When talent and hard work intersect, the result is success.  For Casey Couch, a May 2025 graduate of Cleveland State University’s Levin College of Public Affairs and Education, that success is soaring—just like her favorite superhero, Superman.

Couch, a Madison High School graduate, now a staff reporter for the Cleveland Jewish News (CJN), penned a cover story for CJN detailing the new Superman movie directed by James Gunn that opened in July and is now showing in theatres everywhere. Cleveland was one of the principal filming locations for the movie which featured more than 5,000 local crew members and background actors.

“I’m a fan of Superman,” Couch shared.  “I watched all the movies and learned about his connection to Cleveland from my dad Steve, a history teacher at Mentor High School and a proud Clevelander. That made me excited to do this story.”

A front-page feature on one of the biggest local stories of the year isn’t typically assigned to a reporter with just two months on the beat.  Then again, Couch, a journalism major with minors in broadcasting and digital content production, isn’t your typical reporter.

You can read Couch’s full CJN feature The ‘reel’ story behind Superman here.

“I actually met the editors at CJN in October 2024 at a Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) event while I was still a student at CSU,” noted Couch.  “I started doing freelance work in December. The CJN editors already knew me for a while when the full-time position opened in April.  This story gave me the chance to do something I really enjoy and that’s creative writing.”

Couch, who secured the full-time staff reporter job at CJN before graduation, broke her research for the story into three parts.

“I spoke to Bill Garvey, president of the Greater Cleveland Film Commission, about getting James Gunn to come to Cleveland to shoot the film here,” said Couch. “Cleveland is in scenes all through the movie. I also interviewed [CSU journalism major] Ava Fuduric about being an extra in the film and her experience on set. Then, I researched the history of the birth of Superman in Cleveland. I learned how Superman was created by two Jewish boys from Cleveland [Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster] and spent time talking to members of the Siegel and Shuster Society.”

Being tasked with and delivering a top-flight front-page feature on a blockbuster film about an iconic superhero is no small feat. Not even Kryptonite, though, was going to stop Couch on this assignment.

“The story was over 2,000 words, so it was the biggest story I’ve ever written,” said Couch. “The topic was interesting to me. Everyone I interviewed was really excited to talk about Superman!” 

Couch honed her craft like a superhero while at CSU. She was co-editor-in-chief of The Cleveland Stater, the news laboratory paper, and features editor for The Vindicator, CSU’s arts and culture magazine. 

“My experience at CSU was amazing. I had a huge portfolio by the time I graduated,” said Couch. “I really must thank Dr. Ed Horowitz, my advisor for The Vindicator, and Dr. John Jirik, my advisor for The Cleveland Stater. With all my classes, too, I had an insane amount of work, but it prepared me well. Being features editor for The Vindicator gave me the opportunity to develop my creative writing skills. That really helped with the story on Superman.”

“Casey has a gift for telling stories that connect people to their community. She’s able to find meaning and heart in everything she covers from superheroes to student experiences,” said Dr. Horowitz, associate professor, School of Communication. “I saw this firsthand when she wrote a very moving cover story in the March ’25 issue of the Vindicator about a mother and son who are both currently taking classes at CSU. That same instinct is what makes her work stand out now that she is a working journalist. She’s a rising star, and I feel lucky to have been part of her journey. I can’t wait to see where her reporting takes her next.”

While at CSU, Couch won three awards at the 2025 Press Club of Cleveland’s All-Ohio Excellence in Journalism Awards including first place in the college media category for her story on the Blue Angels at the Cleveland Air Show. Suffice to say, Couch’s credentials would make Clark Kent at The Daily Planet proud.

“I always wanted to be a journalist, but I thought it would be broadcast,” noted Couch. “When I started writing classes and took advanced reporting, I found that I was good at it and that it might be more of a career path. I found my place and can’t imagine myself doing anything else. CSU really set me up for success. Not many students can say they had job security before graduating. My professors at CSU prepared me so well.” 

Casey’s journey, including hands-on learning both in and outside the classroom and her studies in the newly launched Digital Content minor, reflects how the School of Communication at Levin College helps students build real skills and make important connections in the field. At Levin, students don’t just learn about communication; they see how it shapes communities and creates change. The program prepares them for a variety of careers in newsrooms, businesses, nonprofits, and healthcare by offering meaningful experiences through well-equipped studios and internships. Casey’s story shows the impact of this approach and hints at all the great things still ahead for her.

Casey’s experiential learning—both on and off campus—along with her studies in the newly launched digital content minor, exemplify how the School of Communication blends hands-on skill-building with real-world connections to community and industry. At Levin, students learn how communication shapes society and drives change. The program prepares them for a wide range of careers, in newsrooms, businesses, nonprofits, and healthcare, while providing real-world experiences through hands-on work in state of the art on-campus studios and valuable internships in the community.