Jeff Herrmann, Youngstown Publishing Company | The news does not have to be an endless barrage of anger and sadness

Jeff Herrmann, CEO of the Youngstown Publishing Company, emphatically believes the news can be a force for good - and good news stories! When Jeff stepped into the leadership role of Youngstown’s 35 year old publication, he knew it wasn’t just about the bottom line - it was about playing a positive social role in a community that badly needed positivity; this town in Northeastern Ohio has run into economic troubles since the downturn in the steel industry it relied on.  

American media’s increasingly polarized and negative. People reinforce their ideological and negative worldviews through the media they consume. Jeff has chosen a different way. First, his content is avowedly non-ideological. It’s focused on the facts. Second, it isn’t just about cherry-picking fear-inducing eye-catching stories to boost profits. He looks for good news stories about jobs and businesses coming to the area. This combination of positivity and objectivity is paying dividends financially and socially. It’s a virtuous circle.