APTN receives NAJA Elias Boudinot Free Press Award
Canadian journalists receive top honor for upholding highest ethics
The Native American Journalists Association (NAJA) will recognize Karyn Pugliese and Justin Brake of the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN), as awardees during the 2019 National Native Media Conference set Sept. 15-18 in Prior Lake, Minnesota.
NAJA selected Pugliese and Brake as the 2019 Elias Boudinot Free Press Award recipients.
Their accomplishments will be highlighted during the award presentation ceremony set for Wednesday, Sept. 18 from 6-10 p.m. in coordination with the conference to be held at the Mystic Lake Center.
The Elias Boudinot Free Press Award recognizes a publication or media outlet that has shown dedication and commitment to upholding freedom of the press, information and transparency in Indian Country.
These journalists were nominated for APTN’s outstanding and ethical coverage as well as response to the Indigenous-led occupation of the Muskrat Fall hydroelectric dam on Innu territory in Labrador.
According to APTN coverage, Brake embedded with the protesters to cover their efforts, and was charged criminally with mischief and disobeying a court order after he followed the group who broke a lock on a gate and entered Nalcor Energy property Oct. 22, 2016.
On March 28, 2019 the Newfoundland and Labrador Court of Appeal sided with the news media and dealt a blow to parties using injunctions to keep journalists away.
The Newfoundland and Labrador Supreme Court also ruled in his favor regarding civil charges stemming from the same incident.
Pugliese (Algonquin First Nation of Pikwàkanagàn) is APTN executive director of news and current affairs, and is an award-winning journalist who has defended the rights of journalists and helped advance Indigenous journalists throughout her career.
She is also the first Indigenous person to become president of the Canadian Association of Journalists.
The launch of APTN Sept. 1, 1999 represented a significant milestone for Indigenous Peoples across Canada. The network has become an important entertainment, news and educational programming choice for more than 11 million households in the country.
APTN National News and Current Affairs ‘covers the stories other people don’t and won’t’ bringing viewers an in-depth look at the stories impacting Indigenous Peoples from across North American and the World.
Indianz selected as 2019 NAJA Richard LaCourse Award recipient
Sexual harassment coverage garners top investigative journalism honor in Indian Country
NAJA will recognize Acee Agoyo and Kevin Abourezk of Indianz.com as awardees during the 2019 National Native Media Conference set Sept. 15-18 in Prior Lake, Minnesota.
NAJA selected Agoyo and Abourezk as the 2019 Richard LaCourse Award for Investigative Reporting recipients.
Their accomplishments will be highlighted during the award presentation ceremony set for Wednesday, Sept. 18 from 6-10 p.m. in coordination with the conference to be held at the Mystic Lake Center.
The NAJA Richard LaCourse Award recognizes groundbreaking work by journalists that creatively use digital tools in the role of community watchdog and includes a $500 cash prize for the individual or team selected.
Criteria for evaluating entries includes:
• Innovation in storytelling including: interactivity, creation of new tools, innovative adaptation of existing tools and creative use of any digital medium.
• Entry may consist of a single story, series or package on a single subject.
• Spot news, news analysis, editorials, columns, features and photography are eligible.
Agoyo and Abourezk were nominated for their work in exposing the sexual harassment allegations within the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI), the nation’s oldest and largest Indigenous organization. The Indianz team worked with confidential sources within NCAI to verify and generate ongoing coverage.
About NAJA
NAJA serves and empowers Native journalists through programs and actions designed to enrich journalism and promote Indigenous cultures. For more information, visit: www.naja.com.
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