After a rigorous review and application process, the Osage News is the first tribally-owned newspaper in the country to join The Trust Project.
Started in 2014, The Trust Project is an international consortium of hundreds of news organizations building standards of transparency to affirm and amplify journalism’s commitment to transparency, accuracy, inclusion, and fairness so that the public can make informed news choices.
“Your mission statement is very strong and Osage News has a reputation as a model for editorial independence,” wrote Sally Lehrman, Trust Project CEO, to Osage News Editorial Board member Teresa Lamsam. “As you know, as part of membership we will help you strengthen the editorial guidelines and transparency practices that support such independence.”
Lamsam and Editorial Board Vice Chair Tara Manthey will spearhead the News’s efforts of updating its website and news content to fit the Trust Projects “trust indicators,” with final approval by Editor Shannon Shaw Duty.
“This effort was spearheaded by our board member Teresa Lamsam,” Shaw Duty said. “Her continued support and passion to improve Osage News editorial content has greatly attributed to the Osage News’ success over the years. We are very grateful for her guidance and wisdom.
“Being included in the Trust Project’s next cohort, and being the first tribally owned newspaper to do so, is a huge honor.”
According to The Trust Project’s website, the consortium has created a set of digital standards called “Trust Indicators” that help the public and news distribution platforms easily identify reliable news sites. Lehrman provides vision and strategy, guiding the effort as it implements the news industry’s first-ever transparency standards for users to see and machines to read, also overseeing collaborative implementation and scaling among newsrooms around the world.
The Osage News joins news organizations such as The Economist, Buffalo’s Fire, The Washington Post, The Denver Post, Star Tribune, The Toronto Star, CBC News, and many more.
For more, visit thetrustproject.org.
The Trust Project is funded by Craig Newmark Philanthropies, Democracy Fund, Facebook, Google and the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.