit the schools; and maintain a policy of “no surprises” by sharing information with school districts.

“The district is pleased to honor Jim O’Bryan for his role in keeping the community informed of the important work of the Lakewood City Schools,” said Superintendent Jeff Patterson.

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Volume 10, Issue 23, Posted 12:41 PM, 11.11.2014