Homegrown Headlines: Tiffany Tarpley’s Mission to Inform, Inspire, and Uplift Cleveland
Witten by: Tyisha Blade
Tiffany Tarpley is a seasoned journalist with more than 20 years of broadcast experience, currently anchoring Good Morning Cleveland on News 5. A proud Lorain native, Tarpley returned to the Cleveland area in 2024 after several years in Toledo, driven by her desire to be closer to family and continue growing her career in the city she always hoped to thrive in. “Cleveland has always been where I wanted to really thrive in my career,” she says. “I am grateful to have the opportunity to come back and make it happen.”
Her return to Cleveland’s media scene—following her tenure at WKYC from 2014 to 2020—came with its own set of challenges. “Coming back to a new station in a prominent role—sitting in a seat that someone who is a legend in our city once sat in—there was a lot of adjustment that came with that,” she says. “Overall, it’s been great.”
A two-time Emmy Award-winning journalist, Tarpley is known for telling stories that spotlight solutions. “We have so many challenges in our lives and society, but what’s being done to make things better—those are the stories I love to cover,” she says. Her commitment to impactful reporting was especially evident in 2020, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and the nationwide reckoning on racial justice. Covering peaceful protests and civil unrest following George Floyd’s murder was a defining moment in her career—one that led to a regional Emmy nomination. “That was one of the most intense moments I’ve ever experienced as a journalist, but I recognized my purpose,” she says.
Over the years, Tarpley has been recognized not only for her excellence in journalism but also for her commitment to service. Her accolades include induction into the Lorain Schools’ Alumni Association’s Distinguished Alumni and the Lorain County Community College (LCCC) Commodore Hall of Fame. Being named a Game Changer for Who’s Who in Black Cleveland 2025, she considers the acknowledgment a meaningful milestone. “To be featured in this way is truly an honor—one that I don’t take lightly.”
Outside the newsroom, Tarpley is passionate about giving back. While her schedule as a news anchor is demanding, she is intentional about choosing opportunities where she can make a meaningful impact—particularly in supporting youth and local organizations. “I receive more requests than ever before, so I’m learning to prioritize where I can make the greatest impact—not just in my stories, but also through community service.”
To aspiring journalists and young dreamers, her message is clear: never give up. “Being a news anchor in Cleveland was always my dream since my second year at LCCC,” she says. “There will be plenty of ‘no’s,’ but that one ‘yes’ can change everything.”
Tarpley is also a member of the National Association of Black Journalists, the Greater Cleveland Association of Black Journalists, and serves on the Board of Governors for the Central Great Lakes Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. She’s earned an On the Move award from the Lorain Club of Negro Business & Professional Women and an Excellence in Journalism award from The Press Club of Toledo. Tarpley and her husband, Jason, are proud to call Northeast Ohio home.