Immediate Past President

Ed, a native of Niles, Ohio, is a 30-plus year broadcast news veteran in Cleveland and northeast Ohio. His very first “on the scene” radio reporting assignment took place on the campus of Kent State University on May 4th, 1970.

As “Ed Richards”, he was John Lanigan’s newsman on 1220/WGAR during its heyday in the 70’s and 80’s where he served as morning news anchor and news director. During that time, he won several wire service awards for his coverage of the rise and fall of Dennis Kucinich, Cleveland’s slide into default and the closing of the Cleveland Press.

After a 10 year stint with Metromedia and Infinity Broadcasting in Detroit, he was brought back to Cleveland by country radio powerhouse 99.5 WGAR-FM in 1992 to work along side Jim Mantel where his small staff news departments defeated much larger staffed stations in Ohio news awards contests.

Ever versatile, as part of the WGAR-FM morning team, his broadcasting versatility was recognized by the Country Music Association (CMA) in 1998 as he was named a finalist for CMA Personality of the Year.

Ed was elected regional Director for the Ohio Associated Press Broadcasters Association in 1995, and served as Ohio Regional AP Vice President before being elected Ohio AP Broadcasters President in 1999.

Ed was inducted into the Ohio Broadcasters Hall of Fame in 2003.

Leaving broadcasting in 2004, Ed made the transition into media relations with Medical Mutual of Ohio. While at Medical Mutual his writings have appeared in Fortune, USA Today, Associated Press, The Cleveland Plain Dealer, and Crain’s Cleveland Business.

Promoted to Manager of Media Relations by Medical Mutual of Ohio in December of 2007, today Ed begins is serving a record fourth term as President of the Press Club of Cleveland.