Native American Journalists Association

John Gregg

Producer Profile originally written by Zach Oliva for Native American Public Telecommunications

John Gregg has known for a while that moving away from Lincoln, Neb., was a possibility. But the longtime “AIROS” manager and project coordinator for Native Radio Theater decided it was time after 12 years producing Native American radio for NAPT.

Gregg (Iňupiat/Hopi) moved to Lincoln Nebraska from Tuba City, Ariz., when he was offered the assistant manager position at the American Indian Radio on Satellite or AIROS. Created in 1994, AIROS started as a Native American radio service to deliver programming, including music, news and entertainment, via satellite to the 33 tribal and public radio stations in the nation.

As one of AIROS’ founding fathers, it was Gregg’s responsibility to recruit producers who would provide the satellite service with Native programming, which was definitely needed. At the time, no one else in Indian country was doing it. We were running about an hour a day five days a week,” reflected Gregg of the early years. “From there we moved to about three hours a day…I’m proud of working with the many producers, and helping them get their programs out there.”

Gregg is best known for a show featuring Native artists. As host of “Native Sounds – Native Voices” featuring new and established musicians as well as cultural notes about the artists. The National Federation of Community Broadcasters awarded Gregg with the Golden Reel Award in 1998 and 1999 for best national music/entertainment series.

“The Native radio system has grown significantly in the past 12 years, specifically the last three, and John has been a part of that,” Peggy Berryhill (Muscogee Creek) of Native Public Media.

In 2006, the radio distribution service changed hands from NAPT/AIROS to Koahnic Broadcasting Corp., after the Alaska-based company outbid NAPT for the service contract. Now AIROS is solely Internet-based and plays all genres of Native American music 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, making it one of the oldest Native Internet radio-based stations in the country.

Later named Project Coordinator of NAPT’s “Native Radio Theater”, a job he would hold until 2008, Gregg would oversee a project to aid in further developing the Native American theater community. The first Native Radio Theater script workshop in 2005 produced three shows at the “National Audio Theatre Festivals” convention with stories about families and a spoof on a Native superhero called “Super Indian” “I’m really happy with the first shows that we produced,” Gregg said. “Those are great shows.” Gregg has worked hard to make Native Radio Theater a success. The show is part of Koahnic’s national distribution service, NV1, and is heard on some public radio stations throughout the nation.

Gregg also thinks about getting behind music-making as a possible next step. His love of music, after all, is the reason he got into radio in the first place. “I’ve always wanted to get into independent production that way I can work on some of the things that I would like to do rather than doing things that other people want to do or produce,” Gregg said. Such as Radio consultancy, Recording concerts, working as a stage manager or creating radio productions of his own may also be in his future. And he isn’t ruling out the possibility of finding a band in Sioux Falls.

But as he looks forward to a new chapter in his life, Gregg remains thankful for his time at NAPT and the things he learned. “It’s just a fabulous experience and I have a deep interest in Native cultures and the differences, and the similarities and some of the customs and some of the language,” said Gregg, who is interested in learning some Native languages, including Cherokee, Dakota and Navajo.”That’s the best part of the job was learning some of those cultures.” Gregg is currently on contract as a consultant to build a new radio station for the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate in Sisseton SD.

Rose High Bear

Rose High Bear (Deg Hit’an Dine, or Alaskan Athabascan), Executive Producer of the Native American non-profit corporation, Wisdom of the Elders, Inc. (WISDOM) was born and raised during her early years in McGrath, Alaska, an Athabascan Indian village on the Kuskoquim River.

Now living in Portland, Oregon, she co-founded WISDOM in 1993 to record and preserve oral history, cultural arts and environmental science of exemplary tribal elders, storytellers and environmentalists. WISDOM, with its mission of cultural preservation, education and race reconciliation, uses multi-media and new media to reach and engage tribal and public audiences in collaboration with diverse tribal and educational institutions.

She is editing the upcoming biography of the late Lakota medicine man and spiritual leader, Martin High Bear, titled The Seven Commandments of the White Buffalo Calf Maiden: Martin High Bear (1919-1995).

