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NAJA announces 2023 National Native Media Awards winners

Photo: NAJA Photo: NAJA

The Native American Journalists Association will recognize outstanding Indigenous journalism during National Native Media Conference

The Native American Journalists Association will present more than 200 awards recognizing the best coverage of Indigenous communities during the awards banquet Aug. 27 as part of the 2022 National Native Media Conference Aug. 25-27, 2022 at the Hyatt Regency Phoenix.

The annual competition recognizes excellence in reporting by Indigenous and non-Indigenous journalists from across the U.S. and Canada. This year, NAJA received more than 750 entries across the following categories:

  • Student Division
  • Associate Division I – (Circulation below 5,000)
  • Associate Division II – (Circulation 5,000 – 10,000)
  • Associate Division III – (Circulation above 10,000)
  • Professional Division I – (Circulation below 5,000)
  • Professional Division II – (Circulation 5,000 – 10,000)
  • Professional Division III – (Circulation above 10,000)

View the full list of winners

2022 NAJA-Medill Milestone Achievement Award
NAJA will present the 2022 NAJA-Medill Milestone Achievement Award to Cheryl McKenzie (Anishinaabe / Cree) on Thursday, Aug. 25 during the NAJA Membership Meeting and Business Luncheon. Tickets are available for purchase through the conference registration site at $75 each for members and non-members.

2022 NAJA Richard LaCourse Award for Investigative Journalism
NAJA will present the 2022 NAJA Richard LaCourse Award for Investigative Journalism to the Indigenous Investigative Collective (IIC) on Saturday, Aug. 27 during the NAJA National Native Media Awards Banquet. The IIC is a joint project of the Native American Journalists Association in collaboration with High Country News, ICT, National Native News and Searchlight New Mexico. Banquet tickets are available for purchase through the conference registration site at $100 each for members and non-members.

2022 NAJA Elias Boudinot Free Press Award
NAJA will present the 2022 NAJA Elias Boudinot Free Press Award on Saturday, Aug. 27 during the NAJA National Native Media Awards Banquet to the Navajo Times. Banquet tickets are available for purchase through the conference registration site at $100 each for members and non-members.

Division winners will also be recognized during the banquet. 

Winners who are unable to attend the banquet to pick up their awards in person may request to have their awards shipped to them directly at cost. To request the direct shipping option, winners must complete the 2022 National Native Media Awards Direct Shipping Request Form. Additional copies of award plaques may also be purchased and shipped at cost. 

Winners should submit any requested award corrections via email to: scosper@naja.com with the winner’s division, category, outlet, entrant name and corrected information no later than Monday, Aug. 1

NAJA thanks all of the 2022 judges, their outlets and organizations for the donation of time and expertise spent on making this year’s awards possible:

  • Alli Joseph, Association on American Indian Affairs
  • Brian Bull, KLCC
  • Dalton Walker, ICT
  • Debra Krol, Arizona Republic
  • Jennifer Pemberton, KTOO
  • Lenzy Krehbiel-Burton, Tulsa World / OKSPJ
  • Tyler Thomas, Cherokee Phoenix

Dateline:

NORMAN, Oklahoma

Contributing Writer

Buffalo's Fire collaborates with other content producers, such as AP Storyshare, independent news organizations, freelance journalists, opinion writers, community members, and academic outlets. We also appreciate ICT for sharing their stories.