Christopher Lomahquahu has been selected to participate in the second annual graduate partnership between Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication, the Native American Journalists Association and ICT, formerly Indian Country Today. The fellowship will provide support for Lomahquahu to complete a Cronkite master’s degree while producing journalism with colleagues at ICT.
Cronkite/ICT fellows can select any of the three Cronkite master’s degrees offered on Arizona State University’s downtown campus: Master of Arts in Investigative Journalism, Master of Arts in Sports Journalism, or Master of Mass Communication.
Lomahquahu, an enrolled member of the Gila River Indian Community (GRIC), as well as Akimel O’otham, Hopi, Ottawa and Mohawk, will pursue a Master of Arts in Investigative Journalism.
During his fellowship, Lomahquahu will have the opportunity to work with Indigenous journalists from a variety of experiences and produce stories focusing on the Indigenous world for ICT digital and/or broadcast audiences.
Lomahquahu has worked in journalism for nine years, mostly in his community, including a brief stint with the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community tribal newspaper. He is a graduate of ASU, where he received a Bachelor of Fine Art in Drawing and a Master of Social Work in Policy, Administration and Community Practice.
“I enjoy writing uplifting stories of individuals, who are excelling in their education, self-determination and making contributions that enrich the lives of their fellow community members, while also focusing on subjects that impact the broader populace of Indigenous people,” said Lomahquahu. “It is an honor to be awarded this graduate fellowship with Arizona State University, ICT and the Native American Journalists Association as I return to graduate studies in journalism.”
The Cronkite/ICT fellowship program is open to NAJA members who have a bachelor’s degree in any discipline from a regionally accredited institution. Fellows have to apply and be accepted into a Cronkite School master’s degree program prior to the fall semester and have to commit to working 15 hours per week for ICT.