Marla Kuhlman
Journalist with a passion for storytelling, nostalgia, live music, nature, animals and making a positive difference in the world
Phone:
614-989-3828
Email:
Address:
4873 Van Winkle Road
Walhonding, Ohio 43843
My journey ...
Marla spent the past 33 years as a full-time community journalist, covering local government, education and human interest stories in the Columbus, Ohio market. At ThisWeek Community Newspapers, she led many special projects involving comprehensive stories on subjects ranging from homeless students in central Ohio to the evolution of the city of New Albany.
Marla launched a popular iconic business and Columbus Classics business series in 2021 and 2022, respectively, highlighting local establishments that have been part of central Ohio communities and Columbus for at least 20 years. Since 2015, she has also worked a second full-time job at Kenyon College in Gambier as part of the admissions team. At Kenyon, she proofreads thousands of letters sent to prospective students and works with the support staff to welcome daily visitors to campus. She also handles the admissions inbox account, an information hub for hundreds of questions from students and parents that range from scheduling logistics to scholarship and grant opportunities.
Work Experience
Spring 1989 to January 2023; ThisWeek Community Newspapers (CNS, Gatehouse, Gannett)
•Veteran journalist covering public affairs and education in the Columbus, Ohio market since 1989. Assigned as community reporter/editor in Gahanna, Grove City, Hilliard, Johnstown, Marysville, Westerville, Whitehall and Worthington.
•Joined the company when it was founded; spearheaded the launch of more than 10 weekly community newspapers, learning the unique aspects of each community, establishing reporting beats and hiring freelance reporting staffs.
•Served as editor of a variety of publications within the CNS/ThisWeek organization; also fulfilled roles including managing editor, reporter and photographer. Managed social media accounts for several editions.
•Has fulfilled responsibilities in a variety of roles including generating story ideas and lists, assigning stories, editing incoming copy, managing invoicing and payment for freelance reporting staff.
•Authored thousands of articles in most editions of ThisWeekNews with a total circulation of over 300,00 and the Columbus Dispatch.
•Covered visit of U.S. Vice President Joe Biden to Gahanna Lincoln High School in 2012; visit by U.S. President Bill Clinton to the Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy in London, Ohio, 1994; and whistle-stop train tour of U.S. President George H.W. Bush, traveling by train from Columbus to Marysville, 1992.
•Ohio Bicentennial Wagon Train, wrote multiple stories and journal entries as the wagon train crossed the state of Ohio from June to July, 2003.
•Volunteered to take 30-hour course in Whitehall Citizens Police Academy to establish rapport and trust with the local police division; first student of seven classes to participate in bike ride-along, logging over 20 miles.
•Represented the company throughout tenure as volunteer in community events including the Franklin County Fair, Hartford Independent Fair, various parades and a variety of charitable benefits.
•Mentored communication students from Otterbein University and Westerville City School District.
October 2015 to present.
Kenyon College Admissions
•Handles private documents such as transcripts, SAT/ACT scores, applications for students wishing to enroll in the private, liberal arts college.
•Annually edits/proofs thousands of admission letters with personalized paragraphs.
•Manages inbox for the admissions department, answering prospective student questions and disseminating emails to appropriate directors/departments.
•Greets visitors and prospective students, promoting the college at special events on campus.
How about that ... a few honors
• Best of Gatehouse, first place in public-service journalism for an article about homeless students in central Ohio and news writer of the year for coverage in Westerville, 2018.
•Ohio Excellence in Journalism, The Press Club of Cleveland, 1st place, general features for “Faithful Forgotten Best Friends,” 2015.
•Quarter of a Century Club of Wolfe Industries, inducted in club recognizing 25 years of service at Consumer News Services for Wolfe Industries, 2015.
•Ohio Excellence in Journalism, The Press Club of Cleveland, 2nd place in non-daily newspapers for personality profile, “Retiring mailman even had dogs’ stamp of approval,” Rocky Fork Enterprise, 2014.
•Ohio Excellence in Journalism, The Press Club of Cleveland, 2nd place, Creekside sage; and 3rd place in non-daily newspapers for personality profile, “Couple gave more than fill-up at longtime gas station,” Rocky Fork Enterprise, 2013.
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