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Apply for 2020 NAJA-NBC News Summer Fellowship by Feb. 28

Paid opportunity offers real world experience, exposure to leading news outlet

The Native American Journalists Association is pleased to announce our continued partnership with Comcast NBCUniversal for the 2020 NBC News Summer Fellows Program!

The NAJA-NBC News Summer Fellowship gives students real world experience and exposure to one of the world’s leading News divisions, which includes NBC News, MSNBC and CNBC. NBCUniversal will offer fellows the opportunity to join one of the following NBC programs for summer 2020 as interns:

• America’s #1 morning news program, The Today Show
• The top ranked evening program, Nightly News with Lester Holt
• Our primetime long form news program, Dateline
• Our 24 cable news channel, MSNBC
• Our top rated business news cable channel, CNBC
• Our digital organization including our array of digital properties

The fellows selected will receive $16.50 an hour, plus overtime (more than 40 hours per week) for 10 weeks during the summer. NBCUniversal will offer a $2,000 housing stipend available for candidates who reside outside a 50 mile radius from our Tri-State Area offices. Production experience is preferred, but not required.

All the internships are located in 30 Rockefeller Center, with the exception of the placements at CNBC, which are located in Englewood Cliffs, NJ. Transportation is provided to Englewood Cliffs, NJ from various location in Manhattan and Brooklyn.

The official start date of the program is Monday, June 8, 2020. If students’ academic schedule impede their ability to start on this date, alternatives can be discussed.

• Must be a current NAJA member with proof of tribal affiliation
• Must be willing to live in New York City or its environs for the duration of the internship
• Must be 18 years old or older
• Must be enrolled full-time at a U.S. college or university
• Must be a sophomore, junior, senior or graduate student
• Must major in journalism or a communications discipline
• Must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above
• Must have unrestricted authorization to work in the US without holding a VISA or sponsorship
• Recent graduates will not be considered

Please complete the online application to apply by Feb. 28, 2020.

Although we are not an academic program, the fellows will have the option to sit in on Stanford classes, while also participating in special workshops and events, and exploring the abundant resources at Stanford University and throughout Silicon Valley.

Your Project

As part of your application, you are required to propose an idea that you would work on during your time as a JSK Fellow. The project you propose should have the potential to create meaningful change and help address at least one of four themes that we consider the most urgent in journalism:

• Challenging Misinformation and Disinformation.
• Holding the Powerful Accountable.
• Eradicating News Deserts and Strengthening Local News.
• Fighting Bias, Intolerance and Injustice.

Your idea should fit within the broad parameters of at least one of these areas. You can read about some of the work from last year’s JSK class on Medium.

JSK-HAI Partnership

We may designate two of our fellows as JSK-HAI Fellows, part of our new partnership with the Stanford Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence Institute. The partnership embeds two JSK Fellows within Stanford’s artificial intelligence community to help explore the effects of AI on journalism and humanity. Although we may name two JSK-HAI Fellows, other fellows may work on AI projects and participate in work with Stanford’s larger AI community, which may include working groups, seminars and convenings, and contributing to AI research and outreach.

Benefits

We provide JSK Fellows with several benefits, including base stipends of $85,000, health insurance and Stanford tuition. We provide additional support for fellows with children. Partners and spouses of fellows receive some of the same benefits, with some exceptions. For more details, read our Benefits of a Fellowship page. 

Teams

We plan to group our 2020-2021 fellows into teams. This framework will allow fellows to find ready partners??within their own class for exploring key questions and interests, while learning from each other, supporting each other’s work, and celebrating the diverse backgrounds of a global cohort representing different facets of media. Although some teams may choose to develop a joint project, that isn’t required. 

Other Important Things to Know

Check out our eligibility requirements here. 

Preview the application questions without opening an official submission here. That page also features tips for making your application as strong as possible.

In early 2020, we plan to extend fellowships to international finalists, and we will invite U.S. finalists to Stanford for interviews. We will announce the next JSK Fellowships Class by early May 2020.

Follow @JSKstanford on Twitter for the latest and for details about virtual office hours we will hold during the open application period. Please email Mary Beth Boch, our selection and resources administrator, with questions, jskfellowships@stanford.edu.

And don’t forget to apply by 11:59 p.m. PT Jan. 30, 2020 if you are a U.S. applicant.

We look forward to learning more about you and how being a JSK Fellow would help you transform journalism!

NAJA members, join Mathison to connect with employers hiring journalists across Indian Country

Through the program, NAJA members will create talent profiles and upload resumes using the Mathison online platform which connects nonprofit partners to a wide network of corporate recruiting partners. If the corporate partner hires a NAJA member, a donation equal to half of the generated income  would be reinvested in NAJA.

Mathison has a network of employers who value diversity and inclusion recruiting journalists and will continue to add partnerships with other diversity journalism associations. 

This project supports NAJA’s long term strategic goal of increasing the number of Indigenous journalists working in mainstream newsrooms from 0.2 to 2 percent within the next 10 years.

• Setting up a profile is quick and easy! Information may be semi-populated from a LinkedIn profile and skills and experience may be uploaded from a resume or CV.
• NAJA members may specify the diverse community or communities to which they belong.
• Members are always in control of the information they choose to share. Personal identities are masked until a prospective employer requests (and the member approves) they view the member’s identity to continue the conversation.
• It’s free to participate. There is never a cost for job seekers.
• NAJA members may access featured jobs and employers may apply to them directly.

About NAJA 

NAJA serves and empowers Native journalists through programs and actions designed to enrich journalism and promote Native cultures. NAJA recognizes Native Americans as distinct peoples based on tradition and culture. In this spirit, NAJA educates and unifies its membership through journalism programs that promote diversity and defends challenges to free press, speech and expression.

About Mathison 

Mathison is the world’s first Diversity Talent Marketplace, setting out to bridge the gap between underserved communities and leading employers committed to inclusion. Mathison partners with nonprofits and associations that serve underrepresented communities, and give them free software to connect members with employers for new job opportunities. Every time an individual is hired, Mathison provides a significant revenue share donation back to the partner nonprofit.

The 2020 Native Broadcast Summit will be held at the Residence Inn by Marriott – Phoenix Downtown on April 29th and 30th. The Summit supports capacity building and professional development specifically for broadcasters and media makers serving Indian Country through skill building sessions, by providing space for meaningful discussions and networking opportunities, and presentations on a variety of relevant topics.

Summit Sessions

The 2020 Summit theme is Our Destiny Through Solutions Storytelling. Native Public Media is soliciting learning sessions that complement the Summit theme in the following areas:

1. Practices and strategies for station operations or capacity building that are effective and successful.
2. Creative and innovative technology and media programs.
3. Knowledge or technical skills in production, maintenance of radio equipment, budgeting, etc.
4. Creative and innovative fundraising techniques that increase financial resources for stations.
5. Pass the mic group circles to share success and new ideas for media and broadcasting.
6. Collaborations with community to address hot local topics like the 2020 Election, Climate Crises, missing and murdered women, or gun control.
7. Creative and resilient strategies that promote self-care, a mindful work culture, and lowering stress levels.
8. Mentoring and training programs that engage youth in broadcasting. Read more here. 

• Communications & Campaign Coordinator | Friends of Cedar Mesa (Bluff, Utah)
• Supervising Producer, Ask Me Another | NPR (New York, New York)
• Account Executive | KCBD 11 | (Lubbock, Texas)
• Editor, Throughline Podcast | NPR (Washington, D.C.)
• Reporter / Afternoon News Host | KTOO Public Media (Juneau, Alaska)
• Public Affairs Producer-Anchor | Denali Media (Anchorage, Alaska)

2020 National Native Media Conference in Phoenix Sept. 13-16

NAJA calling for program proposals through March 31, 2020 

The Native American Journalists Association invites all NAJA members and supporters to attended annual National Native Media Conference Sept. 13-16, 2020 at the Hyatt Regency in Phoenix, Arizona. 

