Only a few months ago, I was on your side of the screen.
I was an avid reader of The Frontier, scouring their reporters’ stories exposing organized crime on marijuana farms, a problematic training program used by some Oklahoma police departments, and felony charges for women who used marijuana while pregnant.
Then over the summer, I had the opportunity to work at The Frontier as an intern. The feeling was akin to getting a glimpse behind the curtain of one of your favorite stage productions. Here I was, sitting in a room with many of the journalists I’ve read and admired for months and years, and I could finally ask the million-dollar question about their reporting: How did you find this out?
Frontier staffers Kayla, Ari, Brianna, and Ashlynd were happy to share. And while their answers varied, they all boiled down to one thing: their dedication to readers.
Along with The Frontier‘s Tulsa team, they spend hours scouring documents, making phone calls, requesting records and speaking with community members and officials to find answers to the questions that matter to Oklahomans.
The Frontier‘s commitment to producing quality stories of impact drew me to the publication as an intern and is why I stayed on when I was offered a full-time job.
And now I’ll pull back the curtain for you, too.
Behind every story you read from The Frontier is a reporter dedicated to bringing you the truth ethically, thoughtfully and comprehensively and an editor who meticulously pores over each word to ensure the work is the best it can be. We have several weekly meetings to discuss our projects and share ideas for improving and expanding our coverage. And we are eager to jump on any opportunity to collaborate and learn more.
It’s all for the same goal, which continues to drive The Frontier forward: serving our readers to the best of our abilities.
When I talked with Dylan, The Frontier‘s executive editor, about coming on as an intern and then again full-time, he told me The Frontier aims to help its reporters in any way it can so they can do the work that matters.
Over the summer, The Frontier gave me the time and support necessary to examine how insufficient staffing at the Oklahoma County jail contributes to missed site checks and lack of detainee supervision. This fall, it allowed me to look into extreme funding shortfalls for rental assistance programs across the state, leaving thousands in limbo as they wait for a housing choice voucher.
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Now through the end of the year, your donations will be matched through the collaborative fundraising movement Newsmatch. We can earn up to $24,000 with your help. Please consider donating to support our mission of independent journalism that shines a light on Oklahoma.
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