Are you passionate about what happens in Lakeland and across Polk County? Do you follow local city commission meetings, neighborhood developments, local utility policies, or community welfare initiatives?
The Lakeland Gazette is looking for community members, freelance writers, and aspiring journalists to join our team of Citizen Reporters!
Whether you want to write regular updates or contribute occasional photos and news briefs, your voice can help keep our community informed.
What We’re Looking For:
- Civic & Municipal News: Summaries of city and county commission meetings, zoning updates, road closures, and public infrastructure projects.
- Community & Environment: Coverage of local initiatives, energy and water resource issues, and animal welfare/TNVR programs.
- Neighborhood & Local Business: New business openings, neighborhood events, and community profiles.
- Photo & Tip Submissions: On-the-scene photos and quick leads regarding breaking local updates.
How to Get Started:
Send a brief email introducing yourself and the topics you’re interested in covering to [email protected]. We look forward to hearing from you soon.
You can also reach out or send mail to:
Lakeland Gazette 2121 New Tampa Hwy N16 Lakeland, FL 33815
Website: https://www.lakelandgazette.info
2. Citizen Reporter Guidelines Document
Lakeland Gazette — Contributor & Citizen Reporter Guidelines
Our Mission: To provide clear, reliable, and hyper-local coverage of civic affairs, community updates, and neighborhood stories in Lakeland and Polk County.
1. Types of Content We Accept
- News Briefs (150–300 words): Quick recaps of local news, public alerts, or upcoming community events.
- Meeting & Civic Summaries (300–500 words): Neutral, accurate summaries of city council, county commission, or planning board meetings.
- Feature Articles (400–600 words): In-depth coverage of local organizations, environmental and utility developments, or community initiatives.
- Photos & Media: High-resolution original photography with proper captions (Who, What, Where, When).
2. Reporting & Editorial Standards
- Accuracy & Verification: Double-check dates, official spelling of names, titles, and public data before submitting.
- Neutral Tone: Stick to verified facts when covering municipal policy or community debates. If presenting an opinion or editorial perspective, clearly label it as a Commentary or Op-Ed.
- Primary Sources: Whenever possible, cite official documents, public meeting records, or direct statements from local stakeholders.
- Transparency: Disclose any personal interest or affiliation with a subject, organization, or board mentioned in your article.
3. Submission Checklist
When submitting an article to
[email protected], please include:
- Proposed Headline & Byline (your name as you’d like it credited).
- Article text in the email body or attached document (.docx).
- Original photos (if applicable) attached as standard image files (JPEG OR PNG) with photographer credit and caption info.
- A 1–2 sentence author bio for new contributors.