Someone who is eagle-eyed is said to have keen vision. Hence, the term eagle-eyed reporter — a journalist who rarely lets anything escape his or her watchful eye.

With the advent of the Web, every citizen has the opportunity to become an eagle-eyed reporter, posting what they see and hear and do for the world to see.

Through our comments section, letters to the editor and yourmarco.com, our readers have contributed immensely to the success of marconews.com and the Marco Eagle. Over the past few years, we’ve grown that initiative, with regular contributions from MICA, the YMCA, the Art League, the City of Marco Island and many more. We’re very proud of what you have accomplished for your community.

Now as an “Eagle i” (get it, eagle-eye?), you will have the opportunity to do more. Your photograph could end up on the front page of the Eagle, online and in print. Your article could run alongside that of any staff reporter. Your column could be a regular part of our online community and print publication. You can blog, post video or, what the heck, just tell us what you’d like to do and we’ll make it happen; within reason of course.

You can add your expertise to stories we’re working on, share documents and photos and participate fully in the process.

Look throughout this and every future edition of the Marco Eagle for your opportunity to add to the chorus of local contributors, or e-mail me what you’d like to do.

Together, we’ll have an Eagle i on every corner of our Island paradise, keeping readers informed like never before. Even if you just pick up the phone and give us a news tip, you’ll be helping your community stay informed. Oh, and that big green logo I was talking about. It’ll help you readily identify content that our Eagle i’s provide.

Oh yeah! Each week, our staff will pick the best Eagle i contribution, whether it’s a photo, column, story, letter or comment. That person will win a free Eagle i T-shirt and cap — and you can’t buy those anywhere.

Each month, during Marco Thursdays at the Esplanade, we will publicly honor the winners from the prior month, as well as acknowledge them online and in print.

My hope is that you’ll wear you Eagle i T-shirt, proudly stating, “I am an Eagle i. I care what happens in my community and I want you to have all the facts.”

So good luck, and let’s get i-balling!

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