Verite - American Journalism Project

Verite is a nonprofit news organization with a twofold mission to produce in-depth journalism that serves the whole community while training, developing and mentoring a new generation of minority journalists to work on the ground in New Orleans, and equip them to work anywhere through daily reporting and a targeted fellowship program.

Verite will elevate voices from communities that have been historically dismissed or ignored, creating thoughtful, solution-based coverage on crucial topics such as education, housing, health care, criminal justice, the environment and politics to help lift up a region that has been left behind compared to similar national metropolitan areas.

Verite will provide a new platform for the area’s unique culture through thoughtful coverage, compelling storytelling, historical retrospectives and by publishing contributions from writers, poets, musicians, artists and other culture bearers who are striving to preserve traditions while also creating new ones.

The newsroom’s in-depth, data-based reporting will be geared to finding solutions to issues such as the racial wealth gap, gentrification, health care disparities, and chronic poverty. Bringing these issues to light with a thoughtful, inclusive approach will engage and empathize with all stakeholders to bring positive change. Addressing and increasing diversity in newsrooms is part of the solution.

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Communities of color have been disenfranchised by both the government and the media in New Orleans. Brown and Black people feel they have nowhere to turn to have their voices heard. We want them to know that Verité is listening and will help them be heard."

Terry Baquet, Verite Editor in Chief

Leaders

David Francis

Executive Director

David Francis is the retired Executive Vice President and Publisher of NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune, working for NOLA Media Group and its predecessor, The Times-Picayune, for more than 24 years. David previously served as a Regional Business Planner and Manager of Financial Operations for Pepsi-Cola and Audit Manager for Deloitte & Touche. He earned his undergraduate and master's degrees in business administration from Tulane University and is a CPA (inactive status). In addition to the presidency of the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival and Foundation, he is the President of the Institute of Mental Hygiene board. He is currently a board member of Liberty Bank and Trust, LSU Healthcare Network and The Times-Picayune Doll and Toy Fund. Previously, David was president of the boards of the Louisiana Press Association, Louisiana Daily Newspaper Association and, Children's Bureau of New Orleans and Vice Chair, of Lakefront Management Authority Board of Commissioners He has served on the boards of the United Way of Southeast Louisiana, Louis Armstrong Jazz Camp, New Orleans Chamber of Commerce, the Greater New Orleans Foundation and Board of Advisory for Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New Orleans. During his tenure at The Times-Picayune, the newspaper won four Pulitzer Prizes, including the first in its 176-year history.
Terry Baquet

Editor in Chief

Terry Baquet is a 28-year veteran of NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune and a lifelong New Orleanian. He served as Sunday Editor and was the Page 1 Editor during the paper’s Katrina coverage which won two Pulitzer Prizes in breaking news and public service. In 2012, Terry was named Managing editor/Director of Print essentially overseeing all editorial decisions for the newspaper’s print edition and also supervising the layout and production for four other newspapers in the Advance Publications chain. He also ran The Times-Picayune’s community engagement efforts. He has served on the boards of Lede New Orleans and Spaceship Media. Terry is from an old New Orleans family that is deeply rooted in the city’s jazz and restaurant history. He graduated from Hampton Institute in Virginia, grew up in the 7th Ward and continues to live there today.