Jennifer Conn
Akron ReporterJennifer Conn joined WKSU in February 2019 as Akron reporter.
A Northeast Ohio native, Jennifer has covered Akron news for cleveland.com and Crain’s Akron Business. She was also a member of the inaugural staff of The Devil Strip, and wrote long-form features on Akron’s burgeoning music scene, the city’s punk roots and its historic downtown.
Earlier in her career, Jennifer was a business reporter for Crain Communications’ national trade magazines, covering scrap metal, recycling and municipal incineration for Waste News and the retail tire industry for Tire Business. She also served as regional reporter for Record Publishing’s weekly newspapers.
As a freelance writer, Jennifer has covered numerous industries, including the automotive after-market, cyber security, herbal healing and the environment. Her features have also appeared in literary magazines, including Belt Akron.
As a communications professional, Jennifer was vice president of communications at Akron Community Foundation, and senior communications development officer at the Summa Hospitals Foundation. She also served as senior writer at AKHIA Public Relations and Marketing Communications.
Jennifer also worked as an adjunct professor at Kent State and the University of Akron, teaching newswriting, English composition and English as a Second Language.
She earned a bachelor’s degree in English and a master’s degree in journalism from Kent State University. She is currently working on a post master’s certificate in Teaching English as a Second Language.
She is a Cuyahoga Valley National Park enthusiast, owns two kayaks (one banana yellow, one psychedelic purple) and served on the board that launched Akron's dog park.
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With cases of COVID-19 still rising across the county, Summit County Public Health on Monday recommended that schools conduct classes online this fall… -
Before the pandemic, the city of Akron, like many Rust Belt cities, was taking a close look at ways to engage the community, and draw in new residents.A… -
Northeast Ohio is not exempt from the rising tide of gun violence sweeping across the nation.But the pandemic has brought challenges hindering the work of… -
The spread of Coronavirus has been more pervasive in some regions than others.In Akron, the north side of town has experienced greater spread than… -
Akron voters are being asked to consider several proposed changes to the city’s charter in November.Among the proposals Akron City Council approved Monday… -
Akron City Council is launching an initiative that will bring lawmakers and the police department together to make changes intended to improve public… -
The University of Akron Board of Trustees on Wednesday unanimously approved a measure to reduce 178 union and nonunion faculty and staff positions.Facing… -
Akron officials are moving forward on a plan to prevent the spread of COVID-19 by making masks mandatory in the city and setting fines for offenders.Masks… -
The federal CARES ACT moratorium on evictions for people in subsidized housing, which was established during the pandemic, is set to expire soon.And… -
With the death of George Floyd at the hands of police, cries to address racism have grown louder across the country. In answer, the city of Akron declared…
