Dear Reader, 

When I was growing up in northeast Louisiana, half-truths and tall tales were as much a part of the cultural landscape as casually displayed Confederate flags, blooming magnolia trees, and pesky mosquito bites. Lying was deemed socially acceptable in many instances; people lived by the adage “never let the truth get in the way of a good story.”

My four siblings and I were accustomed to aunts and uncles sharing countless tales so grandiose that we are still wondering how much was grounded in reality and how much was the result of vivid imaginations.

But my father, born and raised in Chicago, did not esteem this particular Southern tradition. He and my mother had one hard-and-fast rule for their children: absolutely no lying. 

This principle was so deeply ingrained that untruths still unnerve me—especially from those with the power to influence people, like news organizations. 

As a communications professional committed to uplifting the work of organizations dedicated to collective liberation, I believe the greatest challenges to freedom are disinformation, the rewriting of history for political gain, and the weaponization of people’s lack of knowledge to further disempower them.

As the new interim executive director of YES!, I’m proud of our coverage, which embodies journalism’s core tenet to tell the truth—without losing sight of the humanity of the people at the center of our coverage. 

YES! is committed to resisting the callous cynicism found in much mainstream media, instead elevating critical context and solutions that are already emerging within communities most impacted by the issues often reduced to mere campaign talking points. 

Our commitment to the YES! audience during this election cycle (and always) is to continue providing accurate reporting grounded in truth, and commentary and context that courageously name the forces trying to divide us. As a media organization, we know that truth-telling is our best shot to fulfill our mission and inspire people to “build a more just, sustainable, and compassionate world.”

Believe that. 

Khalilah R. Elliott