Submission Instructions

The Heights Observer is written by citizen volunteers. People like you!

Our readers are our writers. We need news and information from your neighborhoods and communities in Cleveland Heights and University Heights, and you are the best people to provide it. 

Write stories, interviews, restaurant reviews, news, event announcements, letters to the editor and opinion columns. Submit  photos, too.

Become an Observer today! You do not need prior journalism experience, and we carefully edit all submissions.   

How to submit:

Editorial content (articles, letters to the editor, columns, photos) must be submitted through the Member Center (also linked in the left-hand column); we are volunteer-based and unfortunately don't have staff to input contributions that arrive by other means.

Calendar of Events: For your event to appear on our calendar of events, submit them online here.

Before you begin:

We only publish information about our communities—Cleveland Heights and University Heights—and their people.

It's the nature of a community project like this that many contributors have a direct interest in the topics they cover. If you are writing about an event or organization in which you have any direct interest, you must disclose that connection in the author bio box at the end of the article.

Before you write, please review the Heights Observer Style Guide for important information on story length and other details you need to know.

2024 deadlines for contributors and editors

Ready to submit?

Go to the Member Center. This is where the magic happens. From this page, you can submit stories about anything that is Heights-related—news, opinion, a Letter to the Editor. It's easy and fun. And, you can work on your story online before you send it to our volunteer editors.

By submitting information for publication, you grant the Heights Observer the right to edit your submission for length, clarity and readability; and publish this information in perpetuity. 

Open invitation:

Do you have a writing and/or editing background? If you are interested in helping with the editorial process, please e-mail observerhts@gmail.com.

Newsies/Delivery People: The Heights Observer always needs people who can help deliver the newspaper around town. It takes a commitment of only a couple of hours a month. If you can help, e-mail bbailey@futureheights.org.