Publisher Says He’ll Seek Diversity on Business Side
Mike Kellogg (Navajo), publisher of the News Press in Stillwater, Okla., was elected president of the Native American Journalists Association (NAJA) on Sunday by NAJA?s board of directors at the conclusion of the annual convention in Lincoln, Neb., the organization announced Sunday night.
“Kellogg, a NAJA member for almost 20 years, wants to focus in the coming year on membership development, expanded coverage of Native issues in both tribal and mainstream media and expanding free press protections in Indian Country. He succeeded Dan Lewerenz,” the news release said. NAJA has about 500 members.
“With so many Native issues at the forefront — tribal economic development, the NCAA?s mascot decision, and the efforts of so many tribes to protect their sovereignty — NAJA will continue its role as a watchdog, making sure these issues are covered accurately,” Kellogg said in the release.
The rest of the announcement:
“NAJA also will continue to develop its student programs and development opportunities to bring more Natives into journalism and to help them advance their careers.
“‘This industry needs diversity, but that means more than just diversifying newsrooms,’ Kellogg said. ‘It needs to diversify on the business side, because diversity makes good business sense.’
“Other officers elected were:
- “Marley Shebala, vice president. Shebala (Navajo and Zuni) was reelected to the board. She is an investigative reporter for the Navajo Times in Window Rock, Ariz.
- “Cristina Azocar, treasurer. Azocar (Upper Mattaponi Tribe of Powhattan Nation) is director of the Center for Integration and Improvement of Journalism at San Francisco State University.
- “Lewerenz, secretary. Lewerenz (Iowa Tribe of Kansas & Nebraska) is administrative correspondent for The Associated Press in Cheyenne, Wyo.
Lewerenz and Shebala were reelected to the board; newly elected to the board were Minnie Two Shoes (Nakoda), for a three-year term, and Bryan Pollard (Cherokee Nation), for a one-year term. Two Shoes is a founding member of NAJA and a past board member and officer. She works as a freelance writer and media consultant and owns MTS Productions in Minneapolis. Pollard is assistant editor of the Cherokee Phoenix in Tahlequah, Okla.
“Continuing board members are Susan Braine (Assiniboine), chief operating officer/national for Koahnic Broadcast Corp.; Frank J. King Jr., (Rosebud Sioux), publisher of The Native Voice, based in Rapid City, S.D.; and Ronnie L. Washines (Yakama Nation), managing editor of the Yakama Nation Review and KYNR radio in Toppenish, Wash.”
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