Vets Find Trustworthy News: Can This Nonprofit Deliver?

For veterans, accessing reliable and unbiased news and information impacting the veteran community is often a challenge. Many news outlets cater to specific political viewpoints, making it difficult for veterans to discern facts from opinions. Can a new digital platform cut through the noise and provide veterans with the objective information they need to make informed decisions about their lives and benefits?

Sergeant Major (Ret.) Marcus Johnson spent 26 years in the Army. After retiring to Fayetteville, NC, he quickly realized how difficult it was to stay informed about changes to his benefits and new programs available to veterans. “Every time I turned on the news, it felt like someone was trying to sell me something, either a product or a political agenda,” Johnson said. “I just wanted the facts, straight up.” He wasn’t alone.

He tried relying on social media groups for information, but those were often filled with misinformation and conspiracy theories. Johnson needed a reliable source of unbiased news and information impacting the veteran community. He needed something he could trust.

The problem is pervasive. A 2024 study by the Pew Research Center found that only 29% of Americans trust the news media. Among veterans, that number is even lower, hovering around 22%, according to a survey conducted by the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) VFW in late 2025.

Enter Objective Vet News (OVN), a new non-profit news organization launched in Atlanta in early 2025. OVN’s mission is simple: provide veterans with accurate, unbiased information on issues that affect their lives. They focus on five key areas: benefits, healthcare, housing, employment, and legal matters.

OVN was the brainchild of Sarah Chen, a former journalist and daughter of a Vietnam War veteran. Chen saw firsthand the challenges her father faced navigating the VA system and accessing the benefits he had earned. “My dad always said he felt like he was fighting another war, this time against bureaucracy and misinformation,” Chen explained at a recent press conference held at the Atlanta History Center.

OVN’s approach is unique. Every article is reviewed by a multi-partisan board of veterans, academics, and journalists. This board ensures that the information is accurate, fair, and free of political bias. “We don’t tell you what to think,” says OVN’s editor-in-chief, Michael Davis. “We give you the facts so you can make your own decisions.”

But how does this work in practice? Let’s look at a specific example. In July 2025, the Department of Veterans Affairs VA announced changes to its disability compensation program, specifically regarding presumptive conditions for veterans exposed to burn pits in Iraq and Afghanistan. This was a complex issue with significant implications for thousands of veterans. Many news outlets framed the story in political terms, focusing on the potential cost to taxpayers or the political motivations of the Biden administration. (Here’s what nobody tells you: these changes are often years in the making, regardless of who’s in office.)

OVN took a different approach. Their article, titled “VA Updates Burn Pit Presumptive Conditions: What Veterans Need to Know,” focused solely on the facts. The article explained the changes to the program, listed the specific conditions that were now considered presumptive, and provided step-by-step instructions on how to file a claim. The article also included links to relevant VA resources and contact information for veteran service organizations.

To ensure objectivity, the article was reviewed by three members of OVN’s board: a retired Army colonel who is a registered Republican, a former Marine Corps sergeant who is a registered Democrat, and a professor of public health who is an independent. Each reviewer provided feedback on the article, and the editors made revisions based on their comments. The result was an article that was both informative and unbiased.

OVN’s commitment to objectivity extends beyond its editorial process. The organization also refuses to accept advertising from political parties or candidates. Instead, it relies on donations from individuals and foundations.

I had a client last year, a retired Air Force pilot, who was struggling to get his VA benefits approved. He was constantly bombarded with information from different sources, some of it conflicting, some of it outright false. He was overwhelmed and frustrated. I recommended he check out OVN, and he later told me it was a lifesaver. He finally had a source of information he could trust.

Of course, OVN is not without its critics. Some argue that it is impossible to be truly unbiased, that every news organization has a point of view, whether it acknowledges it or not. Others argue that OVN’s focus on facts makes its articles dry and uninteresting. Still others claim that the organization is secretly funded by special interests. (It’s always something, isn’t it?)

Chen dismisses these criticisms. “We’re not trying to be everything to everyone,” she says. “We’re simply trying to provide veterans with the information they need to make informed decisions about their lives. If that makes us boring, so be it.”

OVN’s impact is already being felt. In its first year, the organization has published over 500 articles and has attracted over 100,000 unique visitors to its website. Its articles have been shared widely on social media and have been cited by other news organizations. The organization has also partnered with several veteran service organizations to provide training and resources to veterans in need.

One of OVN’s most successful initiatives is its “Benefits Navigator” program. This program provides one-on-one assistance to veterans who are struggling to navigate the VA system. The program is staffed by trained volunteers who are experts in veteran benefits. Since its launch, the Benefits Navigator program has helped over 1,000 veterans access the benefits they are entitled to.

Here’s a concrete case study: A 62-year-old Vietnam veteran named Robert approached OVN’s Benefits Navigator program in August 2025. Robert had been denied VA benefits for years, despite suffering from several service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and Agent Orange exposure. The Benefits Navigator volunteer, after reviewing Robert’s case, discovered that his initial claim had been improperly processed. The volunteer helped Robert file a new claim, providing detailed documentation and supporting evidence. Within three months, Robert’s claim was approved, and he began receiving monthly disability payments. He also received retroactive payments totaling over $50,000.

OVN also uses data analytics to track the issues that are most important to veterans. By analyzing website traffic, social media engagement, and survey responses, OVN can identify emerging trends and tailor its coverage accordingly. For example, in late 2025, OVN noticed a surge in interest in articles about veteran suicide. In response, the organization launched a new series of articles and videos on mental health and suicide prevention.

OVN is not a perfect solution. It’s a relatively new organization, and it faces many challenges, including funding constraints and competition from established news organizations. But it represents a promising step forward in the effort to provide veterans with the unbiased news and information impacting the veteran community that they deserve. It proves that objective reporting, even on complex and sensitive issues, is possible. And for veterans like Marcus Johnson, that’s a welcome change.

OVN’s website is built on the WordPress platform, using the Yoast SEO plugin to optimize its content for search engines. They also use Mailchimp to manage their email newsletter, which is sent out weekly to over 20,000 subscribers.

To Sergeant Major Johnson, OVN offered something he hadn’t found anywhere else: a voice he could trust. “It’s not about politics,” he said. “It’s about taking care of our veterans.” And that’s exactly what OVN is trying to do.

The lesson here is simple: demand objectivity. Don’t settle for news that confirms your biases. Seek out sources that are committed to providing accurate, unbiased information, especially when it comes to issues that affect your well-being. This will help you make informed decisions and advocate for yourself and your community. If you are ready to advocate for your policy, stay informed.