In 2025, about 20 people came together to launch the Tulsa Flyer with hopes of changing the city’s journalism landscape. It was a risky decision as the media landscape constantly shifts, and layoffs are the name of the game.
But the goal was simple: Provide every Tulsan with free and timely access to the information they need to live more informed and connected lives.
Our coverage has and always will center on what matters to our readers. It’s the fabric of how we build this newsroom focusing on the coverage of local government; schools and families; cost of living; arts and culture and holding people in power accountable. We’ve forged partnerships with several local media outlets, funding reporters here in Tulsa and across the state to strengthen the news ecosystem.
We’ve also trained and paid hundreds of residents to take notes at public meetings through Tulsa Documenters. We then take those notes to inform and improve our reporting. This weekend, we’ll train dozens more.
Under the banner of the Tulsa Local News Initiative, we’ve worked alongside our colleagues at The Oklahoma Eagle as they relaunched the more than century-old institution as a nonprofit newsroom. Powered by a growing reporting staff, the historic Black newspaper produces a free weekly print edition, Thursday evening newsletter and daily news online and on social media.
In the year since launching, we’ve filed hundreds of stories and sent a similar amount of newsletters. Our staff has grown, our production has too, and we hope our impact always will.
As we mark 12 months in business and look forward to many more, our staff are reflecting on their favorite stories we’ve produced since Oct. 15. Here are their picks.
What stories stuck with you?
As we celebrate our first year, we’d love to hear which stories stuck with you. Did you read something that sparked you to visit a restaurant, head to the polls or attend a public meeting? Did you simply learn something you didn’t know before? Let us know by emailing connect@tulsaflyer.org.
Holding the powerful accountable
Three staff members highlighted the Flyer’s seven-month examination of emails between Broken Arrow city councilors and residents regarding their 4-1 denial of a proposed mosque. Art director Molly McElwain, who designed graphics for the story, loved seeing the staff come together to bring the project to fruition. Flyer government reporter Joe Tomlinson called it “one of my favorite things I’ve ever worked on.”
Flyer education reporter Anna Colletto admired how Eagle managing editor Elliott Terrell has followed the Glunt family’s challenges in getting answers to what led up to his death by police. The Eagle uncovered how the autopsy report did not match TPD’s account. Eagle business reporter Ismael Lele wrote of the reporting, “this did a great job providing the news while maintaining the human element of it all.”
Web producer Jess Meza Calzada also appreciated Terrell’s dedication to a story on a tenant battle in north Tulsa, writing that it “makes you reflect on the housing struggle many folks in Tulsa and all over the country experience every day.”
Interim managing editor Ginnie Graham pointed to her stories on overdue utility bills by multi-family property owners and the impact of opioid grants on Tulsans as two of her favorites. Her look at Tulsa County opioid grants explored how funding between $100,000 to $600,000 went largely for projects in treatment and housing.
Sometimes accountability means witnessing emotional moments as photojournalist Milo Gladstein did as he reported from both sides of Oklahoma’s execution chamber to hear how people were making sense of the death penalty debate.
Tapping into Tulsa nostalgia
We might only be a year old, but this city’s history is rich with stories and we wanted to bring them to light.
That ranged from Tim’s love letter to Starship Records, which prompted deputy managing editor Jessica Remer to swing by on its final weekend to grab some records. Joe’s story had neighbors imagining a new future for the old Drillers stadium. and Ginnie took a deeply local and compassionate look at the impact of the late Buzz Dalesandro.
Sometimes, we put the history right next to today to show you how much Tulsa has changed over the decades. And even if you grew up here, we hope you learned something new. Then there were the history lessons, like Shaunicy’s story discussing the role the Green Book played in aiding Black travelers along the Mother Road.
But perhaps our nostalgia stories can be summed up by Joe’s Adah Robinson story that simply made our colleague’s “Tulsa heart happy.”
Credit: Anna Colletto / Tulsa Flyer
Tulsans’ experiences with education
Keeping up with information can be overwhelming. Anna got some praise from her colleagues for a comprehensive back-to-school guide that told readers about everything from free backpack giveaways to community celebrations.
Our audience director Clara Stewart appreciated Anna’s look at TPS’ attempt to reduce the number of preschoolers it suspends, a number that peaked recently. And then there were the kids driving change after voicing their displeasure with subpar school meals that featured cold meat and chunky milk — and a change by the school district.
Tracking the rising cost of living
Nothing has dominated conversations around Tulsa like how food, gas and utility prices have shot up. A crew of Documenters helped report a story about shrinkflation of products and a comparison of prices on the same products at different stores. Documenters editor Sam Stockley said “it really opened up how Documenters could support newsroom reporting and allowed more Documenters to support the Flyer and Eagle’s work.”
PSO bills were and still are a topic of discussion for many Tulsans as their bills have skyrocketed this summer. We made sure to show you how your neighbors are dealing with them while offering explainers to help you make sense of it all.
Slices of Tulsa life
Many of our reporters enjoyed the stories that allowed them to get up close and personal with people they otherwise wouldn’t have met.
Cost of living reporter Libby Hobbs cited her profile of mahjong players in Tulsa. “This story helped connect me with Asian Tulsans, which has been a delightful surprise that’s further inspired me to learn new things about myself as well,” Hobbs said.
Eastside/La Semana reporter Angelica Perez spent seven hours with a dance group that spends all year preparing for one night of celebration and faith. “They welcomed me into their homes and churches and allowed me to see them in their element,” she said.
Story editor Haley Samsel picked a story on Yellow Brick Road Pub as her favorite because it encapsulates the most fun parts of the job, like “learning about spaces where community is built, brick by brick, in often quiet and extraordinary ways.” Terrell, the Eagle managing editor, loved exploring the legacy and future of Booker T. Washington’s basketball team.
One favorite that stood out from the pack: Lele’s look at the struggle Black entrepreneurs face in the natural hair industry. The story dove into the discrimination tactics some businesses must overcome while trying to have a larger ownership stake in an industry they dominate as customers.
News decisions at the Tulsa Flyer are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy here.
