About Panhandle Weekly
Panhandle Weekly is an independent local news publication serving Florida’s Emerald Coast, with a focus on Destin, Fort Walton Beach, Niceville, and the communities that connect them. Since 2020, we have worked to make the news that shapes daily life easier to find, understand, and act on.
This is home. The decisions made in council chambers, the weather forming offshore, the work of first responders, and the stories unfolding in our neighborhoods all deserve careful, accessible coverage rooted in the people and places of the Panhandle.
Local news should be close enough to know the roads – and independent enough to follow the facts wherever they lead.
Our mission
Our mission is straightforward: shine a light on the Emerald Coast. That means reporting the information residents need, adding context when a headline is not enough, and keeping important local stories visible after the first news cycle has passed.
We aim to be direct without being careless, skeptical without being cynical, and useful without losing sight of the people affected by every story.
What we cover
- Local government: public meetings, major proposals, elections, development, and the decisions that shape our communities.
- Public safety: timely, responsibly sourced information about emergencies, law enforcement, and the courts.
- Weather and the coast: tropical systems, dangerous surf, environmental conditions, and the realities of living beside the Gulf.
- Community life: the people, events, businesses, and institutions that give the Emerald Coast its character.
- Investigations: deeper reporting on issues that deserve sustained attention and public accountability.
How we work
Local first
We begin with what matters here – not with a national news agenda repackaged for a local audience.
Clear and useful
We explain what happened, why it matters, and what residents should know next.
Accountable
Accuracy comes first. When a story develops, we update it; when something needs correction, we correct it.
Independent by design
Panhandle Weekly’s editorial focus is the public interest of the communities we serve. We choose stories for their local relevance, verify information before presenting it as fact, and make room for context that fast-moving coverage can miss.
Stay connected
Read the latest reporting from across the coast, follow our investigations, and check back as we continue expanding useful local resources for the Emerald Coast.