About The Tennessee Firefly

Our Mission: Factual, Local Journalism for Tennessee’s Civic Engagement

Named after Tennessee’s state insect, The Tennessee Firefly was launched in 2022 as a nonprofit news outlet dedicated to shining a light on important education and government stories in Tennessee that often go missed or underreported by traditional media. Our mission is to strengthen communities across the Volunteer State through factual, locally-focused journalism that increases public awareness and civic engagement. In an era of declining local news (over 2,500 U.S. newspapers have closed since 2004), The Tennessee Firefly fills the gap by providing free, in-depth coverage of state and local decisions that impact Tennesseans’ daily lives. We report on the leaders, policies, and events shaping Tennessee’s education system and government, empowering readers to stay informed and involved in their communities.

Editorial Standards & Ethics

Trust and accuracy are at the core of The Tennessee Firefly’s reporting. We maintain strict editorial standards to ensure every story is accurate, fair, and trustworthy. Our team follows the principles of the Society of Professional Journalists’ Code of Ethics – a framework emphasizing truth, independence, and accountability in journalism. Key aspects of our standards include:

• Accuracy & Fact-Checking: We verify all facts with credible sources before publishing and provide context to avoid misrepresentation. Speed or format will never excuse inaccuracies.
• Fairness & Balance: We strive to be impartial, seek out diverse perspectives, and clearly label opinion or commentary.
• Corrections & Accountability: If we make an error, we correct it promptly and transparently and explain editorial decisions when needed.

For a full outline of our ethical guidelines, please see our Ethics & Standards page.

Funding Transparency & Editorial Independence

The Tennessee Firefly is editorially independent. Our coverage is driven by our journalistic mission and the public interest – never by outside influence or agendas. While our operations are funded in part by Tennesseans for Student Success (TSS), we maintain a clear separation between funding and content. TSS has no involvement in our newsroom decisions, and our editorial team has full control over story selection, reporting, and publishing.

Who is TSS? Tennesseans for Student Success is a statewide nonprofit advocacy organization focused on improving educational outcomes for Tennessee students. They provide financial support to The Tennessee Firefly as an investment in high-quality local journalism, but their role is strictly as funders. They do not review our content or influence our editorial priorities. This ensures every story is reported objectively and without outside bias.

We believe transparency with our readers is essential to trust. We invite you to read more about our funding model and relationship with TSS on the TN Firefly Funding page.

Meet Our Editorial Team

Sky Arnold – Managing Editor

Sky Arnold is the Managing Editor of The Tennessee Firefly and a veteran broadcast journalist with nearly two decades of experience covering news across Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas, and Tennessee. He spent years reporting on Tennessee government and education for Fox 17 News in Nashville and WBBJ in Jackson. A graduate of the University of Oklahoma, Sky brings seasoned expertise and a strong commitment to factual reporting in our state. Read Sky’s latest stories

Katerine "Kat" Gerasimenko – Reporter

Kat Gerasimenko is a reporter covering education and community news. She began her journalism career at WZTV in Nashville, covering Middle Tennessee stories for the station’s digital platforms. Her passion for education policy began in high school, and she now brings a fresh, human-focused approach to reporting in Tennessee. Kat holds a B.S. in Psychology from Palm Beach Atlantic University and was born and raised in Atlanta. Read Kat’s latest stories

Join the Conversation

The Tennessee Firefly is more than a news site – it’s a community effort to inform and engage our neighbors. We invite you to be part of the conversation. Have a tip or idea? Contact us through our Contact Us page. Subscribe to our newsletter for weekly updates, or tune in to our On The Fly podcast for in-depth coverage.

Together, we can spark positive change in Tennessee. Thank you for supporting The Tennessee Firefly – your trusted source for education and government news.