Let's play catch
Catch up on VNN's current projects
Verified News Network is working through some shocking investigations and novel research efforts as we continue our mission to do news differently.
Here’s a look at some of the biggest projects we’re currently working on:
Abandoned Historic Cemeteries
Why do historic cemeteries continue to be abandoned and neglected? And who are the community leaders and heroes who are buried there? These two mysteries are starting to unravel in Muskogee County. A rare find in am Oklahoma City thrift shop could contain keys to both.
Crimes Against The Indigenous
An effort so new, we haven’t even published a story about it. Yet. The crimes committed against Native Americans in Oklahoma are a big part of the state’s history, and many have never been righted or even acknowledged. We’re working with new partners to expose how deep those crimes still cut in Tulsa today.
We can’t go it alone. Click to support VNN today.
The April Wilkens Case
As Don Carlton Honda continues to stamp out attempts to share April Wilkens’ story, VNN continues to look for ways to highlight it. Wilkens has been serving a life sentence for going on 25 years after killing her wealthy rapist and abuser. A new justice team has recently joined her cause, and we’re exploring how Oklahoma lawmakers are not far behind.
From Adversity To Entrepreneurship
VNN and Big If True are teaming up to learn more about overcoming adversity through entrepreneurship. Community members and organizations are invited to both From Addiction To Entrepreneurship (FATE) learning series events. One is in Tulsa on Saturday, June 18, from 12 pm to 2 pm. The other is in Okmulgee on Saturday, July 16, from 12 to 2 pm.
Indie Growth
Indiegraf is a network of community news organizations that pool resources to accelerate growth. VNN partnered with Indiegraf this spring to grow and learn from our audience, audit our news products, and maximize our fundraising campaigns. We’re still processing the data and will publish our findings soon.
Low Trust In News
At VNN, we’re not just focused on learning more from our Verified News Community; we want to learn what’s stopping people from joining our community, too. Through Trusting News’s Outreach and Listening Project (part of A Road To Pluralism), we have been speaking with citizens of the Muscogee Creek Nation and other Oklahoma tribes to better understand their low trust in news and how we can better serve them.
Support from our Verified News Community keeps these projects alive. How can you be more involved? We were hoping you’d ask! Click here.