High Bear is Executive Producer of Wisdom of the Elders Radio. Their team produced three series of Native American radio programs in a unique cultural magazine format intertwining the voices of diverse Native elders and storytellers. Everything is available in the native tradition – free of charge – on our website.

WISDOM’s upcoming radio series will feature Global Climate Change from the Perspective of Eight Northwest Tribal Communities. Radio will be used as a venue to awaken the curiosity of Native youth to their culture and environment and widen their doorway to science careers. These groups have been invited to participate in a 2011 National Science Foundation exchange with scientists and ethnic minorities in Beijing, China.

High Bear formed the Northwest Indian Storytellers Association in 2005 to encourage, preserve and strengthen traditional storytelling and oral cultural arts in Oregon, Washington and Idaho. NISA provides annual storytelling festivals in Portland.

Our team most recently collaborated with nine partners to produce the Discovering Our Story Project. They are developing culturally-tailored multi-media to assist Portland’s Native community strengthen their resilience and resolve mental health, addictions, domestic violence and diabetes issues.

WISDOM’s video and TV production teams launch its Discovering Our Story TV series in September 5, 2010 to share these video productions, and are training Native youth in production skills. This project was created because Native history has been misinterpreted in the media. We are developing short productions that accurately and authentically tell our stories, in the process helping strengthen the identity and resiliency of Native peoples and increase pride in their families and rich tribal heritage.

Debra Krol

When asked what she covers, reporter, photojournalist and editor Debra Utacia Krol succinctly replies, “Indians.” Krol, a freelance writer and editor is well-known throughout Indian Country as a force in Native American journalism.

Krol keeps a precept expressed by one of her cherished mentors, the late Native Peoples publisher Gary Avey, close to heart: “People love to learn, but they hate to be taught.” An enrolled member of the Xolon (Jolon) Salinan Tribe, a Central California Indian tribe, Krol works to entice readers to learn about the cultures, challenges, and achievements of Native America in all its diversity.

She parleyed the clips, photo credits and expertise garnered over the lean years into relationships with major publications such as the Official Arizona Visitor’s Guide, American Indian Report, Native Peoples, Arizona Highways and America West (now known as U.S. Airways) magazines. She also managed the Fort McDowell Yavapai News for two years.

Krol is a member of the Native American Journalists’ Association, the Society of Environmental Journalists and the Society of Professional Journalists.

Priscilla Wolfe

I am a Cree woman from the Mistawasis First Nation in central Saskatchewan, Canada. I am a single mother of one, my son is 6 years old and his name is Austin Kyson Brave Wolfe.

I have been interested in Journalism since I was 17 years old. I have worked on several Projects in Radio, Print and TV. I would love to work in Television full time that is where I truly enjoy working.

I currently employed with APTN, which is out of Winnipeg. I am a Reporter for the APTN National News. I also am the fill in for News Anchor. We reach approximately 2 million people throughout Canada on a daily basis. You can view APTN on their website which is: www.aptn.ca

I have been part of the NAJA student project since 1998, I have participated in many NAJA Conferences throughout the years.

I am currently working on a cross boarder Aboriginal Entertainment Show focusing on Aboriginal Talent.

I was also one of the one the Anchors broadcasting from the 2010 Olympics from Vancouver, it was the first time First Nations People participated in broadcasting the Olympics.

NAJA New U Mentor and Faculty Bios

Rod Colon

ETP Network Founder Rod Colón has a unique perspective on what it takes to succeed in today’s global economy. Rod shares his 24 years of experience as a corporate HR management insider, outside agency recruiter, professional networker and career coach through an unusual yet common sense approach to networking and career management. His in-depth knowledge of international staffing, recruiting and networking gives Rod a unique ability to both coach and consult today’s professionals and executives around the world.

Rod uses his passion, energy, and creativity to support others. He coaches professionals in the art of leveraging relationships that maximize personal networking opportunities. Rod also uses this hands-on approach with corporations as they confront the new business paradigm in which an organization’s success requires professionals to optimize their use of both internal and external networks. As he reminds his members, mastering the subtle techniques of using these networks is vital to the success of both the professional and the organization.

