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Draft:Verified News Network

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  • Comment: A very very promotional draft about a non notable news company. Safari ScribeEdits! Talk! 11:16, 20 October 2024 (UTC)


Verified News Network (VNN) is a Native-owned social news media company headquartered in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, on the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation. The company operates a platform for verified news and aims to provide equitable news representation, particularly for underserved communities.

The VNN App, a web-based platform, allows users to engage with VNN’s content and share social news media.

History

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VNN was established in July 2018 on the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation within Tulsa, Oklahoma.[1]

In 2019, VNN partnered with the Kansas City-based business incubator BetaBlox to develop diverse revenue streams to support its operations. This partnership led to the creation of VNN Media Services.[2]

VNN has collaborated with several organizations, including LION Publishers[3] and Builders + Backers[4] to develop sustainable news and business practices.

The company has also partnered with tribal news outlets, such as Osage News and Mvskoke Media, to strengthen its coverage of Native American issues.

In 2022, VNN collaborated with Oklahoma Media Center (OMC) on a “From Adversity To Entrepreneurship (FATE)” learning series to explore barriers for individuals seeking to overcome generational poverty.[5]

The following year, VNN and Osage News co-hosted an "Exploring Indigenous Allyship" event, which focused on addressing challenges faced by Native communities in Oklahoma. More than 75 percent of attendees identified as Native American.[6]

In 2024, VNN Oklahoma launched its Citizen Journalism Project, a program that provides journalism training to Indigenous and underserved citizens. Over 85 percent of participants in the program identified as Native American. [7]

Also in 2024, VNN was selected to participate in the Advancing Democracy Fellowship developed by Trusting News, Solutions Journalism Network, and Hearken, a social impact consultancy.[8]

Operations and Coverage

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VNN Oklahoma focuses on local news coverage for underserved communities in Eastern Oklahoma, with particular attention to Indigenous perspectives. Its "Native District" coverage highlights issues affecting Native Americans, while the organization also covers other underserved groups, including women, justice-involved individuals, and those experiencing mental health challenges. VNN produces historical and investigative reporting on topics such as the experiences of criminalized survivors like April Wilkens and Tulsa’s Allotment Era history.

VNN's coverage of the April Wilkens case[9] helped lead to a new law protecting people who fight back against their abusers.

Impact and Notability

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The Indian Rights Association Historical Collection and Tulsa City County Library

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In 2024, VNN's research team donated $18,900 to the Tulsa City-County Library to make over 350,000 American Indian records from the Indian Rights Association Historical Collection accessible to the public. This donation funded the license for the IRA collection, making it free to access through TCCL’s American Indian Resource Center.[10]

These documents, dating from 1882 to 1986, focus on Tulsa's Allotment Era and include correspondence, reports, legislative drafts, and photographs.[11][12]

Awards

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Awards and Accolades
Year Award Result Reference
2021 Local Media Digital Innovation Awards “Best Digital News Project" Won [13]
2023 LION Publishers Local Journalism Awards "Collaboration of the Year" Won [14]
2023 RevContent Local Reporting Award Won [15]
2024 The Commemoration Fund Won [16]
2024 Oklahoma Media Center Grant Won [17]
2024 The Next Challenge Finalist [18]

References

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  1. ^ "VNN About". 24 February 2016.
  2. ^ "Verified News Network - Apps". www.betablox.com.
  3. ^ Milloy, Hayley (October 4, 2023). "Meet the 36 winners of the 2023 LION Local Journalism Awards". LION Publishers.
  4. ^ Gatling, Paul (January 21, 2024). "Builders + Backers, Heartland Forward unveil Stepping Stones initiative". Talk Business & Politics.
  5. ^ "Oklahoma collaborators cover underreported communities, amplify audience engagement". Local Media Association. 7 November 2022.
  6. ^ "Indigenous Allyship dinner establishes appetite for positive dialogue". VNN.
  7. ^ Mayer, Joy (July 9, 2024). "How an ecosystem approach to change in local news is benefitting news consumers in Oklahoma". Trusting News.
  8. ^ Muchna, Mollie (February 28, 2024). "Meet the 2024 Advancing Democracy newsrooms working to transform their political coverage". Trusting News.
  9. ^ "Search Results for "verified news network"". March 13, 2022.
  10. ^ "350,000 American Indian records become public through Tulsa Public Libraries". www.fox23.com. July 9, 2024.
  11. ^ "350K Native American documents made available at Tulsa City-County Library". 2 News Oklahoma KJRH Tulsa. July 12, 2024.
  12. ^ "Indigenous Peoples of North America Archive, Part 2: Indian Rights Association". Tulsa City-County Library.
  13. ^ "2021 Local Media Digital Innovation Awards Winners".
  14. ^ "Meet the 36 winners of the 2023 LION Local Journalism Awards". 4 October 2023.
  15. ^ Staff, L. M. A. (September 25, 2023). "VNN Oklahoma wins inaugural RevContent Local Reporting Award". Local Media Association + Local Media Foundation.
  16. ^ Times, The Black Wall Street (May 10, 2024). "Commemoration Fund awards more than $1 million to organizations supporting underserved, minority communities". Black Wall Street Times.
  17. ^ Center, Oklahoma Media (November 17, 2023). "Oklahoma Media Center awards grants to 12 local news organizations". Oklahoma Media Center.
  18. ^ "Announcing the 2024 Next Challenge Division Finalists". Glen Nelson Center at American Public Media Group.
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