This episode of the NAJA Roundtable series will feature experts and reporters who will share best practices when covering the crisis of domestic violence happening amid the pandemic in Indian Country.
The Native American Journalists Association recognizes that media professionals are confronted with unique challenges when covering issues affecting Indigenous people and communities. The NAJA Roundtable series aims to examine the challenges and best practices for reporting these stories.
The lockdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic have contributed to an increase in domestic violence rates, where victims face an escalated risk of violence due to self-isolation and stay-at-home orders. In-depth and insightful coverage of this crisis within a crisis is essential to raise awareness and promote an effective community response given the additional urgent complications of COVID-19. Join this NAJA Roundtable, co-sponsored by the National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center, to better understand the issue and responsible reporting on this underreported crisis.
The roundtable panelists include:
- Lucy Rain Simpson, executive director of the National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center, and former public policy coordinator for Sacred Circle and senior staff attorney for the Indian Law Resource Center.
- Lori Jump, director of the StrongHearts Native Helpline and former executive director of Uniting Three Fires Against Violence.
- Kevin Abourezk, managing editor at Indianz.com and former reporter at the Lincoln Journal Star.
Moderated by Mallory Adamski (Diné), NAJA member, director of communications and advancement at the NIWRC, and managing editor of Restoration of Native Sovereignty and Safety for Native Women magazine.
NAJA will host the roundtable and live Q&A at 4 pm CT on Thursday, December 10, 2020, via Zoom. Participants may register in advance here. After registering, attendees will receive a confirmation email with information about how to join the webinar.
The recording will also be available on the NAJA website and NAJA YouTube channel.
NAJA will develop additional roundtables, which will focus on the challenges and best practices for reporting on Indigenous people, communities and issues. Members may pitch roundtable suggestions through the online form here.
The roundtable series is supported by the following sponsors:
- Democracy Fund
- Ford Foundation
- Gannett Foundation
- Google News Initiative
- Knight Foundation
- TEGNA Foundation
- Walton Family Foundation
