Lakeland election | Teacher of the year | Weekend events

Yesterday, LkldNow made several updates this week on the “About Us” page that describes our news organization and its nonprofit mission. The most significant change was the addition of a “What sets us apart” section. Here’s what it says:

• LkldNow focuses its news coverage on quality of life in Lakeland.
• Our staff and board members are all Lakeland residents who value our community and want to see it prosper. In our reporting, we illuminate Lakeland’s qualities as well as examine what can be improved.
• Being a community-supported nonprofit keeps the reader at the center of everything we do. You won’t find click-bait headlines aimed at driving up clicks to appease advertisers. 
• LkldNow is free to access. No paywalls, No article limits. We believe local news is a vital part a community infrastructure and everyone should have access to it.
• We’re hyperlocal. At a time when newspapers are collapsing, LkldNow is part of a national movement to rebuild local news through independent, grassroots newsrooms that seek to provide equitable access to impactful local news.
• No opinion page. LkldNow’s founder and board made a decision early on to not publish opinions or letters to the editor. In a world of social media, there is no shortage of platforms for individuals to express their opinions. There is a desperate shortage of outlets for straightforward, factual, impartial reporting. 
• Our community-centered approach and responsiveness to readers have earned us the trust of our audience, a compact we take very seriously and strive to safeguard. 

We just drafted this, so please let us know if you have any comments, questions or suggestions for improvement.

Two reminders

• ELECTION: The runoff election for the Northwest district seat on the Lakeland City Commission takes place next Tuesday. Early in-person voting ends Friday. Learn more about the candidates and where to vote in our 2023 Voter Guide.
• NEWSMATCH: Today marks the half-way mark of our NewsMatch campaign to fund our newsroom for the coming year. As a reminder, the impact of your donations (investments, really) to LkldNow are doubled through matching grants from national foundations and generous local supporters. Right now, we are just $749 away from meeting our November goal.