Rachel Dissel

Rachel Dissell, M.S. '01  has a career in journalism that's a testament to the transformative power of high school media. Today, she works for two nonprofit newsrooms in Northeast Ohio. She is a managing editor at Signal Cleveland and a contributing editor at The Marshall Project – Cleveland. But her journey began as a high school reporter and editor at Lakewood High School’s The Lakewood Times.

High school journalism was “kind of a life saver” for Rachel. Unsure of her future path, reporting gave her purpose. “Working for the high school paper gave me confidence that this was work that even a poor kid, who otherwise had no power in the world, could do.”

Already in high school, Rachel developed a passion for public records and investigative reporting. “Once a public records geek, always a public records geek,” she jokes, recalling the thrill of filing requests with the school board.

Rachel credits her journalism teachers, retired MDJ faculty members John and Candace Bowen, for shaping her success. They taught her the fundamentals of journalism like fact-finding, fairness, and accountability. “I would be nowhere without them,” Rachel emphasizes.

One of the most important lessons Rachel learned in high school consists of two simple words: question authority. This mantra continues to guide her work today.

Today, Rachel focuses on making journalism accessible and responsive to community needs. At Signal Cleveland, she ensures the newsroom’s reporting addresses topics that matter most to the public. At The Marshall Project, she contributes to initiatives like the Judge Guide, designed to empower readers with vital information.

Rachel urges high school students to give journalism a try: “No matter what job you land in, the skills you learn—fact-finding, interviewing, clear communication—will suit you well.”