In partnership with the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University, NAJA will facilitate conference program sessions about best practices in Indigenous media through training and workshops to support and enhance the knowledge and skills of journalists covering Indian Country. 

Programming Proposals

Indigenous journalists will lead the majority of sessions, which are aimed at developing skills and sharing new insights for Indigenous media.

To submit a program proposal or session idea, please complete the 2020 conference session proposal form by March 31, 2020.

Sponsorship and Exhibition

If your organization would like to propose a sponsored session to be featured during the largest gathering of Indigenous journalists in North America, contact NAJA to discuss opportunities for branding, sponsored content, a presence in the 2020 National Native Media Expo and more.

The full sponsorship guide will be available soon. Contact Rebecca Landsberry at rebeccalandsberry@naja.com for more information or to schedule a meeting.

NAJA releases Media Spotlight Report on Indigenous coverage in mainstream media

Content ran the gamut, including the continued use of dictionary-defined racial slurs in headlines and relying on stereotypical themes of poverty and drug addiction. Many of the stories placed Indigenous people in the past and relied heavily on interviews with officials versus talking to people directly impacted within the communities.

Of the 87 stories surveyed, less than 7 percent were written by Indigenous reporters, calling into question the surveyed outlets’ inclusivity efforts. 

NAJA’s mission encourages accurate and contextual coverage of Indigenous people. The American media landscape should reflect the diversity of the country. Ethical coverage is difficult at best when there is no one in the newsroom who can speak to the Indigenous experience. 

NAJA continues to offer resources like the BINGO Card, first released in 2017 in partnership with High Country News, and newsroom training to any media organization looking to improve coverage of Indigenous people and communities.

The spreadsheet used to compile data for the NAJA Media Spotlight Report is available by request at: contact@naja.com.

View more content, including the full report here. 

NAJA, Report for America take new steps to strengthen reporting in Indigenous communities

Report for America is a national service program that places talented, emerging journalists into local news organizations to report for one to two years on under-covered issues and communities. Both newsrooms and journalists apply to participate in the program and Report for America contributes to each corps member’s salary up to $20,000. Corps members are full-time employees of their newsroom. View more information, including the open positions and how to apply here. 

The Reporters Committee’s expansion to provide direct legal services to more journalists at the local level follows a $10 million investment from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation announced last year as part of the foundation’s pledge to double its commitment to strengthening local journalism. The program will expand to other states, and additional funding will be sought.

The Reporters Committee, based in Washington, D.C., will hire an attorney in each state to work with participating news organizations to bolster their efforts to obtain public records, gain access to hearings and meetings, and defend against legal threats and lawsuits. Each lawyer will also offer pre-publication reviews of content, which is common in journalism for assessing legal exposure, as well as other services. View more here. 

The 2020 Native Broadcast Summit will be held at the Residence Inn by Marriott – Phoenix Downtown on April 29th and 30th. The Summit supports capacity building and professional development specifically for broadcasters and media makers serving Indian Country through skill building sessions, by providing space for meaningful discussions and networking opportunities, and presentations on a variety of relevant topics.

Summit Sessions

The 2020 Summit theme is Our Destiny Through Solutions Storytelling. Native Public Media is soliciting learning sessions that complement the Summit theme in the following areas:

1. Practices and strategies for station operations or capacity building that are effective and successful.
2. Creative and innovative technology and media programs.
3. Knowledge or technical skills in production, maintenance of radio equipment, budgeting, etc.
4. Creative and innovative fundraising techniques that increase financial resources for stations.
5. Pass the mic group circles to share success and new ideas for media and broadcasting.
6. Collaborations with community to address hot local topics like the 2020 Election, Climate Crises, missing and murdered women, or gun control.
7. Creative and resilient strategies that promote self-care, a mindful work culture, and lowering stress levels.
8. Mentoring and training programs that engage youth in broadcasting.

2020 National Native Media Conference in Phoenix Sept. 13-16

The Native American Journalists Association invites all NAJA members and supporters to attend the annual National Native Media Conference Sept. 13-16, 2020 at the Hyatt Regency in Phoenix, Arizona. 

In partnership with the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University, NAJA will facilitate conference program sessions about best practices in Indigenous media through training and workshops to support and enhance the knowledge and skills of journalists covering Indian Country. View more information, including form for program proposals due March 31 here. Stay tuned to NAJA outlets for forthcoming details. 

Students, view the ProPublica conference sponsorship program opportunity below in 'Check it Out.'

The NAJA-NBC News Summer Fellowship gives students real world experience and exposure to one of the world’s leading News divisions, which includes NBC News, MSNBC and CNBC. NBCUniversal will offer fellows the opportunity to join one of the following NBC programs for summer 2020 as interns:

• America’s #1 morning news program, The Today Show
• The top ranked evening program, Nightly News with Lester Holt
• Our primetime long form news program, Dateline
• Our 24 cable news channel, MSNBC
• Our top rated business news cable channel, CNBC
• Our digital organization including our array of digital properties

The fellows selected will receive $16.50 an hour, plus overtime (more than 40 hours per week) for 10 weeks during the summer. View more information, including contingent travel stipends and application form here. 

Although we are not an academic program, the fellows will have the option to sit in on Stanford classes, while also participating in special workshops and events, and exploring the abundant resources at Stanford University and throughout Silicon Valley.

Your Project

As part of your application, you are required to propose an idea that you would work on during your time as a JSK Fellow. The project you propose should have the potential to create meaningful change and help address at least one of four themes that we consider the most urgent in journalism:

• Challenging Misinformation and Disinformation.
• Holding the Powerful Accountable.
• Eradicating News Deserts and Strengthening Local News.
• Fighting Bias, Intolerance and Injustice.

Your idea should fit within the broad parameters of at least one of these areas. You can read about some of the work from last year’s JSK class on Medium.

JSK-HAI Partnership

We may designate two of our fellows as JSK-HAI Fellows, part of our new partnership with the Stanford Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence Institute. The partnership embeds two JSK Fellows within Stanford’s artificial intelligence community to help explore the effects of AI on journalism and humanity. Although we may name two JSK-HAI Fellows, other fellows may work on AI projects and participate in work with Stanford’s larger AI community, which may include working groups, seminars and convenings, and contributing to AI research and outreach.

Benefits

We provide JSK Fellows with several benefits, including base stipends of $85,000, health insurance and Stanford tuition. We provide additional support for fellows with children. Partners and spouses of fellows receive some of the same benefits, with some exceptions. For more details, read our Benefits of a Fellowship page. 

Teams

We plan to group our 2020-2021 fellows into teams. This framework will allow fellows to find ready partners??within their own class for exploring key questions and interests, while learning from each other, supporting each other’s work, and celebrating the diverse backgrounds of a global cohort representing different facets of media. Although some teams may choose to develop a joint project, that isn’t required. 

Other Important Things to Know

Check out our eligibility requirements here. 

Preview the application questions without opening an official submission here. That page also features tips for making your application as strong as possible.

In early 2020, we plan to extend fellowships to international finalists, and we will invite U.S. finalists to Stanford for interviews. We will announce the next JSK Fellowships Class by early May 2020.

Follow @JSKstanford on Twitter for the latest and for details about virtual office hours we will hold during the open application period. Please email Mary Beth Boch, our selection and resources administrator, with questions, jskfellowships@stanford.edu.

And don’t forget to apply by 11:59 p.m. PT Jan. 30, 2020 if you are a U.S. applicant.

We look forward to learning more about you and how being a JSK Fellow would help you transform journalism!

