Reznet

William Kie, Sarah Moses and Regina McCabe take notes during an interview. Reznet photo by Louis Montclair

Boot Camp for Journalists

By Jonnie Tate' Finn, Travis Coleman, Michael Beaumont and Jaimie Little Eagle

VERMILLION, S.D.-Twenty college students from around Indian Country will eat, sleep and breathe journalism in a three-week boot camp for Native Americans.

At the opening night ceremony of the Freedom Forum's American Indian Journalism Institute, the Native students were greeted by USA Today founder Al Neuharth, who told them that "journalism is the pursuit of truth, and reporting the truth is for the political and social health of this country, especially for Natives."

The 20 students represent 18 tribes and about 15 colleges in 12 states, according to AIJI director Jack Marsh. He said South Dakota and Montana tribes sent the most students, with four each from those states. Neuharth told the students they were selected from more than 80 applicants from the United States and Canada who wanted to receive hands-on training in reporting, editing and photography in newspapers.

"This is an exceptionally diverse group for AIJI's third class," said Neuharth, who also created the Freedom Forum, a foundation that strives to increase diversity at daily newspapers.

The third annual program takes place at the University of South Dakota, and the students will be learning from professional reporters and editors who, according to Neuharth, want to give something back and extend a hand to future journalists.

"You will learn from the best in the business," Neuharth said, challenging students to pursue truth and balance in the media.

Neuharth noted that AIJI is an affirmative action program and disagreed with the Bush administration's opposition to such programs, under review by the Supreme Court.

"We must have affirmative action programs if we want to move forward with diversity," Neuharth said.

Neuharth began his speech with an apology to the students, saying American Indians are the most underrepresented group in the country in newsrooms and newspaper stories.

Citing the most recent newsroom survey by the American Society of Newspaper Editors that found 289 Native reporters, photographers and editors out of 55,000 journalists at daily newspapers, Neuharth said, "That's a minuscule number and a deplorable performance by us in the business of journalism."

Neuharth's remedy to overcome this trend is to help train and promote Native journalism students such as the ones attending AIJI.

"If just one Native journalist is on staff, newsrooms will be more conscious of Natives" and their issues, Neuharth said.

He also told the students that they can make a difference in their communities and everywhere.

"Dreams begin here," he said.

 

Jonnie Tate' Finn, Cheyenne River Sioux, attends Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colo. Travis Coleman, Ponca Tribe of Nebraska, attends Haskell Indian Nations University in Lawrence, Kan. Michael Beaumont, Crow, attends Little Big Horn College in Crow Agency, Mont. Jaimie Little Eagle, Standing Rock Sioux, attends Sitting Bull College in Fort Yates, N.D.