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Verified News Network
Founded2018
FounderKelly Tidwell, Brittany Harlow
HeadquartersBroken Arrow, Oklahoma
AffiliationsLION Publishers, Builders + Backers
Websitewww.verifiednews.network

Verified News Network (VNN) is a Native American-owned digital media organization based in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, on the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation. Founded in 2018 by Kelly Tidwell and Brittany Harlow, VNN covers Indigenous and Native American issues.

History

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VNN was founded in 2018 by operations manager Kelly Tidwell and journalist Brittany Harlow to address gaps in local news coverage of Indigenous and Native American topics.[1][2][3] In 2019, VNN partnered with BetaBlox, a Kansas City-based business incubator, to create VNN Media Services, which focuses on media sponsorship and operational support.[4]

In 2024, VNN organized an intertribal symposium on Native American history and donated $18,900 to the Tulsa City-County Library, granting public access to the Indian Rights Association Collection.[5] That same year, VNN participated in the Advancing Democracy fellowship, which focuses on political reporting and building trust in journalism.[6]

Operations

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VNN primarily covers issues affecting Indigenous communities in Eastern Oklahoma. VNN conducts investigative reporting on historical topics like Tulsa’s Allotment Era and contemporary issues, such as self-defense legal cases.

Since 2021, VNN Oklahoma has reported on the April Wilkens case, examining issues of domestic violence and the treatment of criminalized survivors in Oklahoma's legal system, particularly concerning women.[7][8] VNN has collaborated with tribal media outlets, including Osage News and Mvskoke Media.[5] In 2022, VNN joined over 160 journalism organizations in advocating for diversity reporting requirements in Pulitzer Prize eligibility criteria.[9][10]

In 2023, VNN partnered with the Lucinda Hickory Research Institute on an investigative series examining Tulsa’s history and the impact of Native American allotments.[11][12][3]

Partnerships

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VNN partnered with the Oklahoma Media Center on the "From Adversity to Entrepreneurship (FATE)" learning series, which addressed socio-economic challenges facing communities in generational poverty.[13] In 2023, VNN co-hosted the "Exploring Indigenous Allyship" community dinner to encourage dialogue on Indigenous issues and allyship in Oklahoma.[14]

In 2024, VNN partnered with Osage News to host the “Osage Oscars Watch Party” in Pawhuska.[15] VNN funded the licensing of 350,000 American Indian records for public access through the Tulsa Public Library System.[16][17][18] That same year, VNN launched the Citizen Journalism Project to train Indigenous and underserved individuals in journalism.[19]

Awards and recognition

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  • 2023: LION Publishers Local Journalism Award for "Collaboration of the Year" (Micro/Small Revenue Tier) for the "Stealing Tvlse" series.[20]
  • 2023: RevContent Local Reporting Award for "Stealing Tvlse" series.[21]
  • 2024: Commemoration Fund grant to support "Tulsa’s Indigenous Truth".[22]

References

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  1. ^ Harlow, Brittany (2016-02-24). "About - VNN". verifiednews.network. Retrieved 2024-11-12.
  2. ^ "Verified News Network". MIT SOLVE. Retrieved 2024-11-12.
  3. ^ a b ""Kindred spirits" discuss new allotment crimes series in Oklahoma". IrishCentral.com. 2022-11-15. Retrieved 2024-11-12.
  4. ^ "Verified News Network - Apps". www.betablox.com. Retrieved 2024-11-12.
  5. ^ a b Harper, Braden (2024-07-18). "New intertribal symposium explores local allotment history and modern research". MVSKOKE Media. Retrieved 2024-11-12.
  6. ^ Muchna, Mollie (2024-02-28). "Meet the 2024 Advancing Democracy newsrooms working to transform their political coverage". Trusting News. Retrieved 2024-11-12.
  7. ^ "Two decades later, a woman sentenced to life for killing her abuser still fights for freedom". Verified News Network. Retrieved 2024-11-12.
  8. ^ "Free April Wilkens Blog". Free April Wilkens Blog. 2022-03-13. Retrieved 2024-11-12.
  9. ^ "Journalism groups ask Pulitzers to require transparency on diversity | The NewsGuild - TNG-CWA". 2022-04-29. Retrieved 2024-11-12.
  10. ^ "NABJ Joins Call for Pulitzers to Require News Orgs to Make Diversity Reporting Award Criteria". 2022-04-26. Retrieved 2024-11-12.
  11. ^ Harper, Braden (2023-10-19). "One Century Later, Two Grassroots Organizations Team Up to Confront Oklahoma's Darkest Scandal". MVSKOKE Media. Retrieved 2024-11-12.
  12. ^ "Investigation reveals dark depths of Indigenous probate crime coverup - Verified News Network". The Data-Driven Reporting Project. Retrieved 2024-11-12.
  13. ^ Collins, Rob (2022-11-07). "Oklahoma collaborators cover underreported communities, amplify audience engagement". Local Media Association + Local Media Foundation. Retrieved 2024-11-12.
  14. ^ "Indigenous Allyship dinner establishes appetite for positive dialogue". Verified News Network. Retrieved 2024-11-12.
  15. ^ "Osage Oscars Watch Party sells out ahead of highly anticipated awards show". Native Oklahoma. 2024-03-04. Retrieved 2024-11-12.
  16. ^ "350,000 American Indian records become public through Tulsa Public Libraries". www.fox23.com. 2024-07-09. Retrieved 2024-11-12.
  17. ^ "350K Native American documents made available at Tulsa City-County Library". 2 News Oklahoma KJRH Tulsa. 2024-07-12. Retrieved 2024-11-12.
  18. ^ "Indigenous Peoples of North America Archive, Part 2: Indian Rights Association | Tulsa Library". www.tulsalibrary.org. Retrieved 2024-11-12.
  19. ^ Center, Oklahoma Media (2023-11-17). "Oklahoma Media Center awards grants to 12 local news organizations". Oklahoma Media Center. Retrieved 2024-11-12.
  20. ^ Milloy, Hayley (2023-10-04). "Meet the 36 winners of the 2023 LION Local Journalism Awards". LION Publishers. Retrieved 2024-11-12.
  21. ^ Staff, L. M. A. (2023-09-25). "VNN Oklahoma wins inaugural RevContent Local Reporting Award". Local Media Association + Local Media Foundation. Retrieved 2024-11-12.
  22. ^ Times, The Black Wall Street (2024-05-10). "Commemoration Fund awards more than $1 million to organizations supporting underserved, minority communities". Black Wall Street Times. Retrieved 2024-11-12.
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