NAJA members, join Mathison to connect with employers hiring journalists across Indian Country

Through the program, NAJA members will create talent profiles and upload resumes using the Mathison online platform which connects nonprofit partners to a wide network of corporate recruiting partners. If the corporate partner hires a NAJA member, a donation equal to half of the generated income  would be reinvested in NAJA.

Mathison has a network of employers who value diversity and inclusion recruiting journalists and will continue to add partnerships with other diversity journalism associations. 

This project supports NAJA’s long term strategic goal of increasing the number of Indigenous journalists working in mainstream newsrooms from 0.2 to 2 percent within the next 10 years.

• Setting up a profile is quick and easy! Information may be semi-populated from a LinkedIn profile and skills and experience may be uploaded from a resume or CV.
• NAJA members may specify the diverse community or communities to which they belong.
• Members are always in control of the information they choose to share. Personal identities are masked until a prospective employer requests (and the member approves) they view the member’s identity to continue the conversation.
• It’s free to participate. There is never a cost for job seekers.
• NAJA members may access featured jobs and employers may apply to them directly.

About NAJA 

NAJA serves and empowers Native journalists through programs and actions designed to enrich journalism and promote Native cultures. NAJA recognizes Native Americans as distinct peoples based on tradition and culture. In this spirit, NAJA educates and unifies its membership through journalism programs that promote diversity and defends challenges to free press, speech and expression.

About Mathison 

Mathison is the world’s first Diversity Talent Marketplace, setting out to bridge the gap between underserved communities and leading employers committed to inclusion. Mathison partners with nonprofits and associations that serve underrepresented communities, and give them free software to connect members with employers for new job opportunities. Every time an individual is hired, Mathison provides a significant revenue share donation back to the partner nonprofit.

• Communications Specialist | Oregon Sea Grant (Newport, Oregon)
• All Things Considered Radio Host | WKAR (Lansing, Michigan)
• Community Relations Specialist (Senior Reporter) | Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community (Maricopa County, Arizona)
• Communications Specialist | Temecula Band of Luiseño Mission Indians (Temecula, California)
• Managing Editor | Earthjustice (San Francisco, California)
• Photo Editor | Earthjustice (San Francisco, California)
• Digital Content Producer | WBTV (Charlotte, North Carolina)
• Assignment Editor/Digital Producer | WBTV (Charlotte, North Carolina)

NAJA and Report for America take new steps to strengthen reporting in Indigenous communities

NORMAN, Oklahoma — The Native American Journalists Association and Report for America are partnering to support 20 reporting positions across the country that focus on or include Indigenous affairs. This groundbreaking initiative aims to strengthen local journalism in areas where Indigenous peoples play vital roles in the community.

Report for America is a national service program that places talented, emerging journalists into local news organizations to report for one to two years on under-covered issues and communities. Both newsrooms and journalists apply to participate in the program and Report for America contributes to each corps member’s salary up to $20,000. Corps members are full-time employees of their newsroom.

Report for America currently has 10 corps members covering Indigenous affairs exclusively or related beats. In June 2020, Report for America will double these efforts with 10 additional positions. This is an unprecedented increase in local reporting for Indigenous communities in the U.S. These journalists will be part of RFA’s 2020 corps totaling 250 emerging journalists committed to addressing critical coverage gaps across the country. 

NAJA will provide Report for America with comprehensive support on training, to address the critical need for journalism in Indigenous communities. NAJA will extend ethical, culturally competent guidance to corps members and host newsrooms, along with deep expertise on reporting in Indian country, helping news organizations develop best practices and sustainable models that can be maintained well into the future. NAJA will also support Report for America’s mentorship program and recruitment efforts.

“Through the NAJA/RFA partnership, we’re helping newsrooms to report for Indigenous communities instead of about those communities,” said Tristan Ahtone, president of NAJA’s Board of Directors. “Our goal is to increase the ability of news outlets to do great work from Indian Country and provide the support necessary to do so.”

“The history of U.S. journalism is largely a history of neglecting and even harming Indigenous communities,” said Maggie Messitt, Senior Advisor of Report for America. “And, yet, local news organizations across the country are recognizing the need to finally address this critical coverage gap in substantial numbers. We’re thrilled to support twenty of our host newsrooms in these efforts. Our partnership with NAJA is a critical part of that equation. NAJA represents unparalleled knowledge, training and support for Native and non-Native reporters who cover Indigenous affairs. With their support, our corps members are delivering stories that are meaningful and well-informed.”

This initiative supports NAJA’s mission of empowering Indigenous journalists through programs and actions designed to enrich journalism and promote Indigenous cultures. This continues and expands upon the training NAJA already started with Report for America corps members in June 2019.

Separately, NAJA and RFA will also make this training available to Report for America’s statehouse reporting positions in states with significant Indigenous communities. 

NAJA encourages its members to apply for these positions and others that Report for America seeks to fill as another step towards fulfilling its long-term equity goal of increasing Indigenous representation in mainstream newsrooms. Report for America applications close January 31.

All open positions can be found here. The 20 positions covering Indigenous affairs exclusively or related issues that will renew or begin in June 2020 include: 

• *Albuquerque Journal (Albuquerque, New Mexico) — Water resources in the state, including within the Navajo Nation 

• *Casper Star-Tribune (Wind River Reservation, Wyoming) — Indigenous affairs on the Wind River Reservation

• Green Bay Press-Gazette (Green Bay, Wisconsin) — Indigenous affairs in Green Bay and Wisconsin as a whole

• Herald and News (Klamath Falls, Oregon) — Endangered species, water rights and issues associated with a dam removal, including its impact on Indigenous communities

• *Honolulu Civil Beat (Honolulu, Hawaii) — Public health disparities with an emphasis on Indigenous communities

• KCAW-FM (Sitka, Alaska) — Sitka and the surrounding communities

• KTVH-TV, NBC (Helena, Montana) — Indigenous affairs

• *KUER, NPR (Salt Lake City, Utah) — Indigenous affairs in southern Utah

• Las Cruces Sun-News (Las Cruces, New Mexico) — Education issues across the state, including within the Navajo Nation

• Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (Milwaukee) — Hmong, Indigenous and other under-covered ethnic communities

• New Mexico In Depth (Rio Rancho, New Mexico) — Urban Native Americans in Albuquerque

• Searchlight New Mexico (Santa Fe, New Mexico) — Health care, including mental health care, for the state’s poorest residents, including the Navajo Nation

• South Dakota Public Broadcasting (Vermillion, South Dakota) — Ethnic communities with an emphasis on Indigenous communities across the state

• The Cordova Times (Cordova, Alaska) — Indigenous communities in the region

• The Desert Sun (Palm Springs, California) — Indigenous affairs in Coachella Valley

• The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead (Fargo, North Dakota) — Indigenous affairs in North Dakota

• *The Salt Lake Tribune (Salt Lake City, Utah) — San Juan County, including the Navajo Nation

• *The Spokesman-Review (Spokane, Washington) — Public health in eastern Washington State, including Indigenous communities

• *Wyoming Public Media (Wind River Reservation, Wyoming) — Indigenous affairs on the Wind River Reservation

• Yellowstone Public Radio (Billings, Montana) — Indigenous affairs

*Position will be filled by a renewing corps member.

About NAJA 

NAJA serves and empowers Native journalists through programs and actions designed to enrich journalism and promote Native cultures. NAJA recognizes Native Americans as distinct peoples based on tradition and culture. In this spirit, NAJA educates and unifies its membership through journalism programs that promote diversity and defends challenges to free press, speech and expression.

About RFA

Report for America is a national service program that places talented, emerging journalists into local news organizations to report for one to two years on under-covered issues and communities. An initiative of The GroundTruth Project, Report for America addresses an urgent need in journalism at a time when news deserts are widening across the country, leaving communities uninformed on local issues and threatening our democracy. 