Career Management Coaching with Rod Colon is an example of Rod’s unique and creative approach to fostering the critical career skills of trust, accountability, and integrity in all ETP Network members. Through sessions designed to teach both basic cookbook job search techniques as well as advanced network development strategies designed to long outlive the current search, Rod reveals the depth of his career management experience and shares the wisdom he has acquired over the years. He demonstrates the power of networking as a giving and sharing activity, and aggressively challenges professionals to be relentless in building their networking skills while managing their careers as the CEO of ME, Inc.

Today the ETP Network (1000s members and access to 13 million LinkedIn professionals) leads the way in the education of networking as a core career management activity through networking events, career coaching programs, conference calls, training seminars, job openings, channel partnering and networking libraries. Rod encourages ETP Network members to share their networking experiences and questions through conference calls and urges members to become proficient with networking-oriented applications such as LinkedIn, Twitter, Blogs and Facebook.

Rod is a published author. His first book, Win the Race for 21st Century Jobs: Put CEO Power Into Your Job Search and Your Career, discusses the need for networking and human relationships as a major part of any job search strategy.

Rod is a graduate of Georgian Court University and a board member of the Georgian Court Alumni Association. He has been featured in Princeton Review, and has received numerous awards and citations in both print and online media. His innovations with the ETP Network have attracted a growing audience of business professionals who recognize and appreciate his gift for leadership, his command of both traditional and emerging business trends, and his unfailing desire to mentor, coach, train and advise in all matters related to career management and personal growth.

Art Coulson

Art Coulson and his wife, Laurie, own Redbird Media & Design, a graphic design, publishing and media strategy firm in the Twin Cities. Art also serves as communications director for Ramsey County, Minn. Before starting his own business, Art was the editorial page editor of the St. Paul Pioneer Press from 2003 to 2006, leaving just before the newspaper’s sale. For the three years prior to that, he was senior editor for suburban and Wisconsin coverage at the newspaper. Art worked as a reporter and editor at newspapers in Florida, Virginia, New York and Minnesota for 23 years. At the Rochester, NY, Democrat and Chronicle, Art wrote an award-winning column that focused on native life and contemporary issues..

Art’s mother was from Mayes County in the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma. Art grew up around the world, following his mother and father, who was in the U.S. Navy, from base to base. By the time he finished high school, Art had attended 14 different schools in Europe, Asia and North America. He received his bachelor’s degree in political science from Duke University, in Durham, N.C.

Art helped to coordinate the annual college student newspaper project for the Native American Journalists Association from 2000 to 2006. He is active on the Native American Parent Advisory Committee of Minnesota’s fourth-largest school district, ISD 196, where he is also an elected member of the school board. He also serves on the board of The Circle newspaper and the Division of Indian Work in Minneapolis.

Alli Joseph

Alli Joseph brings over fifteen years’ experience in the media field as television producer, writer, advertising creative, program coordinator and programming developer. She currently sits on the board of the American Indian Community House (AICH), as ex-officio representative for NAJA (Native American Journalists Association) to the Radio and Television Digital News Association (RTDNA), advocating for Native peoples in the media business — particularly broadcasting, online and print journalism. She has worked in editorial and creative roles for large media outlets like NBC Universal, CBS News, Viacom, Cablevision, Food Network, AOL and Time, Inc. Ms. Joseph is a published author with Harper Collins, and a 2007 McCormick Tribune Foundation Fellow in executive media management. Currently, Alli became an entrepreneur herself when she founded and became Executive Producer of Seventh Generation Stories, a personal and family history company that uses the latest media technologies to help individuals, families and groups capture their stories across a variety of platforms. She oversees the planning, production, interviewing, writing and design of multiple projects per annum, and also consults for traditional and digital media companies looking to extend their brand reach using broadband video and sponsor-driven entertainment. Alli is a member of the Producers Guild of America New Media Council (PGA-NMC) and the Author’s Guild.

