From Steady Hands to Bold Moves, Matt Greminger Returns to Lead Cleveland 13 News in Massive Movement

CLEVELAND, Ohio — When Matt Greminger (Gremi) stepped away from his role as President of Cleveland 13 News to take care of some personal family matters, I was both humbled and honored to be asked to take the controls in his absence. It has been a privilege to guide this newsroom through such an important chapter; one filled with growth, community connection, and stories that mattered deeply to all of us. Now the time has come to turn the keys back over, and I couldn’t be happier about it.

Matt’s return is not about simply stepping back into a leadership role. It’s about leading a movement, not just a newsroom. Cleveland 13 has never been about chasing headlines or following the same tired scripts as the mainstream outlets. It has always been about building something different. A news model where our viewers, readers, listeners, affiliates, and collaborators don’t just consume news, they shape it. For those who’ve put their faith in what we’ve built, Matt’s comeback means you’ll see your impact grow even larger. You’ll see the industry shift in ways that reflect your values, not the moves we’re told to make by corporations or political powers. We are the frontier. We’re not reinventing the wheel; we’re inventing flight; and no one has the passion, drive, determination, network, and know-how to pull off this transformation like Matt Greminger, the founder of our network and the visionary who started it all.

As Matt said in his comeback announcement (via Facebook): “I’m back. Dammit I’m BACK! We built this newsroom to prevail. To be brave. To be unapologetic. To be the news that can’t be silenced because we don’t take money from the government or bow to sponsors telling us what we can or can’t cover. We answer to YOU. The people who actually care about truth and balance.”

Cleveland 13’s rise in the 2025 “Best of Cleveland” is proof of the movement Matt has built. Our newsroom ranked #3 among all local news networks; beating ABC, CBS, and NPR, and Matt himself was voted 2nd Best News Reporter in Cleveland. I could tell this honor meant the world to him, and I know why he received that recognition. It’s because Matt is passionate, magnetic, and people gravitate to that. It’s not just the stories he tells; it’s how he makes people feel heard, seen, and understood.

Since taking over as President, I’ve experienced more than I could have imagined. The people I’ve met, the stories I’ve heard, they’ve changed me, and they’ve changed how I see the media we all absorb every day. One of the projects I’m most proud of is our Local Spotlight Corner Series, which I helped to launch for the purpose of highlighting the people, businesses, and stories that you, our community, wanted to hear. These are stories of perseverance, innovation, and passion and it's exactly what defines Northeast Ohio. Matt echoed this sentiment, saying: “I look at the team we’ve built; this wildly diverse, passionate group of voices rooted in authenticity, and I can’t help but think...this just works! I look at the relationships we’ve built, the trust we’ve established, and the insane amount of passionate people that are now a part of this movement with us”. For me, being able to shine a light on some of these extraordinary people and stories has been an honor I’ll never forget.

We are on the cusp of a media revolution. The industry is shifting (sometimes breaking), and the old models are no longer serving the public the way they should. With Matt back at the helm, I’m confident Cleveland 13 will not only navigate this shift but lead it. We will show what a newsroom can be when it is powered by truth, community, and accountability, not profit or politics. I am thrilled to continue as part of this mission, staying on with Cleveland 13 as a member of the Advisory Board. I will continue to champion the values that brought us here; values I know Matt will amplify tenfold.

The future of news starts here. With Matt’s leadership, with your voices, and with the unstoppable energy of this community, we will not just adapt to the changes ahead, we will define them. Thank you, Cleveland, for letting me be part of this journey, and thank you for believing in a newsroom that belongs to YOU.

The future is bright, and I’m proud to keep building it with all of you.

— Bonnie Swirsky

Interim President (Advisory Board Member), Cleveland 13 News