LINCOLN, Neb. - The Native American Journalists Association held its 22nd annual conference in Lincoln, Neb., Aug. 11 to 15. This year's theme was "A Free Press: A Free People."
Over 200 Native American journalists, editors and students attended workshops on page layout and design; the rights, responsibilities, skills and traditions of a free press; ethical and cultural considerations covering Native communities; ethics and standards; covering business news; and other classes about responsibilities of a free press.
The conference ended with the annual NAJA Media Awards gala banquet, held at Embassy Suites in Lincoln. Native American newspapers, journalists and students from across the United States and Canada competed for top honors.
Bay Mills News walked away with four awards - Reporter Kalvin D. Perron was recognized with third place for "Best News Writing," Reporter Shannon K. Jones won for "Best Feature Writing" and Columnist Bryan Newland was recognized with first place for "Best Column Writing."
The newspaper as a whole received top honors with first place in "General Excellence" in the bimonthly category.
"We're very excited about our awards," said Bay Mills News Editor Selina R. Vert, who attended the conference. "It's nice to be recognized for all our hard work."
Vert is also very proud of her newsstaff.
"Kalvin and Shannon have been with Bay Mills News for a year," she said. "Their writing skills and ability to find news is an incredible asset to the paper."
Vert also credits former-Editor Jennifer Dale for making Bay Mills News a success.
"Jennifer started this paper, bringing it from a photocopied newsletter into what you see today," Vert said. "Though I've made minor changes over the past year, the paper is essentially what she's made it."
The editor said that readers should watch for more changes in the next year.
"We're slowly making changes in our layout and design," she said. "Our goal is to make Bay Mills News more visually attractive and reader-friendly."
Readers are welcome to call Bay Mills News with suggestions, Vert added.
Winners of the 2005 NAJA Media Awards are as follows:
PRINT
Best Photo: Sports-Single - 1st place: Donovan Quintero, Navajo Times; 2nd place: Paul Natonabah, Navajo Times; 3rd place: Peta Tinda, Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde.
Best Photo: Feature-Single - 1st place: Olivia B. Bucks, The Oregonian; 2nd place: Leigh Jimmie, Navajo Times; 3rd place: Olivia B. Bucks, the Oregonian.
Best Photo: Feature-Multiple Print - 1st place: Olivia B. Bucks, The Oregonian; 2nd place, Leigh Jimmie, Navajo Times; 3rd place: Toby McClary, Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde.
Best Photo: News - 1st place: Toni Parker-Johnson, Pequot Times; 2nd place: Donovan Quintero, Navajo Times; 3rd place: Paul Natonabah, Navajo Times.
Best Column Writing: Weekly - 1st place: Doug Cuthand, Saskatoon Star Phoenix; 2nd place: Suzan Shown Harjo, Indian Country Today; 3rd place: Tom Arviso, Navajo Times.
Best Column Writing: Monthly - 1st place: Bryan Newland, Bay Mills News; 2nd place: Travis Snell, Cherokee Phoenix; 3rd place: George Benge, Gannett News Service.
Best Editorial Writing - 1st place: Kenneth Deer, Eastern Door; 2nd place: Tom Arviso, Navajo Times; 3rd place: Steve Bonspiel, The Nation.
Best Feature Writing: Weekly - 1st place: Jim Adams, Indian Country Today; 2nd place: Mary Pierpoint, Indian Country Today; 3rd place: Jason Begay, Navajo Times.
Best Feature Writing: Bimonthly - 1st place: Steve Bonspiel, The Nation, 2nd place, Shannon K. Jones, Bay Mills News; 3rd place: Peta Tinda, Grand Ronde, Ore.
Best News Writing: Weekly - 1st place: James May, Indian Country Today; 2nd place: Jason Begay, Navajo Times; 3rd place: Levi Long, Navajo Times.
Best News Writing: Bimonthly - 1st place: Steve Bonspiel, The Nation; 2nd place: Peta Tinda, Confederated Tribes of Grande Ronde; 3rd place: Kalvin D. Perron, Bay Mills News.
Best Layout/Design: Broadsheet - 1st place: Francisco E. Vando, Akwesasne Pheonix; 2nd place: Tim Johnson, Indian Country Today; 3rd place: Bobby Martin and Ryan Brown, Navajo Times.
Best Layout/Design: Tabloid - 1st place: Marcus Luke, Confederated Umatilla Journal; 2nd place: Justin Phillips, Smoke Signals; 3rd place: Benjamin Chevrette, Pequot Times.
General Excellence: Weekly - 1st place: Navajo Times; 2nd place: Indian Country Today; 3rd place: Eastern Door.
General Excellence: Bimonthly - 1st place: Bay Mills News; 2nd place: Potawatomi Traveling Times; 3rd place: Mohican News.
General Excellence: Monthly - 1st place: Confederated Umatilla Journal; 2nd place: Cherokee Phoenix; 3rd place: PBP Nation.
Richard Lacourse Award - Susan Latham, Dine College/Center for Dine Teacher Education.
RADIO
Best News Story - 1st place: Tina James-Tafoya, "Red Lake Shooting Update," National Native News; 2nd place: Andre Morriseau, "Pocahontas & Geronimo Discover England," Aboriginal Voices Radio; 3rd place: Tina James-Tafoya, "Delaware Federal Recognition," National Native News.
Best Feature Story - 1st place: Antonia Gonzales-McConkey, "Drum Work," National Native News; 2nd place: Anne Keala Kelly, "Native Hawaiians Losing Their Land," Free Speech Radio News/WBAI; 3rd place: Carole Nez, "Bush and Kerry at Unity," KUNM-FM/89.9.
TELEVISION
Best Feature Story - 1st place: Duncan McCue, "A Father's Dread," CBC TV News; 2nd place: Haven Daley, "Back Yard Bison," WLVT-TV/PBS 39; 3rd place: Greg Taylor, "Montana Metis," Aboriginal Peoples Television Network.
Best News Story - 1st place: Duncan McCue, "Art Works," CBC TV News; 2nd place: Carla Robinson, "First Peoples," CBC Newsworld; 3rd place: Duncan McCue, "Toxic Shores," CBC TV News.
NAJA will host its next conference in August 2006, in Tulsa, Okla.
