Our Vision
Born out of the need for a locally owned news and information source for Cleveland’s growing west side neighborhoods, we aim to fill a gap in the news and information ecosystem in Northeast Ohio. Our goal is to provide a place for residents and community members to tell stories that reflect our neighborhoods, build community, and foster civic engagement. This comes at a pivotal time of declining traditional media and growing nonprofit news entrepreneurship in cities across the U.S., including Cleveland.
Our History
The West Side Observer was created by veteran journalist Lee Chilcote, who previously founded The Land and Literary Cleveland and has lived in the Detroit Shoreway neighborhood with his family for the past 20 years. He hopes to rally a group of community supporters to get behind the West Side Observer and ultimately form a board and create a nonprofit organization.