Mike Mason

Verified

(He/Him)

Investigative Reporter, WOIO-TV (Cleveland, OH)

Anchorage, Cleveland, Tampa

Crime and Justice, U.S.

As seen in: WOIO-TV (Cleveland, OH), LinkedIn, Substack, The Business Journals, AZCentral | The Arizona Republic, KNXV-TV (Phoenix, AZ), WXIX-TV (Cincinnati, OH), NewsBreak, WBTV-TV (Charlotte, NC), BetaKit, KSHB-TV (Kansas City, MO) and

Covers: Crime, corruption, wrongdoing, watchdog

Doesn't Cover: Fluff

Award-winning Investigative Reporter in Cleveland. I like art, photography, writing & anything outdoors.

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Mike Mason’s Biography

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Mike has decades of award-winning investigative reporting experience, including over 30 first place awards, a national Alfred I. duPont baton, local and national Edward R. Murrow awards, the IRE Certificate, Emmys and top recognition by SPJ, AP and others.

His work has changed laws, improved safety standards and impacted numerous legal decisions.

Mike's work at previous stations includes WOIO in Cleveland, KTUU in Anchorage, AK, WLOS in Asheville, NC, WFTS in Tampa and both WFTX and WBBH in For…

Mike Mason’s Journalist Portfolio

Former Richland County corrections officer facing trial for 'reckless homicide' of inmate

A former Richland County corrections officer is going to trial next week, charged with manslaughter and reckl…

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YouTube Channel

A collection of my investigative and in-depth reports from various states across the country. I'm a national …

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LinkedIn Page

Check out my LinkedIn page.

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Muckrack

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Crosstown Expressway Investigation

Crosstown Expressway Investigation: 2005 duPont-Columbia University Baton.

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Mike Mason Reel

Mike Mason, Investigative Reporter Florida reporting reels.

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Articles

Public records link North Royalton shooting suspect to building commissioner he allegedly killed

Jul 27, 2026 |

By Mike Mason

| WOIO-TV (Cleveland, OH)

NORTH ROYALTON, Ohio (WOIO) — Public records reveal two documented connections between Edward Biesiada, the suspect in the shooting of North Royalton Building Commissioner David Smerek, and the victim. Court citation and a legal dispute The first connection is a court record showing Smerek cited Biesiada through North Royalton Mayor’s Court on July 10 for the condition of the exterior of his property. The second connection stems from a Court of Appeals case filed in 2023.

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New synthetic opioid cychlorphine appearing on Ohio streets, researcher warns

Jul 13, 2026 |

By Mike Mason

| WTVG-TV (Toledo, OH)

OHIO, (WOIO) — A new synthetic opioid called cychlorphine has begun appearing on Ohio streets, and researchers say it’s more potent than fentanyl and may be harder to reverse with naloxone. The drug belongs to a newly emerging class of compounds called piperidinylbenzimidazolones — or “orphines” — which experts say first appeared in the United States last fall. What is cychlorphine?

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New synthetic opioid cychlorphine appearing on Ohio streets, researcher warns

Jul 13, 2026 |

By Mike Mason

| WILX-TV (Lansing, MI)

OHIO, (WOIO) — A new synthetic opioid called cychlorphine has begun appearing on Ohio streets, and researchers say it’s more potent than fentanyl and may be harder to reverse with naloxone. The drug belongs to a newly emerging class of compounds called piperidinylbenzimidazolones — or “orphines” — which experts say first appeared in the United States last fall. What is cychlorphine?