National Native Media Conference hotel block open through Aug. 20

The Native American Journalists Association invites all NAJA members and supporters to attend the annual National Native Media Conference Sept. 13-16, 2020 at the Hyatt Regency in Phoenix, Arizona. 

In partnership with the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University, NAJA will facilitate conference program sessions about best practices in Indigenous media through training and workshops to support and enhance the knowledge and skills of journalists covering Indian Country. 

To submit a program proposal or session idea, please complete the 2020 conference session proposal form by March 31, 2020.

Sponsorship and Exhibition

If your organization would like to propose a sponsored session to be featured during the largest gathering of Indigenous journalists in North America, contact NAJA to discuss opportunities for branding, sponsored content, a presence in the 2020 National Native Media Expo and more.

The full sponsorship guide will be available soon. Contact Rebecca Landsberry at rebeccalandsberry@naja.com for more information or to schedule a meeting.

Lodging

A block of hotel rooms at the Hyatt Regency Phoenix has been reserved for attendees of the 2020 National Native Media Conference for Sept. 13-17. The discounted NAJA rate will be available through Aug. 20 and attendees may click through the link below to make reservations online. 
 

2020 Native American Journalism Fellowship applications now open through March 31

NAJA-Facebook Journalism Project Scholarship applications open through April 30

2020 NAJA-NBC News Summer Fellowship applications open through Feb. 28

The Native American Journalists Association is pleased to announce our continued partnership with Comcast NBCUniversal for the 2020 NBC News Summer Fellows Program. 

The deadline to apply is Feb. 28, 2020.The NAJA-NBC News Summer Fellowship gives students real world experience and exposure to one of the world’s leading News divisions, which includes NBC News, MSNBC and CNBC. NBCUniversal will offer fellows the opportunity to join one of the following NBC programs for summer 2020 as interns:

• America’s #1 morning news program, The Today Show
• The top ranked evening program, Nightly News with Lester Holt
• Our primetime long form news program, Dateline
• Our 24 cable news channel, MSNBC
• Our top rated business news cable channel, CNBC
• Our digital organization including our array of digital properties

The fellows selected will receive $16.50 an hour, plus overtime (more than 40 hours per week) for 10 weeks during the summer. View more information, including contingent travel stipends and application form here.

Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press announces Local Legal Initiative launch in Oklahoma

The Reporters Committee’s expansion to provide direct legal services to more journalists at the local level follows a $10 million investment from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation announced last year as part of the foundation’s pledge to double its commitment to strengthening local journalism. The program will expand to other states, and additional funding will be sought.

The Reporters Committee, based in Washington, D.C., will hire an attorney in each state to work with participating news organizations to bolster their efforts to obtain public records, gain access to hearings and meetings, and defend against legal threats and lawsuits. Each lawyer will also offer pre-publication reviews of content, which is common in journalism for assessing legal exposure, as well as other services. View more here. - View the LLI attorney job posting for Oklahoma here. 

Sequoyah National Research Center offers free tribal media archives

The center accomplishes this by collecting all forms of Native American expression and creating a research atmosphere that invites Indigenous peoples to make it an archival home for their creative work.

Housed at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, SNRC holds the world’s most comprehensive collection of American Indian, Alaska Native, and Canadian First Nations’ newspapers and periodicals with over 2,800 unique titles published by tribal communities and governments, Native organizations, language programs, and various groups, with an emphasis on post-World War II to the present.

Microfilm rounds out the collection’s historic newspapers documenting the 19th Century and first half of the 20th Century. For more information, click here. 

• Director of Innovation, Donald W. Reynolds Journalism Institute | Missouri School of Journalism (Columbia, Missouri)
• Reporter-Researcher | The New Republic (New York City)
• Digital Designer and Producer | Center for Investigative Reporting 'Reveal' (Emeryville, California)
• Adjunct Professors (assistant or associate) | University of California Berkeley (Berkeley, California)
• Program Associate | Listening Post Collective (Washington, D.C.)
• Digital News Producer, Guns & America | WAMU-NPR (Washington, D.C.)
• Ted Scripps Fellowships in Environmental Journalism | University of Colorado (Boulder, Colorado)
• Assistant Producer – Breaking News Investigation Team | NPR (Washington, D.C.)
• Supervising Editor – Breaking News Investigation Team | NPR (Washington, D.C.)
• Reporter – Breaking News Investigation Team | NPR (Washington, D.C.)
• Digital Managing Editor | Oregon Public Broadcasting (Portland, Oregon)
• Investigative Editor, Corruption Project | Mother Jones (San Francisco; Washington, DC; New York)

Local Legal Initiative will place lawyers in total of five states including Oklahoma to provide local news organizations with pro bono legal support

The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press announced today that it will launch its Local Legal Initiative this year in Colorado, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania and Tennessee to provide pro bono legal support to local journalists and news outlets throughout the states pursuing enterprise and investigative journalism.

The Reporters Committee’s expansion to provide direct legal services to more journalists at the local level follows a $10 million investment from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation announced last year as part of the foundation’s pledge to double its commitment to strengthening local journalism. The program will expand to other states, and additional funding will be sought.

The Reporters Committee, based in Washington, D.C., will hire an attorney in each state to work with participating news organizations to bolster their efforts to obtain public records, gain access to hearings and meetings, and defend against legal threats and lawsuits. Each lawyer will also offer pre-publication reviews of content, which is common in journalism for assessing legal exposure, as well as other services.

“We are eager to expand our legal services to help more local journalists pursue stories that inform and strengthen their communities,” said Bruce Brown, executive director of the Reporters Committee. “We are looking forward to working closely with our partners in each of these states to support thriving local journalism.”

Mark Thomas, executive vice president of the Oklahoma Press Association said the initiative is revolutionary because it will help restore the rights of citizens who want access to records kept by their government, and provide the financial backing to challenge bureaucracy and violations of Oklahoma’s transparency laws and principles. 

“It is also right to commend the public servants, past and present, who have tirelessly supported transparency at all levels of government. For those who do not, the Local Legal Initiative will be a ‘Shot Heard ‘Round Oklahoma’ and help Oklahoma become one of the most transparent states in the nation,” said Thomas. 

Through the Local Legal Initiative, the Reporters Committee will employ a lawyer in each state to help local media defend against legal threats and lawsuits, assist with public records and court access efforts, and provide pre-publication review and other legal services.

“NAJA is proud to join our partners in providing representation for Indigenous journalists in Oklahoma through the RCFP Local Legal Initiative,” Native American Journalists Association President Tristan Ahtone said. “We believe the opportunity will encourage both mainstream and tribal media to attain the highest standards of professionalism and improve coverage of Indigenous communities.” 

The five launch states were selected from more than 45 submissions that the Reporters Committee received from over 30 states, regions and territories nationwide as part of a proposal process the organization conducted in 2019 after the announcement of the Knight Foundation’s investment. 

“The enthusiasm and responses we received from across the country make clear that there is a significant need for pro bono legal assistance for local journalists nationwide,” said Katie Townsend, legal director for the Reporters Committee. “At a time when important local reporting is routinely stymied, we stand ready to help journalists and news organizations overcome the legal roadblocks they too often face.”

###

RCFP Media Contact: Amelia Nitz, media@rcfp.org

LOCAL PARTNER CONTACTS

• Oklahoma Press Association, Mark Thomas: mthomas@okpress.com
• Oklahoma Association of Broadcasters, Vance Harrison: Harrison@oabok.org
• Native American Journalists Association, Sterling Cosper: scosper@naja.com
• Oklahoma Watch, David Fritze: dfritze@oklahomawatch.org
• The Frontier, Dylan Goforth: Dylan@readfrontier.com
• StateImpact Oklahoma, Dick Pryor: dick.pryor@ou.edu
• Freedom of Information Oklahoma, Andy Moore: director@foioklahoma.org
• Society of Professional Journalists, Oklahoma Chapter: William Hickman, profhickman@gmail.com

Learn more about the Local Legal Initiative.

