Policy Matters Ohio names Harlan Spector communications director

Harlan Spector 

Policy Matters Ohio has named veteran media professional Harlan Spector as the organization's new director of communications.

Spector has decades of experience as a journalist at The Plain Dealer in Cleveland. He supervised news coverage as an assistant metro editor and assistant features editor, and worked 14 years as a reporter, providing in-depth coverage of health care, social services, higher education and local government.

"We are thrilled to have such a gifted, committed, well-respected professional to lead our communications work," said Amy Hanauer, the Executive Director of Policy Matters.

Spector won awards for medical reporting and news writing from both Ohio and Cleveland journalism societies. He was also a long-time officer of Local 1, Northeast Ohio Newspaper Guild and served as Newspaper Guild chairman at The Plain Dealer, honing his communications skills as a spokesperson and advocate for unionized newsroom employees.

After leaving the newspaper in 2013, Spector conducted media and marketing communications work for numerous clients in social services, health care and education. He also worked as an investigative researcher for a New York firm.

Policy Matters creates a more vibrant, equitable, sustainable and inclusive Ohio through research, media work, coalition building and advocacy. At Policy Matters, Spector will guide strategic communications.

"It's great to be part of a respected organization that plays a vital role in our democracy," Spector said. "Policy Matters advocates on behalf of the poor and middle class, and I'm here because I believe this mission is more important now than ever."