Grant Segall is a veteran journalist specializing in politics, law, and social equity, currently writing for The Land in Cleveland, Ohio. With a career spanning over 40 years, his work bridges local reporting and national policy analysis, particularly on immigration, refugee rights, and economic justice.
“Segall’s reporting doesn’t just inform—it mobilizes communities to demand accountability.”
Grant Segall is a national-prizewinning journalist with over four decades of experience in investigative reporting, focusing on politics, law, and social equity. His work, characterized by meticulous research and a commitment to amplifying marginalized voices, has appeared in prominent outlets like The Washington Post, Time, and The Plain Dealer, where he spent 34 years. Currently, he contributes to The Land, a Cleveland-based nonprofit newsroom, while authoring books such as John D. Rockefeller: Anointed With Oil for Oxford University Press.
Published in The Land on March 5, 2025, this article examines the fallout of federal immigration policies under the Trump administration, including the suspension of refugee admissions and the revocation of humanitarian parole. Segall highlights local responses, such as Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb’s refusal to cooperate with deportation efforts, while weaving in voices from affected families and legal experts. The piece underscores the human cost of political rhetoric, particularly the separation of families and the defunding of refugee aid organizations like the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants.
Methodologically, Segall combines policy analysis with on-the-ground testimonials, creating a narrative that bridges legislative actions and community outcomes. His inclusion of data—such as the $300,000 funding shortfall for refugee agencies—adds empirical weight to the emotional narratives, making the article a cornerstone for understanding immigration policy’s local impact.
This 2021 investigation for The Euclid Observer delves into the intersection of public health and economic policy during the COVID-19 pandemic. Segall reveals how utility companies in Ohio resumed disconnections despite rising infections, disproportionately affecting low-income households. He interviews advocates from the Legal Aid Society of Cleveland, who describe the surge in evictions and utility shutoffs as a “dual crisis” of health and poverty.
The article’s significance lies in its prescient critique of systemic failures, predicting long-term consequences for housing stability. By framing utility access as a human right, Segall aligns with broader advocacy movements, reinforcing his focus on equity-driven reporting.
Segall’s biographical work for Oxford University Press, cited in The Daily Beast, explores the legacy of John D. Rockefeller through a socio-economic lens. Unlike traditional biographies that glorify industrialists, Segall critiques Rockefeller’s monopolistic practices and their lingering effects on labor rights and corporate accountability. The book’s rigorous archival research and analysis of primary sources, such as Rockefeller’s correspondence, establish Segall as a historian-journalist capable of contextualizing past injustices within modern policy debates.
Segall prioritizes stories that illustrate how federal decisions, such as immigration reforms or healthcare cuts, directly affect communities in Ohio. For example, his 2025 article on refugee admissions paired national policy shifts with testimonials from Cleveland-based sponsors. Pitches should emphasize grassroots perspectives, particularly from marginalized groups, and include verifiable data on policy outcomes.
Segall’s coverage of utility disconnections and legal aid shortages reveals a pattern of holding institutions accountable. Successful pitches might explore topics like eviction moratoriums, access to public defenders, or discriminatory zoning laws. Avoid surface-level analysis; instead, provide documentation of systemic failures, such as court records or budget reports.
Segall’s work avoids sensationalism, focusing instead on structural issues. Pitches about celebrity activism or hypothetical policy scenarios (e.g., “What if Ohio abolished private prisons?”) are less likely to resonate. Instead, ground proposals in current legislative debates or ongoing community struggles.
Segall’s accolades include a National Headliner Award for his investigative series on public housing corruption during his tenure at The Plain Dealer. This recognition underscores his ability to combine long-form storytelling with hard-hitting exposés, a rarity in regional journalism. The award, judged by media professionals nationwide, reflects his peers’ respect for his rigor and ethical standards.
His biography of John D. Rockefeller, published by one of the world’s most prestigious academic presses, distinguishes Segall as a journalist capable of nuanced historical analysis. The book is frequently cited in debates about corporate power, illustrating his dual role as a reporter and scholar.
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