2020 Native American Journalism Fellowship applications now open through March 31

NAJA-Facebook Journalism Project Scholarship applications open through April 30

2020 NAJA-NBC News Summer Fellowship applications open through Feb. 28

The Native American Journalists Association is pleased to announce our continued partnership with Comcast NBCUniversal for the 2020 NBC News Summer Fellows Program. 

The deadline to apply is Feb. 28, 2020. The NAJA-NBC News Summer Fellowship gives students real world experience and exposure to one of the world’s leading News divisions, which includes NBC News, MSNBC and CNBC. NBCUniversal will offer fellows the opportunity to join one of the following NBC programs for summer 2020 as interns:

• America’s #1 morning news program, The Today Show
• The top ranked evening program, Nightly News with Lester Holt
• Our primetime long form news program, Dateline
• Our 24 cable news channel, MSNBC
• Our top rated business news cable channel, CNBC
• Our digital organization including our array of digital properties

The fellows selected will receive $16.50 an hour, plus overtime (more than 40 hours per week) for 10 weeks during the summer. View more information, including contingent travel stipends and application form here.

NAJA denounces attacks on press freedom following arrest threats by RCMP

NORMAN, Oklahoma — The Native American Journalists Association stands with “Ricochet Media – Public Interest Journalism” in their condemnation of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police’s (RCMP) removal and eight-hour detention of journalist Jerome Turner on Friday, Feb. 7. 

Turner was covering raids at the Gidimt’en checkpoint in unceded Wet’suwet’en territory. His movement was limited by RCMP, his ability to capture images and report on events was restricted by police.

The Gidimt’en checkpoint is the last stop before the Unist’ot’en camp and healing centre that was founded in 2015 to reoccupy traditional Wet’suwet’en territory. RCMP is enforcing a court injunction so Coastal GasLink can build a liquid natural gas pipeline through the territory. Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs served Coastal GasLink an eviction notice in January.

The RCMP has intervened in favor of the corporation on several occasions with complete disregard to the Wet’suwet’en Nation’s sovereignty and constitutionally-protected rights, but officers in tactical gear began major raids at the camps before sunrise on Feb. 6. View more here. 

National Native Media Conference hotel block open through Aug. 20

Journalism for good

“I think we should use the media to really tell more Native American stories and break down those stereotypes and give them coverage that they deserve on a national level,” she says.

Hunt’s not alone, which she discovered this year after being named one of just ten fellows of the Native American Journalists Association (NAJA), a national organization dedicated to improving Native American representation in mainstream media.

The first NAJA Fellow at OHIO, Hunt landed a summer internship at the “Today Show”  and received a $10,000 scholarship—both opportunities made possible by her involvement with NAJA. View more here. 

2020 NAJA-NBC News Summer Fellowship applications open through Feb. 28

The Native American Journalists Association is pleased to announce our continued partnership with Comcast NBCUniversal for the 2020 NBC News Summer Fellows Program. 

The deadline to apply is Feb. 28, 2020. The NAJA-NBC News Summer Fellowship gives students real world experience and exposure to one of the world’s leading News divisions, which includes NBC News, MSNBC and CNBC. NBCUniversal will offer fellows the opportunity to join one of the following NBC programs for summer 2020 as interns:

• America’s #1 morning news program, The Today Show
• The top ranked evening program, Nightly News with Lester Holt
• Our primetime long form news program, Dateline
• Our 24 cable news channel, MSNBC
• Our top rated business news cable channel, CNBC
• Our digital organization including our array of digital properties

The fellows selected will receive $16.50 an hour, plus overtime (more than 40 hours per week) for 10 weeks during the summer. View more information, including contingent travel stipends and application form here.

NAJA-Facebook Journalism Project Scholarship applications open through April 30

- The Knight Media Forum will be streamed live Feb. 25-26 from the event location in Miami by Detroit Public TV, and anchored by Emmy-winning journalist Hari Sreenivasan, host of PBS NewsHour Weekend and SciTech Now. The forum convenes leading experts at both the local and national level to explore solutions to assure that all citizens receive accurate, reliable news and information that serves the needs of their diverse communities, including a conversation with Paul Huntsman, publisher and owner of the Salt Lake Tribune, which just transitioned to a nonprofit organization. To get notified each time a session goes live, text "KMF" to 313131. Select a particular session here.

- The Signpost at Weber State University is working to better understand the roles that advisers play in helping student journalists learn. In the past two years, they have conducted multiple focus groups of student journalists and advisers, and we have gained immense insight into how learning in the newsroom happens. That work has been published in the Teaching Journalism and Mass Communication Journal and presented at the World Journalism Education Council in Paris and at AEJMC in Washington, D.C. In continuation of this work, they have created a survey to gather information from advisers and encourage those who may know advisers to share the following survey link. View and take the survey here. 

- The National Press Foundation is holding a three day journalism program on opioids and addiction followed by access to the American Society of Addiction Medicine annual conference. The combined dates are March 31-April 5 and both are held in Denver, Colorado. NPF covers travel, lodging and food costs for the 20 selected fellows. This program covers the science of addiction; the latest research on treatment; the role of marijuana and alcohol; trends in substance abuse and more. View more here. 

- The Association of Food Journalists is accepting entries for their 2020 contest through March 27 at 11:59 p.m. EST. View more here. 

 - The Education Writers Association is taking applications for their next class of reporting fellows, who each receive up to $8,000 toward an in-depth journalism project on an education-related topic. They are looking for stories on a wide range of issues, including adolescent learning and well-being, improving pathways to postsecondary success (especially in STEM fields) and more. The deadline to apply is March 6. View more information, including the application here. 

 - The Solutions Journalism Network is teaming up with Hearken for their latest round of Renewing Democracy Grants to offer a package deal for newsrooms interested in mixing a Citizens Agenda approach with solutions journalism in their election coverage. They are also still seeking pitches for solutions-focused stories on elections and democracy that don't incorporate Citizens Agenda. for those interested in both, you'd connect with your communities to learn what’s on their minds about national and/or local and state races. Then you’d write in-depth stories about those issues, including some from a solutions journalism framework. Those who are chosen will receive a grant typically up to $4,000 plus training from SJN and Hearken. View more information here. 

- AAJA JCamp is accepting applications for its all-expenses-paid high school journalism institute, which will be held July 5-10 in Washington, D.C. NAJA student members are particularly encouraged to and NAJA professional members are welcome to reach out if they're interested in speaking to students on a panel. JCampers will get a chance to work alongside journalists from the Washington Post, Wall Street Journal and ABC News as well as fellow students from across the country in this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and all travel, lodging and food are free. The deadline to apply is March 29. View more information here. 

• Reporter/Producer | KGOU (Norman, Oklahoma)
• KGOU Engagement Reporter | KGOU (Norman, Oklahoma)
• Public Radio Fellowship | New Hampshire Public Radio (Concord, New Hampshire)
• Education Reporter | WRAL News (Raleigh, North Carolina)
• Producer | This American Life (New York City)
• Technology Reporter | CalMatters (Sacramento, California)
• Economy Reporter | CalMatters (Sacramento, California)
• Higher Education Reporter | CalMatters (Sacramento, California)
• Digital Photo Editor | Oregon Public Broadcasting (Portland, Oregon)
• Senior Health Science Policy Analyst, two positions | National Institutes of Health (Bethesda, Maryland-D.C. suburb)

NAJA partnered with the Facebook Journalism Project to establish the NAJA Facebook Journalism Project Scholarship in 2018 to support quality journalism that strengthens and connects communities. NAJA will award a total of $250,000 in scholarships through the partnership and students that applied but were not selected in 2020 are encouraged to re-apply in the future.

