Collaboration with Ideastream Public Media

July 21, 2026

Dear Colleagues,

Last fall, CSU entered into a strategic partnership with Ideastream Public Media. The purpose of this partnership was to provide students in an array of academic programs with on-site experience and professional connections from an award-winning independent media organization located just down the street from us in Playhouse Square. This partnership is in keeping with our strategic objective to “enhance relationships with community partners to expand opportunities for prospective and current students/learners,” as outlined in Cleveland State United.

Earlier today, Ideastream shared a summary of this partnership from the 2025-26 academic year. I encourage you to read their statement, which I have included below.

By all accounts, these first several months of our partnership have been highly beneficial for our students, who are now participating in impactful experiences that utilize and enhance their classroom knowledge. In addition, they are helping to shape the news media that is being delivered to the communities of Northeast Ohio.

My sincere thanks to our deans and faculty leaders in the College of Arts and Sciences and the Levin College of Public Affairs and Education for cultivating this partnership in its inaugural year. The success of this effort is a tribute to their spirit of innovation and commitment to community engagement. 
 

Warm regards,

Laura Bloomberg, PhD
President

Ideastream Public Media and Cleveland State University Expand Experiential Learning Opportunities for Students 
Collaboration connects classroom learning with real-world experience in journalism, media production, marketing and communications

Cleveland State University students are gaining real-world experience across journalism, television and radio production, marketing, communications, graphic design and public affairs coverage through a growing collaboration with Ideastream Public Media that connects classroom learning with professional practice.

During the 2025-26 academic year, more than 80 Cleveland State University students participated in collaborative projects, internships, co-ops and classroom experiences with Ideastream, contributing to projects that serve Northeast Ohio. Many of those experiences place students directly in newsrooms and production environments, where they help create content that informs and engages the community.

"Producing Sound of Ideas gives Cleveland State students the opportunity to contribute to a live daily public affairs program, from developing story ideas to writing scripts and booking guests. They see firsthand how thoughtful journalism connects with audiences, and they leave with professional experience and portfolio work that prepare them for their careers. It’s been exciting to watch their confidence and talent grow throughout the semester,” said Rachel Rood, deputy editor of Sound of Ideas.

Students have contributed to a wide range of projects across Ideastream’s news, production and marketing teams, including:

• A second-year collaboration between Ideastream's Applause arts and culture team and Cleveland State University's School of Film and Media Arts, in which students created mini-documentaries profiling emerging Cleveland comedians. Five segments have aired over the past two years.
• Students developed motion graphics and show elements for Sound of Ideas, gaining experience working with a professional client while creating content for broadcast use.
• A year-round production internship program that places students in studio operations, field production and post-production roles supporting programs such as Sound of Ideas, City Club forums and Akron Roundtable events.
  A six-month graphic design co-op within Ideastream's Marketing and Communications department, providing a student with hands-on experience creating print, digital and social media content.
• Classroom collaborations in which students pitched, researched, reported and produced stories that aired on the Sound of Ideas.
• Students traveled to Columbus to meet with journalists from the Statehouse News Bureau, Cleveland.com and Gongwer, gaining firsthand insight into state government reporting and the role of the press in covering and holding government accountable.
   

Ideastream and Cleveland State University continue to expand the collaboration, creating new opportunities for students to gain professional experience, mentorship and portfolio-ready work that helps prepare them for future careers.

“One of the things I value most about our partnership with Ideastream is the way it opens doors for students,” said Dr. Jill Gordon, dean of the CSU Levin College of Public Affairs and Education. “We have already seen students take on incredible opportunities, from helping in the studio to engaging with Ideastream’s Columbus newsroom. These aren't just resume-building experiences. They give students the chance to apply what they're learning, work alongside talented professionals, and see what's possible in their careers. That's exactly the kind of hands-on, real-world learning we strive to provide at Cleveland State, and we're excited to continue building on this partnership."

For students, those opportunities extend beyond the classroom, giving them the chance to contribute to meaningful projects while building professional skills and portfolios.

"Throughout this amazing opportunity at Ideastream, I have learned core skills that I can take with me as I build my career, from working in a professional setting and collaborating with other departments to creating projects that strengthen my portfolio," said Jillian Osredkar, a graphic design major at Cleveland State University.

Participating programs have included Cleveland State University's School of Film and Media Arts, School of Communication, College of Arts and Sciences, and Levin College of Public Affairs and Education. The partnership has also expanded to include faculty experts to contribute to Ideastream’s coverage of timely topics such as property taxes and the upcoming election cycle.

As the collaboration continues to evolve, both organizations remain focused on creating meaningful opportunities that prepare students for careers while strengthening the future of public media, journalism and storytelling in Northeast Ohio.