The Laker and Lutz News

What The Laker and Lutz News does

The Laker/Lutz News is a free weekly community newspaper operated by Street Media, LLC (a Delaware private company) and published every Wednesday across suburban north Tampa — specifically Lutz, Odessa, Land O' Lakes, Wesley Chapel, New Tampa, Zephyrhills, Dade City, and San Antonio, in Pasco and Hillsborough Counties, Florida. The publication originates from the 1964 founding of The Lutz News and the 1981 founding of The Laker, which subsequently merged; it operates in a multi-edition format with hyperlocal editions for each sub-community. Weekly circulation is 47,395 papers, with roughly 85% delivered to homes and the remainder to 350+ business locations and newspaper boxes; the publication reports that 8 of 10 households in its market read the paper.

The underlying technology stack is non-proprietary: the publication runs on WordPress CMS with the All-in-One Video Gallery plugin for the Video Gallery product (60+ videos including recurring Featured Video, Foodie Friday, and Monthly ReCap series), and Online E-Editions with archives back to 2014. There are no proprietary systems, no disclosed AI/ML capabilities, and no app presence; digital distribution is via web, Facebook, Twitter/X, and Instagram. Additional products include a Local Jobs board, Puzzles & Games, sponsored content (the 'Closer Look' section), public notices, and obituaries.

The business model is entirely advertising-supported. Revenue is generated from display advertising, classifieds, a business directory, the Homes section (builders, realtors, services), preprints/inserts (national retailer circulars), and sponsored content. National retail advertisers inserting weekly circulars include Publix Super Markets, Publix Liquors, Walmart, Ace Hardware, Rural King, Ollie's, and Smart Choice Coupon Book. The publication receives annual recognition from the Florida Press Association and Community Papers of Florida. Operations are led by a lean team — Publisher Brian Calle, Account Manager Mary Jane Weeks, and Sales Coordinator Rachel Thompson — with the editorial staff not formally itemized, suggesting a small newsroom supporting a multi-edition weekly product.

Name

The Laker and Lutz News

Legal name

Street Media, LLC

Website

https://lakerlutznews.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1964

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Laker/Lutz News is a free weekly community newspaper published every Wednesday by Street Media, LLC, serving suburban north Tampa (Lutz, Land O' Lakes, Wesley Chapel, Zephyrhills, and adjacent communities) with 47,395 papers distributed to homes and 350+ businesses, supported by national and local advertising.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Newspaper Publishing

NAICS

Newspaper Publishers (513110), Newspaper, Periodical, Book, and Directory Publishers (5131)

SIC

Newspapers: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2711)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYMPAJADAB

Local & Regional Newspapers (Print & Digital)

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Publishing (Books, News, Magazines)/News Publishing (Newspapers, Digital Newsrooms, Wire Services)

Keywords

• Community newspaper publishing
• Local journalism
• Weekly newspaper
• Local advertising
• Hyperlocal news

Headquarters

HQ city

Land O Lakes

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Advertising Revenue: Primary revenue from local and national advertising. National retailers including Publix Super Markets, Publix Liquors, Ace Hardware, Walmart, Rural King, Ollie's, and Smart Choice Coupon Book insert weekly advertising circulars. Additional advertising opportunities include display ads, classifieds, business directory, Homes section (builders, realtors, services), and sponsored content.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Free, weekly community newspaper published every Wednesday and distributed to 47,395 homes and businesses across suburban north Tampa (Pasco and Hillsborough Counties). Covers local news, sports, schools, healthcare, businesses, and community events in Lutz, Land O' Lakes, Wesley Chapel, Zephyrhills, Dade City, and San Antonio. Revenue is generated primarily from display advertising, preprints/inserts (Publix, Walmart, Ace Hardware, etc.), classifieds, and sponsored content.