Scholarships are one way NAJA supports Indigenous journalism at every stage of members' careers. NAJA student members can also apply for the annual Native American Journalism Fellowship, NBC News Summer Internships and other training opportunities throughout the year.

NAJA demands end to racialized mascots in media with #EndRacistMascots Coalition

The #EndRacistMascots coalition includes:

• National Association of Black Journalists
• National Association of Hispanic Journalists
• Asian American Journalists Association
• Society of Professional Journalists
• Women's Media Center
• Journalism & Women Symposium

Contact NAJA to join the #EndRacistMascots Coalition.

NAJA will host 2020 Elections online Aug. 26-Sept. 10

NAJA is calling for candidate declarations to serve on the Board of Directors through Sunday, Aug. 2, 2020. There are three vacancies for 3-year terms, which will begin Sept. 11, 2020.

A virtual candidate forum will be held via Zoom on Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2020 starting at 4 p.m. PDT (6 p.m. CDT), where candidates will share their platforms and answer questions from membership. NAJA Election Chair Christine Trudeau will moderate.

NAJA has extended all existing annual memberships through 2021 at no cost. Current NAJA members will receive a unique link in the email associated with their NAJA membership for online voting. Members may only cast one vote per person and all votes will be verified so there are no duplicates.

Declaring Board Candidacy  
The NAJA Board of Directors is comprised of volunteers who dedicate their time and talents to strengthening journalism in Indian Country. Fundraising is a major function of the volunteer board, which supports membership and a pipeline of Indigenous talent into media careers, including the Native American Journalism Fellowship and the next generation of storytellers. 

NAJA board members will receive training as an elected representative of the organization through hands-on experience in writing sponsorship proposals and grants as well as understanding the fiscal responsibilities of leading a nonprofit organization.

Board members are required to attend monthly meetings and serve on designated committees. Meeting times are determined by the board. If an elected member misses more than three meetings due to unexcused absences, they may be removed from office. Board members are required to seek and secure funding for the organization.

Candidates must be verified NAJA members in good standing in order to be eligible to run for any position within the board. Associate members are not eligible for board candidacy. Read more about nominations and board elections in Article VII of the NAJA bylaws.

After the NAJA Election Committee has determined eligibility, candidates must then submit a biography, photo, current resume, and outline how they will address membership needs, meet fundraising goals and support the next 2021-2023 strategic plan (no more than 500 words) to the election committee. 

All candidacy declaration documents must be submitted to NAJA Election Chair Christine Trudeau, trudeau@naja.com by 5 p.m. CDT on Aug. 2, 2020.

Election Guidelines
The Native American Journalists Association bylaws state, under Article VII, Section 1, that the membership shall determine the election process.

In 1996, the NAJA membership voted to establish an Election Committee to organize and facilitate annual board elections. The following guidelines were adopted on June 22, 1996, in Bangor, Maine. It was later revised and adopted by the board on March 26, 2006, and updated in March 2009.

Declaration of board candidacy:

Candidates must declare their intention to run for the board between Jan. 1 and six weeks before the election (deadline: Aug. 2, 2020).

After their eligibility to run for the board has been determined, candidates shall submit a photo, bio and brief summary of what the candidate hopes to achieve through service on the board, including fundraising goals and ideas.

In addition, the NAJA Board of Directors has adopted the following definition of "media professional" and recommended procedure for the Election Board to follow:

"A media professional is defined as a journalist who works for either tribal media or mainstream media and earns 51 percent of his or her annual income through journalism. A journalist is someone who works in the gathering, writing, editing, photographing, publishing and disseminating of news as through, but not limited to, a newspaper, magazine, radio, television station, or World Wide Web publication owned and operated by a news media outlet."

"Determining whether a board candidate is eligible to hold office shall be the responsibility of the Election Committee. When the NAJA office receives written notification that a NAJA member has declared his or her candidacy for office, the Election Committee has 21 days to notify the candidate in writing whether he or she is eligible to run for the NAJA board. The written determination of eligibility will be sent to the candidate, with copies to the NAJA President and Executive Director. Any candidate determined ineligible will receive an explanation for the ruling within the notification letter."

"An election report shall be prepared and distributed during the annual membership meeting. The report shall include the list of board candidates and any explanations why a candidate was determined ineligible to run, along with general procedures followed during that year's election process."

(Note: This policy shall be published in every document that NAJA releases concerning board candidates)

• The Double Exposure Film Festival will return Oct. 14-16 with a virtual experience that brings together filmmakers and journalists working on vital investigative stories amid extraordinary challenges. DX 2020 will feature timely discussions, interactive workshops and master classes, pre-arranged one-on-one networking and pitch meetings, as well a pro bono legal clinic. The symposium will incorporate a limited film program. Reserve early bird passes while they last here. NAJA special: After July 31, get an exclusive 10% off passes using the code NAJADX20. 
• The Society of Environmental Journalists is now accepting proposals for story grants on conservation or climate in North America water quality and availability in the U.S., Mississippi River Basin or oceans and coasts globally. The deadline is rolling and entry fees are waived for NAJA members. Apply here. 
• The Education Writers Association is awarding fellowships to journalists worth up to $8,000 to carry out ambitious and innovative reporting projects on education issues. There is no fee to apply and the deadline is July 13. Any questions can be directed to fellowships@ewa.org. View more information here. 
• The John S. Knight Foundation has announced the new John S. Knight Community Impact Fellowship program, which is tailored specifically for the 2020-2021 cycle to allow this cohort to work remotely to address the urgent needs of our times by developing practical solutions for how our industry serves communities of color across the U.S. JSK will select up to 12 fellows and the program will begin Sept. 14, 2020, and end May 14, 2021. The deadline to apply is July 22 at noon PT. View more information here. 
• The Knight Foundation has set the online presentation ''The harm in online speech'' for July 9 at 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT. In a moment, digital platforms intended for thoughtful discourse can quickly become polarizing and alienating spaces. How do we apply the First Amendment to ensure online platforms serve their purpose while keeping us safe? Mary Anne Franks, a University of Miami law professor and president of the nonprofit Cyber Civil Rights Initiative will her expertise on the harmful effects of online speech. RSVP here. 
• The Society of Professional Journalists is hosting the 2020 Excellence in Journalism Conference online Sept. 12-13 due to COVID-19. Watch their website and social media for more information. 

• Justice Reporter | CalMatters (Sacramento, California preferred)

• Senior Reporter, Health | Morning Consult (Washington, D.C.)

• Fall Lecturer Openings | Graduate School of Journalism, UC Berkeley (Berkeley, California)

• Editor | U.S. News & World Report (Washington, D.C.)

• Script Writer | Mashable (New York, New York)

• Editorial: Tech Fellow | Mashable (New York, New York)

• Director of Communications | MACPAC (Washington, D.C.)

• Reporting for PolitiFact | PolitiFact (remote)

• Education Reporter | Missoulian (Missoula, Montana)

Dear Members,

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact our communities, jobs and lives, our thoughts and sympathies are with you. We hope you and your families are staying healthy and safe. 

At NAJA, we have continued to monitor both domestic and international efforts to save lives and protect communities from the coronavirus. We have also watched as our members have stepped up to cover the pandemic, the ways it is reshaping our lives, and the ways communities are working to protect themselves from both the virus and federal officials and policies that make COVID-19 even more deadly to our nations.

It's in that spirit that we want to share with you how we're working to support members during this time. 

Through our recent survey, we learned that challenges to personal and professional finances remain at the forefront of newsroom worries, as well as requests for assistance with logistics, emotional wellness, training and skills building and concern for how Indigenous communities are being covered by non-Indigenous journalists.

Read more here. 

NAJA extends annual memberships through 2021

Native American Journalists Association extends renewals through next year to support members during pandemic

OKLAHOMA CITY - In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Native American Journalists Association has waived annual dues for all members, including those recently expired and approaching expiration. 

