First Class for Native Digital Journalism Course Announced

Native News Network Staff in Native Briefs. Discussion »

FLAGSTAFF – Native Public Media, a national organization dedicated to serving the Native radio and media network, announced the first cohort of students for its Digital Journalism and Storytelling Course taking place on the campus of the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico May 28 through June 9.

Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe

“This is an exciting time.”

States Loris Taylor, President and CEO of Native Public Media.

“We had an overwhelming response from our Native radio stations to enroll their staff. This speaks to the incredible need and desire of our terrestrial radio personnel to branch out their service to Native American audiences using new media platforms.”

The digital curriculum is the first of its kind to be written by Natives for Natives and was formally adopted by the Institute of American Indian Arts, an accredited tribal college. Over a two week period, students will learn to use digital platforms to tell stories from tribal communities earning 3 hours of college credit. Rhonda LeValdo, Native American Journalists Association President, is one of the instructors.

Currently, 48 Native radio stations serve tribal communities with many of them broadcasting in the local tribal language. Native Public Media designed its course to recognize this asset. As essential institutions already serving tribal communities, Native Public Media plans to build on this foundation by having its Native stations reach out to Native Americans that currently do not have their own radio or television stations using digital platforms.

“Our digital curriculum encourages storytelling in Native languages and draws on the strengths of Native history and culture. Our hope is to see our curriculum become a regular course in tribal colleges across the country so that we can overcome decades of invisibility in the media landscape. With so many of our tribal nations still underserved by traditional media, we are addressing the media and digital divides on our own terms by building our own capacity and on-ramps,”

concludes Taylor.

In addition to its programs, Native Public Media has been at the frontline in advancing broadband policy that will hopefully result in more aggressive deployment of broadband into Indian Country.

Students for the first class include:

posted April 13, 2012 8:50 am edt