Reporter
Velena Jones joined KOIN 6 News as a reporter in April 2018.
Before coming to Portland, Velena was a reporter and fill-in anchor for WISC, the CBS affiliate in Madison, Wisconsin.
While in Wisconsin, Velena worked on many major stories including police protests and a University of Wisconsin student charged with sexually assaulting over a dozen women. She was also the first reporter to get an exclusive jail interview with Joseph Jakubowski, a man who led authorities on a 10-day nationwide manhunt after stealing over a dozen rifles and sending a 161- page manifesto to President Trump.
She also was one of the recipients of a Midwest Regional Emmy for her role in the coverage of the Tony Robinson shooting in Madison in 2015.
Velena previously was the main anchor and reporter at WBKB in Alpena, Michigan. During her time there she also hosted a weekly newsmagazine highlighting important local and state issues. She won a Michigan Broadcasting Award for a program she hosted, “Insights into Northern Michigan.”
She began her career as a News Assistant and Traffic Producer at KABC7 in Los Angeles. During her time in LA she interviewed Smoky Robinson, covered the 25th anniversary of the LA riots, and the Conrad Murray trial. He was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter of singer Michael Jackson.
Velena earned a bachelor’s of arts degree in Broadcast Journalism from Biola University.
In her spare time, Velena loves to explore nature, hiking, and skiing. You can also find her in a warrior pose at a local yoga studio.
Velena is excited to tell the stories that matter to you, the viewers. She believes in the power of journalism to inspire, impact, and be a voice for those most in need.
You can send her a story idea or just say hi by following her on Twitter at @VelenaJones or on Facebook.