Annual memberships previously renewed in 2020 will be extended to the next applicable year. 

NAJA will update the database over the next month and there is no action required by members to extend. Each member will automatically receive an extension notification with the new expiration date once their information has been updated. 

Members may still access their accounts and manually renew, donate or shop the online NAJA store anytime. NAJA also encourages members to review and update their profiles by logging into the database platform Wild Apricot using the email account associated with their membership.

Annual membership extensions are the first step in responding to the NAJA COVID-19 Membership Survey, which was launched to measure the impact of coronavirus in newsrooms across Indian Country.

Survey results and member feedback will continue to inform and support the organization's next steps for COVID-19 relief. 

All respondents that complete the survey will be entered in a drawing to win a weekly $25 Amazon digital gift card and the winners will be announced every Friday at the end of each week in May.

According to the mission, NAJA will continue providing resources for member outlets and guidance for mainstream media covering Indigenous communities during the pandemic and beyond. 

For more information, contact NAJA Program Manager Sterling Cosper at: scosper@naja.com.

NAJA reschedules 2020 National Native Media Conference

Native American Journalists Association reschedules annual conference for 2021, extending all program deadlines due to COVID-19

OKLAHOMA CITY - In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Native American Journalists Association has postponed the 2020 National Native Media Conference until 2021. The decision to reschedule the annual conference was based on guidelines from the WHO, the CDC and tribal and state officials to ensure the safety of all. 

In a letter addressed to the membership, NAJA President Tristan Ahtone said the board appreciates the patience and understanding of members, attendees, sponsors and exhibitors as leadership considered this difficult decision. 

"Safety is our number one priority and we believe that waiting until next year to gather together and celebrate our work is the most responsible option to avoid potential outbreaks or additional strains on already stretched finances," Ahtone said.    

NAJA will announce new conference dates soon and will maintain the partnership with the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University, in co-hosting the rescheduled 2021 conference in Phoenix, Arizona. 

Membership and Elections
All current NAJA memberships will be extended for a year. Members who have already paid their annual dues through 2021 will automatically be extended through 2022.  

Annual membership extensions are the first step in responding to the NAJA COVID-19 Membership Survey, which will continue to inform and support the organization's next steps for COVID-19 relief. The survey will remain open indefinitely for member feedback. All respondents that complete the survey will be entered in a drawing to win a weekly $25 Amazon digital gift card each Friday throughout the month of May.

Updated information on the 2020 NAJA Board of Directors election will be shared as soon as it becomes available.  

Native American Journalism Fellowship and Scholarships
Native American Journalism Fellowship applications are open through May 31, 2020. The NAJA Education Committee is considering options for hosting the student newsroom and encourages students to apply in order to be considered for the 2020 class. NAJA will announce updates on NAJF by June 1. 

NAJA will award 2020 NAJA-Facebook Journalism Project Scholarships. Applications are open through the extended deadline of May 31, 2020. 

Lodging at the Hyatt Regency Phoenix
NAJA will share updated information on the hotel room block at the Hyatt Regency Phoenix as soon as it becomes available for 2021. The discounted room rate remains $199 per night. Attendees with any existing reservations will receive automatic cancellation notifications for reserved dates in 2020. 

Conference Program Proposals
The call for National Native Media Conference proposals will be extended throughout 2021 to facilitate ideas, evolving COVID-19 coverage and best practices in Indigenous media through training and workshops to support and enhance the knowledge and skills of journalists covering Indian Country. Conference programming will focus sessions on covering the pandemic across Turtle Island.

Contact NAJA to discuss opportunities for branding, sponsored content, a presence in the 2021 National Native Media Expo and more. An updated 2021 sponsorship guide will be available soon. 

National Native Media Awards
NAJA is still accepting entries for the 2020 National Native Media Awards through the extended deadline of May 31. Entries will be submitted using the BetterBNC Media Awards Platform. 

Recipients may request direct shipping at cost and outlets and individuals will be invoiced according to the number of items in the shipment. NAJA will share additional information on awards disbursement as soon as it becomes available.

Mathison to host Finding Work in Journalism Amid COVID-19 webinar May 28

This webinar is for all experience levels and co-hosted by the Native American Journalists Association and Asian American Journalist Association.

Register and view the speakers here.

Report for America announces 2020-21 Indigenous affairs corps members

The Native American Journalists Association's partnership with RFA aims to strengthen local journalism in areas where Indigenous peoples play vital roles in the community. In 2019-2020, RFA had 10 corps members covering Indigenous affairs exclusively or through related beats. The partnership represents an unprecedented commitment to increasing local reporting for Indigenous communities in the U.S. 

By contributing to RFA's mentorship program, NAJA will provide comprehensive support on training to address the critical need for journalism in Indigenous communities. RFA is also accepting applications to become an RFA mentor. View more information here. 

View more regarding the Indigenous affairs positions here. 

Freelance Investigative Reporters & Editors is accepting applications for stories, COVID & all

Freelance Investigative Reporters and Editors welcomes all investigative topics, but is giving special consideration to COVID-19 investigations, as long as the crisis continues. 

In addition to its reporting services, FIRE provides freelancers with standard grants of up to $12,500, to complete an investigation; and proposal grants of up to $2,500, to develop an initial story pitch.

2020 Native American Journalism Fellowship applications extended to May 31

NAJA Pathways Fellowship applications extended to May 31

NAJA-Facebook Journalism Project Scholarship applications extended to May 31

• Reporter | MinnPost (Minneapolis, Minnesota)
• KERA Podcast Producer | KERA (Dallas, Texas)
• Environmental Reporting Fellowship | The Arizona Republic (Phoenix, Arizona)
• Content Manager | LOR Foundation (Denver, Colorado)
• VMM Assistant Director | Vision Maker Media (Lincoln, Nebraska)

The NAJA board of directors is made up NAJA members in good standing who volunteer their time and talents to strengthen journalism in Indian Country.

Fundraising is a major function of the volunteer board, which supports membership needs and the pipeline of Native talent into media careers, including the Native American Journalism Fellowship and next generation of storytellers. 

Elected board members are required to attend monthly meetings as well as regularly scheduled committee meetings. View more information, including the candidate bios, forum registration and question form here. 

This innovative experience will be designed to leverage the advantages of online learning and hands-on professional experience while promoting the health and wellbeing of our Indigenous student journalists.

Introducing the NAJF Class of 2020:

• Miranda Stiles, Muscogee (Creek) Nation, Oklahoma State University
• Kayla Duoos, Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, Gonzaga University
• Makayla Sloan, Haskell Indian Nations University

NAJA to host McGirt decision virtual roundtable Aug. 28

NAJA selects APTN Investigates for Richard LaCourse Award for Investigative Journalism

