Ray Cook: Indian Country Today maintains journalistic relevance

Wednesday, January 19, 2011  

I have been involved with Indian Country Today since it was purchased by 4 Directions Media/Entertainment in late 1998. I along with Kara Briggs, Mark Trahant, Tim Johnson, Jose Barreiro and about six or so other notable and well-respected Native journalists convened the first editorial advisory board.

The purpose of those meetings was to ensure a smooth transition of the paper from a regional perspective to one international in scope. Most important on the agenda then and all through ICT's development into a journal of record for Indian country was/is solid journalistic ethics and integrity. Those at the table worked hard and advised well, their wisdom and experience still drives this publication.

There has been and continues to be absolutely no government intervention in our work and coverage. Though we do utilize a lawyer to help us stay out of trouble, a necessary tool of the trade.

Last week, Indian Country Today transformed itself again to meet the challenge of maintaining technological and journalistic relevance. And that can be observed at our new website www.indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com. Yes, we have grown to become a serious media network, one with deep historical, cultural and professional roots.

Tim Giago's allegation of censorship, aside from not being true, is unfortunate because he disrespects the efforts of many fine reporters, editors, production people, ad sales people, fact checkers and photographers. Giago is implying that our staff and I either lack a backbone or that we are all willing pawns of some imagined evil empire. Tim Giago is wrong. The ICTMN staff and contributors are all accomplished professionals in their own right. And they did not get there by caving to political pressures.

While we give a supportive nod to the hard work Giago and his team put forth into founding ICT, as well as his dedication to the field of Native journalism in general, it is difficult to accept his criticism as being fully informed in this instance.

Has ICT printed letters to the editor in the past 13 years? No, and there is logistical reasons for that decision. We do, however, read every letter sent to us and take most of them seriously and the rest with a grain of salt. As for commenting on stories, our readers always have been and will continue to be offered the chance to comment online at the end of every article. And readers can comment as many times as they like and be read by people around the world, including our staff.

As Op-Ed editor of This Week In Indian Country and its online sibling www.indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com, I remain committed to protecting our integrity and enhancing our journalism in order to supply our readership with the best forward-thinking Indian country can provide.

I will reiterate the words written by former editors of ICT, Jose Barreiro and Tim Johnson, in the dedication of our book America Is Indian Country, printed six years ago.

Our growing collection of editorials “…is for all those who have raised their voices on behalf of American Indian tribal nations’ right to survive and prosper on these American lands. America is Indian country; the seed is in the memory, the roots are in the land. Our audience-the core intellectual and community-oriented tribal networks and peoples and their circles of activist allies in the world-is a most demanding circle, always pressuring us to hold the line on Indian rights. We treasure the challenge. The covenant is to uphold the recognition that Indian country is part and parcel of the central formative and original fiber of America and to assert that Native America has deep roots in the land and in the places of origin. Everything else flows from there.”

If those sound like sentiments of the easily manipulated, I’ll eat my hat.

Raymond Wahnihtiio Cook is a Mohawk Nation citizen, Marine Corps vet 75-77. He is a co-founder of the Native American Journalist Association, former typesetter and layout producer for Akwesasne Notes, co-founder of the Indian Time newspaper, founder of Akwesasne Freedom Radio, co-founder of the Associated Indigenous Communications. He serves as an audio producer for Indigenous People’s Network, associate editor of the Northeast Indian Quarterly, and op-ed editor for Indian Country Today Media Network.