Native Journal Multimedia
May 6, 2008
The three-day Native American Journalism Career Conference, held at Crazy Horse Memorial in South Dakota every April since 2000, is the largest Native student journalism program of its kind in the country.
About 250 people, including 154 Native high school and college students from 10 states gathered at Crazy Horse Memorial, April 22-24, 2008.
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Native American Journalism Career Conference
By: Ramona Marozas
During my senior year, I attended the 9th annual Native American Journalism Career Conference at Crazy Horse Memorial on April 22-24. The Crazy Horse Memorial is located in the Black Hills in South Dakota and is well worth the drive. The conference that I attended was the biggest yet with 250 people and it was very enjoyable. “What this conference does is it shows young high school American Indian students another outlook of possible careers. It is motivational for it to be held at the crazy horse memorial and is great for meeting connections in the field of journalism,” claims conference speaker Shannon Shaw, professional journalism.
I was lucky enough to achieve the Crazy Horse Native American Scholarship that I applied for on once I arrived to the seminar. I want to thank the family that has given me this and it means the world to me and helps so much for my future. On what Shaw said about the connections is true because I received many business cards from people that were in the journalism network. They send you information about scholarships and opportunities that are significant in the journalism career. This conference shows you how many different aspects of journalism there are by dividing up the students and assigning projects. “This conference was a lot more fun than I could have ever imagined. You get the opportunity to learn so much and to meet new friends from all over the United States ,” says Karen Zaukar who is from Mediak , Alaska .
Not only are the people warm and kind, but everything is free! You are provided with a place to stay for the few days and the food is utterly amazing. I expected it to be low-quality since it was free but the meals were well planned and scrumptious. Being at this conference makes you thankful of the things that you are given in your life and pushes you to do more than the expected amount. “When I taught the first conference it was intended to expand and I feel it not only has but will keep on exploding. The fact that this conference lets students be able to meet connections; I encourage them to seize the opportunity of attending and learning a lot not only about journalism but about their culture. Natives from all over the country attend this meeting and the students are given the networking to expand their futures. This can make a big difference in a young person’s life,” shares Robert Cook who was the speaker the first and last days of the conference.
The conference focuses on the importance of the society hearing the American Indians voice. How we have been negatively represented to the public and are in desperate need of our own people out there telling the true story of our pasts. I persuade with much confidence for the students in my state of Minnesota to come to the conference next year and keep representing. I am proud that I attended the 9th annual journalism conference but I was the only one from Minnesota . I want students all over to take advantage of this once in a lifetime chance and to represent themselves with passion and creativity. I hope to give back to the Crazy Horse Career Conference by attending every year on and doing my 100% best to keep in touch.