Product overview

The Laker/Lutz News is a free, weekly community newspaper published every Wednesday by Street Media, LLC. The company operates a multi-edition print and digital newspaper serving Pasco and Hillsborough counties in Florida, with distinct geographic editions for Lutz, Land O' Lakes, Wesley Chapel/New Tampa, and Zephyrhills/East Pasco communities. In addition to the core print newspaper product (circulation: 47,395 papers weekly), the company offers Online E-Editions for digital access, a Video Gallery featuring local video content including Foodie Friday restaurant features and Monthly ReCap recaps, advertising services with multiple rate options, a Local Jobs board, and Puzzles & Games. The publication has been serving The Laker in Pasco County since 1981 and The Lutz News since 1964.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Named customers6 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Publix Super MarketscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor national retailer and longstanding advertising partner that inserts weekly advertising circulars in The Laker and Lutz News. Part of the core advertising customer base that validates the publication's market reach.
• Publix LiquorscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerNational retailer chain advertising partner that inserts weekly advertising circulars in The Laker and Lutz News.
• Ace HardwarecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerNational hardware retailer and longstanding advertising partner that inserts weekly advertising circulars in The Laker and Lutz News.
• WalmartcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerNational retail giant and advertising partner that inserts weekly advertising circulars in The Laker and Lutz News.
• Rural KingcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerNational farm and retail store chain that inserts weekly advertising circulars in The Laker and Lutz News.
• Ollie'scoreGTM or Marketing PartnerNational discount retailer that inserts weekly advertising circulars in The Laker and Lutz News.
• Smart Choice Coupon BookminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal coupon/marketing partner that inserts weekly advertising circulars in The Laker and Lutz News.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Adams Publishing Group: Family-owned community newspaper company publishing dozens of weekly and daily papers across multiple states. Closely comparable operating model to a free weekly community paper supported by retail insert and display advertising.
• Tampa Bay Times: Major daily regional newspaper serving the same Tampa Bay / Pasco and Hillsborough County footprint where The Laker/Lutz News operates weekly. Both compete for local advertisers and reader attention across overlapping suburbs.
• The Gabber Newspaper: Long-running free community newspaper serving southern Hillsborough County (Apollo Beach, Ruskin, Sun City Center). Closest geographic analog as a free weekly Tampa Bay community paper anchored by retail insert advertising.
• Ogden Newspapers: Multi-generation family-owned operator of community dailies and weeklies in the Midwest, mid-Atlantic, and Southeast. Comparable free and paid community-paper portfolio with shared retail-insert revenue model.
• Community Newspaper Holdings Inc. (CNHI): National group of community newspapers operating as a sales network for national retail preprints and inserts — comparable by virtue of same advertiser base (Publix, Walmart-tier retailers) and weekly community-paper economics.
• Creative Loafing Tampa Bay: Free alternative weekly newspaper and digital outlet covering Tampa Bay. Operates a comparable free-distribution, advertising-funded weekly model targeting local readers and advertisers in the same geography.

Emerging players

• Patch.com: Hyperlocal digital-only news network covering thousands of US communities. Represents the digital-native competitor chasing the same suburban Tampa local-news advertiser and reader that The Laker/Lutz News serves in print.

Broad incumbents

• Lee Enterprises: Publicly traded community newspaper group operating daily and weekly titles across the US. Provides direct comparability on the operating economics of advertiser-supported community print/digital bundles.
• Tribune Publishing: Publicly traded publisher of regional dailies and previously operated community titles. Useful valuation and operational benchmark for traditional community-paper business models transitioning toward digital ad revenue.
• Gannett Co. Largest US newspaper publisher (USA TODAY Network) operating hundreds of community and regional titles. Owns adjacent Florida dailies and competes with The Laker/Lutz News for national retail ad budgets at scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/lakerlutznews
• YouTubelakerlutznews.com/video-gallery
• Facebookfacebook.com/LakerLutzNews
• Instagraminstagram.com/lakerlutznews/?fbclid=IwAR2zQYZjQ9jnZnnL3f5pCoEW_rIylnr_1MpyuJTvXzIY66ShnM_sXUXzcW4
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-laker-lutz-news

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Laker and Lutz News