• The Double Exposure Film Festival returns this Oct. 14-18 a special virtual festival that connects, strengthens and uplifts the investigative journalism and film communities in unprecedented times. DX 2020 will feature discussions with award-winning filmmakers and journalists, interactive workshops and master classes, pre-arranged one-on-one networking and pitch meetings with industry insiders, as well as a pro bono legal clinic. DX film program will feature a slate of exciting new films followed by conversations with filmmakers and experts.  For more information and to reserve your pass visit dxfest.com. NAJA special: Get an exclusive 10% off passes using the code NAJADX20.
• PBS NewsHour and Knology are working together on an NSF-funded research project called Meaningful Math, in an effort to determine the role of news media in developing and improving statistical literacy among adults in the U.S. As part of this research, our team is recruiting journalists in a range of professional roles to complete a short survey about the techniques and resources you use when working on news items. We encourage you to share this message. We will make findings publicly accessible and are happy to notify individuals directly when that happens; please contact NicoleL@knology.org to be added to that list. Please do not take the survey more than once and it is expected to take 10 minutes, although it may be longer or shorter depending on your responses to some questions. Take the survey here.
• The 2021 Washington Post Internship Program has opened up for applications, which will be accepted through 12 p.m. ET, Oct. 7, 2020. Students must be current juniors, seniors or grad students as of the application deadlines and must have previous experience in a major newsroom. It pays $750 a week. They have an amazing track record of hiring interns into full-time positions. But even those who don't get immediately hired, get exposure to the world's best reporters, editors, photographers, videographers, multiplatform editors, audio producers in a way that profoundly shapes their careers. Apply here.
• The Scripps Howard Foundation will award a total of $600,000 to institutions of higher education to enhance or create programs that will inspire high school students to embark on journalism careers as part of its commitment to support equity, diversity and inclusion within the journalism industry. The Foundation will host a competitive application process to select two institutions, which will each receive $100,000 a year over three years. The deadline to submit a Letter of Intent is Sept. 15, 2020. The Foundation will review those responses and invite a select group to respond to a full Request for Proposals (RFP). The programs are expected to launch by the 2021-2022 academic year. View more information and apply here. 
• The Gerontological Society of America and the Journalists Network on Generations (publisher of GBONews.org) are accepting applications for the 11th Journalists in Aging Fellowship. They will select fellows from both mainstream and ethnic/special population media based on proposals for a major article, story package or series on any aspect about aging in America. Chosen fellows will each receive a $1,500 stipend. The 2020 program will entail a series of webinars for the up to 15 new fellows on issues from the COVID-19 impact, minority aging and the election aftermath, to be held starting the last week of October. View more information and apply here.
• The 2020 Society of Environmental Journalists virtual conference has been set for Sept. 16, 17, 23 and 30. They will convene the SEJ community to investigate environmental angles on the 2020 elections and other timely events, celebrate the winners of the SEJ Awards for Reporting on the Environment, and preview workshops, tours and panels coming in June. If you pre-registered for tours and workshops, we will reconfirm your commitment and apply your selections to the #SEJ2021 In-Person Conference registration once it opens. All registration fees for the #SEJ2020 virtual conference can be applied as a discount toward your conference registration fee for the #SEJ2021 Boise Conference next June. (If you're not planning to attend #SEJ2021 or cancel your registration, this fee will not be refunded, but will help to cover the costs of the virtual conference.) View more information and register here.

• Digital Editor / Audience Engagement Editor | Daily Yonder (Multiple locations/Remote on case by case basis)
• National Press Secretary | The Sierra Club (Washington, D.C. or Remote)
• Managing Editor | Minneapolis Public Radio (Saint Paul, Minnesota)
• Stateside Producer | Michigan Radio (Ann Arbor, Michigan)
• Mountain West region manager | Solutions Journalism Network (Mountain West/Remote)
• Reporter - Race and Culture | KCUR Public Radio (Kansas City, Missouri)
• Reporter/Communications Tech | Confederated Umatilla Journal (Umatilla Indian Reservation, Eastern Oregon)
• Content Manager | Clean Wisconsin (Madison, Wisconsin)
• Engagement Editor | CalMatters (Sacramento, California/remote for COVID)

NAJA hosts "Covering domestic violence crisis within a crisis" virtual roundtable Dec. 10

This episode of the NAJA Roundtable series will feature experts and reporters who will share best practices when covering the crisis of domestic violence happening amid the pandemic in Indian Country. 

The Native American Journalists Association recognizes that media professionals are confronted with unique challenges when covering issues affecting Indigenous people and communities. The NAJA Roundtable series aims to examine the challenges and best practices for reporting these stories.

The lockdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic have contributed to an increase in domestic violence rates, where victims face an escalated risk of violence due to self-isolation and stay-at-home orders. In-depth and insightful coverage of this crisis within a crisis is essential to raise awareness and promote an effective community response given the additional urgent complications of COVID-19. Join this NAJA Roundtable, co-sponsored by the National Indigenous Women's Resource Center, to better understand the issue and responsible reporting on this underreported crisis.

The roundtable panelists include:

• Lucy Rain Simpson, executive director of the National Indigenous Women's Resource Center, and former public policy coordinator for Sacred Circle and senior staff attorney for the Indian Law Resource Center.

• Lori Jump, director of the StrongHearts Native Helpline and former executive director of Uniting Three Fires Against Violence.

• Kevin Abourezk, managing editor at Indianz.com and former reporter at the Lincoln Journal Star.

Moderated by Mallory Adamski (Din?), NAJA member, director of communications and advancement at the NIWRC, and managing editor of Restoration of Native Sovereignty and Safety for Native Women magazine.

NAJA will host the roundtable and live Q&A at 4 pm CT on Thursday, December 10, 2020, via Zoom. Participants may register in advance here. After registering, attendees will receive a confirmation email with information about how to join the webinar.

The recording will also be available on the NAJA website and NAJA YouTube channel.

NAJA will develop additional roundtables, which will focus on the challenges and best practices for reporting on Indigenous people, communities and issues. Members may pitch roundtable suggestions through the online form here. 

The roundtable series is supported by the following sponsors: 

• Democracy Fund

• Ford Foundation

• Gannett Foundation

• Google News Initiative

• Knight Foundation 

• TEGNA Foundation

• Walton Family Foundation

MCN restores free press with Independent Muscogee (Creek) Press Act

• The Double Exposure Film Festival returns Oct. 14-16 with a virtual experience that brings together filmmakers and journalists working on vital investigative stories amid extraordinary challenges. DX 2020 will feature timely discussions, interactive workshops and master classes, pre-arranged one-on-one networking and pitch meetings, as well a pro bono legal clinic. The symposium will incorporate a limited film program. Reserve early bird passes while they last here. NAJA special: Get an exclusive 10% off passes using the code NAJADX20.
• The Google News Initiative has launched GNI Innovation Challenges to support projects that drive digital innovation and develop new business models. GNI will fund a set of projects from around the world that meet specified criteria, with the intent of producing learnings and thought leadership that can be shared with the wider industry. The deadline to apply is Aug. 12. View more information and apply here. 
• The Gumshoe Group launched an initiative to connect freelance reporters pursuing FOIA claims to lawyers. Their process works like this: after a reporter gets in touch, the staff at Gumshoe evaluates their request for legal assistance. They vet the project, including by evaluating the reporter's track record for moving stories to publication and the potential value to the public of the records they're trying to obtain. View more information and apply here. 
• ACES: The Society for Editing and the Dow Jones News Fund have created the Richard S. Holden Diversity Fellowship, a pilot program dedicated to promoting diversity and inclusion by advancing early- and mid-career professionals in their work as editors and aspiring industry leaders. View more information and apply here. 
• The Institute of Journalism and Natural Resources has set a Climate + Ocean virtual workshop for Aug. 19-20. Registration is free and opens 12 p.m. EST, Aug. 5. 50% of spots will be reserved for journalists of color and if they are not filled by Aug. 12, they will move on to others on the waiting list. View more information here. 

• News Reporter | KYUK (Bethel, Alaska)
• Nieman Visiting Fellowships | Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard (remote)
• Executive Editor, Science, C&EN | American Chemical Society (Location Flexible)News Director | KCUR (Kansas City, Kansas)
• Writer and Editor | Howard Hughes Medical Institute (Chevy Chase, Maryland)
• Community Engagement Producer, News and Programs | New Hampshire Public Radio (Concord, New Hampshire)
• Reporter, Health and Equity | New Hampshire Public Radio (Concord, New Hampshire)
• Digital News Editor | New Hampshire Public Radio (Concord, New Hampshire)
• Deputy, Special Projects | Consumer Reports (Yonkers, New York)
• Writer/Reporter | Consumer Reports (Yonkers, New York)