Native American Journalism Career Conference

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. The 9th annual conference attracted the biggest total attendance, and the second-best student attendance. Thirty-five experienced journalists — many of them Native American — mentored the students on the basic skills and practices of journalism, including writing, photography and multimedia. Speakers at general sessions included Freedom Forum and USA TODAY founder Al Neuharth, Mount Rushmore Superintendent Gerard Baker, former Native American Journalists Association president Mike Kellogg and Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation CEO Ruth Ziolkowski.
“This conference introduces and promotes journalism as a career path for Native youth who otherwise might not consider it,” said Jack Marsh, Freedom Forum vice president and one of the conference founders. “Natives are the most underrepresented group in America’s newsrooms. Quality news organizations that value a diverse workforce are eager to hire Native journalists and improve the coverage of Indian Country, Native people and Native issues. When the diversity of a newsroom reflects the diversity of the community it serves, the news coverage is fairer and richer.”
The conference is funded by the Freedom Forum Diversity Institute and co-sponsored by the South Dakota Newspaper Association, the Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation, the Native American Journalists Association, and the journalism programs at South Dakota State University and the University of South Dakota.

Native Stylin’

(Soundslide by Mercedes Lame, Liauna Canby, Kaylan Curley and Karen Zaukar)

Native Misconceptions

(Soundslide by Leland Everybody Talks About, Dalton Lame, John Riley and Alana Stone)

What Do You Think?

(Soundslide by Samantha Garnette, Reginald Little Thunder, Audra Standing Bear, Terry Gray and Joseph Comes Flying)

Set a Goal, Achieve

(Soundslide by Mercedes Lame, Liauna Canby, Kaylan Curley and Karen Zaukar)

“Welcome to Crazy Horse”

(Soundslide by Hannah Hall, Angeline Squirrel Coat, Joe Garreaux, Perry Middletent and Sammie Taylor)

What’s Cooking at Crazy Horse?

(Soundslide by David Michaud, Dempsey Gilham, Richard Iron Cloud and Miranda Greseth)

Thunder Cat

(Soundslide by Marissa Moran, Seth Berry, Vicky Smith and Stephanie Moran)

What a Blast

(Soundslide by Taylor Witte, Amanda Grey Owl, Elton Two Hawks, Erin Plenty Chief and Jo Takes the Knife)

The Woman Behind Crazy Horse Memorial

(Video by Jesse Short Bull, Terrence Little Whiteman and Tonia Stands)