The Native American Journalists Association has selected Lori Edmo (Shoshone-Bannock), editor of the Sho-Ban News, as the 2020 NAJA-Medill Milestone Achievement Award recipient.
The award honors an individual who has made a lasting impact on media to the benefit of Indigenous communities and is given jointly by the Native American Journalists Association and the Medill School of Journalism, Media, and Integrated Marketing Communications at Northwestern University to celebrate responsible storytelling and journalism in Indian Country.
The award also includes a cash prize and an invitation to speak with Medill faculty and students at the Medill school in Evanston, Ill., to further advance the representation of Indigenous journalists in mainstream media.
Her nomination was reviewed and selected by the NAJA Major Awards Selection Committee based on the award criteria:
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Body of journalistic work during career
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Contribution to society through outstanding journalism
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Recognition and respect from peers and community
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Significant contributions to the advancement of Native Americans in the field of journalism
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Commitment to NAJA and its values such as free press, accurate representation of Indigenous communities in media, etc.
Edmo has worked as the Sho-Ban News editor for more than 25 years and is a graduate of the University of Montana where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in journalism.
She is a former NAJA president and served 10 years on the board of directors.
Edmo was a Journalist in Residence at the University of Idaho School of Communication (now known as School of Journalism and Mass Media) under a grant from the Freedom Forum. While there she worked on a Native journalism project titled “Idaho Natives” that upper level journalism students published.
She has also worked as copy editor for the Idaho State Journal, publications manager at the UCLA American Indian Studies Center, and communications coordinator at The Museum at Warm Springs in Oregon.
Edmo became a storyteller because it’s instilled in tribal culture. During the past 15 years she has focused on learning more about her family history, culture and the Bannock language.
Because of the interest in tribal history, in 2008 and again in 2018, the Sho-Ban News did special publications on the 140th and 150th anniversary of the Fort Bridger Treaty that both the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes and Eastern Shoshone in Wyoming share. The publications featured interviews on the significance of the Treaty and areas of importance to each tribe.
The Sho-Ban News has published a color magazine during the annual Shoshone-Bannock Festival every year that features stories about tribal elders, artists and events related to the event.
She also helps with tribal cultural events, specifically the Annual Return of the Boise Valley People event that is conducted to help educate the public about the original people of the valley and tribal ancestors.
Edmo’s contributions will be highlighted during the virtual award ceremony at a date to be determined.