About The Observer

About Us

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What We Are

The Westlake | Bay Village Observer is a project developed by local residents in 2008 with the intent to bring community organizations, residents, government and businesses together via a free, widely distributed medium. Our mission is to strengthen our community by encouraging an active, engaged and informed citizenry.

The website and biweekly newspaper strives to achieve this mission with the following goals:

  • Promote a community-wide discourse and foster the free flow of news and ideas.
  • Support civic groups and non-profit organizations with a free medium to publicize their activities, seek new members and raise funds.
  • Encourage writers of all ages and skill levels to become active, engaged participants in the community.

The Observer has developed a broad distribution and readership base, worked in partnership with many local organizations, and cultivated a diverse and dedicated crew of volunteer writers, photographers, deliverers and editors. We rely on advertising revenue to offset the cost of printing and production.

Who We Are

The production crew of the Westlake | Bay Village Observer is a small group of residents that work together to keep the project running smoothly. We consider ourselves “facilitators” because we don’t control the content of the website/newspaper, but simply collect submitted stories and pictures and publish them for the enjoyment of the community. Our editors review stories for spelling, grammar and relevance to the community, but make no changes that would alter the main idea or intent of a story.

Our mission is to make the Observer open and accessible to all in our community, and to provide assistance to anyone who wants to participate. You can reach us by calling 440-409-0114, or via email at: staff@wbvobserver.com. We are happy to answer any questions you may have! 

Contributors

More than 675 community residents have joined the Westlake | Bay Village Observer team so far, and the list is ever-growing! Our members include leaders of community groups, elected officials, students, seniors and poets — people from all walks of life who have something interesting to share. There's always room for more; join in today!

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Contact

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Contact Us

Editorial Staff: editor@wbvobserver.com

Production Staff: production@wbvobserver.com

Newspaper Advertising: adsales@wbvobserver.com

General Inquries, Information: staff@wbvobserver.com

 

Telephone: (440) 409-0114         Fax: (440) 409-0118

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Policies

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Want to be a writer? We’d love to hear from you! Here are some guidelines to keep in mind when writing for the Observer:

  • Aim for 300-500 words. More or less is fine, depending on the story.
  • Check your facts. Take the extra time to ensure accuracy.
  • Submit original stories and photos. Don’t copy others’ work and remember to credit your sources.
  • Do not "borrow" photos from internet sources. Always provide the full URL or photographer's name for every photo submitted.
  • Be respectful of others.
  • Write for the community. Your stories will be read by people throughout Westlake and Bay (and beyond) so keep the audience in mind when choosing topics.
  • Know you’ll be edited. All stories pass through an editor who reviews stories for spelling and grammar. We try to keep the news as “unfiltered” as possible, but reserve the right to edit length and content if necessary.
  • Disclose your affiliation. If you have a personal or business relationship with the subject of your story, let your readers know.
  • Ask questions! We’re here to help you at every step along the way. Don’t hesitate to come to us for advice or help with topics, content or the submission process. Contact us at staff@wbvobserver.com.
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