Categories: OLD Media Moves

Cleveland layoffs include longtime biz journalist Pledger

Marcia Pledger

Marcia Pledger, who had worked on the Cleveland Plain Dealer’s business news desk for more than 23 years, was among those laid off this week.

Pledger had volunteered to be part of the layoff.

“I’ve had a lot of great opportunities during my career at the Plain Dealer,” said Pledger in an email to Talking Biz News. “The people I’ve met and the experiences they’ve shared have prepared me to move forward with my next chapter.

“I’ve spent so much of my career covering the ups and downs that small business owners face, and I’m looking forward to freelance opportunities, particularly in the fast-growing marijuana industry,” she added. “I’ve covered so many industries throughout the years, and I love sharing stories of passionate business owners.”

At the Plain Dealer, Pledger wrote about entrepreneurs, technology and reinvention. She wrote a long-time column and book called, “My Biggest Mistake…And How I Fixed It,” about how businesses and people transformed themselves.

The 14 editorial layoffs at the paper also claimed energy and utilities reporter John C. Funk.

Chris Roush

Chris Roush was the dean of the School of Communications at Quinnipiac University in Hamden, Connecticut. He was previously Walter E. Hussman Sr. Distinguished Professor in business journalism at UNC-Chapel Hill. He is a former business journalist for Bloomberg News, Businessweek, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, The Tampa Tribune and the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. He is the author of the leading business reporting textbook "Show me the Money: Writing Business and Economics Stories for Mass Communication" and "Thinking Things Over," a biography of former Wall Street Journal editor Vermont Royster.

View Comments

  • gOODBYE Marcia! THE PAPER SHOULD HAVE HELD ON TO YOUR UNIQUE VOICE. WE'RE SORRY TO SEE YOU GO!

  • Marcia,
    Wishing you continued success as a freelance writer. You had been most generous writing about my business while at the PD. I am eager to follow you on your new path.

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