Doug Mitchell

Doug Mitchell founded and managed NPR’s “next generation radio.” It was a program funded by NPR to recruit, train and retain young people interested in public radio. In partnership with the minority journalist organizations, College Broadcasters INC and NPR member stations, next generation radio trained hundreds of young people. Compressively selected students were paired with a mentor and together they conceived, developed, reported, wrote, produced and edited a story on a deadline. Doug worked for NPR for nearly 22 years as a producer and director on all of its newsmagazines and in 2009 was recognized by the Public Radio News Directors INC (PRNDI), UNITY and the Native American Journalists Association (NAJA) with their lifetime achievement awards.

Currently, Doug is a Senior Project Manager for the Public Radio International (PRI) program “Living On Earth” developing a podcast by and for minority college students called Planet Harmony.” Also, Doug is the Career Coach for Knowledgewebb.net, a member-supported online technology resource for journalists of all ages and backgrounds and he is Chair of the NABJ Media Institute where he oversees professional development training for NABJ members at various locations around the country. Doug is a former Dow Jones Newspaper Fund awardee. He is a 1997 Knight International Press Fellow, a 2003 US State Department Visitor grantee and a 2007 Fulbright “Senior Specialist” grantee each time to Santiago, Chile.

Jodi Rave

Jodi Rave spent the last 13 years working as a daily newspaper journalist. For 10 of those years, she had a unique American Indian newsbeat covering reporting on tribal communities across the United States for Lee Enterprises. As a reporter and column writer, Jodi has earned first-place awards from the mainstream, American Indian and military and university press organizations, including the Society of Professional Journalists Pacific Northwest, Montana Newspaper Association, Nebraska Associated Press and the U.S. Army. She’s been twice honored by Columbia University School of Journalism for her column writing and general portfolio of news stories. She’s also the recipient of the Phoenix Award from the Native American Journalists Association for best writing on a Native issue for a mainstream publication. Jodi has also worked as a business reporter at the Salt Lake Tribune in Salt Lake City, Utah and also at the Idaho Statesman in Boise. She moved to Missoula, Mont., in 2004 after completing a Nieman Fellowship at Harvard University.

Jodi is at a point in life where she’s thrilled to say, “Life is good, even more so when you take charge, do what’s in your heart and do the things you once dreamed about.” She left the corporate newspaper business in May 2009. Since then, she’s busy earning a master’s degree, writing a book and a developing her own media business. She completed her first year of graduate school at the University of Montana in May. In June, she was offered a book-writing grant from a philanthropic organization to aid in the writing and research for her book on the federal mismanagement of tribal lands. As for her business, Jodi is president of White Swan Media, a company grounded in the values of Native community, culture and communication. While the book and graduate school will end, her business will continue to grow. Jodi is using her past skills as journalist to set her new path as a media entrepreneur. She is the current host of Tribal Scene Radio, a news talk show featured on KBGA Missoula. Jodi also manages a blog she created called the Buffalo’s Fire.

Jodi is enrolled with the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation in North Dakota. She now lives in Missoula with her husband and a 2-year-old daughter. Jodi’s Hidatsa name is White Swan. Her Lakota name is “Tells People the News.”

Julia Sandidge

Julia Sandidge is the director of student media at Oregon State University where she oversees the student-run television, radio, newspaper, literary magazine and yearbook. She came to Oregon State after five years as broadcast news adviser at Colorado State University’s department of student media. Prior to her work as a teacher and adviser Julia reported and anchored television news including stints in Denver, Minneapolis and Southern California. Her work has been recognized for excellence by MIGIZI Communications in the Twin Cities for coverage of Native American affairs and was recently awarded a National Association of Television Arts and Sciences Emmy for faculty advising in the Heartland region, advanced media category. She also owns and operates an independent production company where she produces media projects including all video, web and print materials. Julia was raised by her mother in Western Colorado but spent much of her free time with her father near Antlers, Oklahoma where he lived until his passing this February Julia is devoted to preparing a new generation of journalists and media producers by advancing the integrity of the industry one student at a time. Julia is married to retired Los Angeles Times staff writer Duane Noriyuki and has two daughters, Rhiley, and Rhuby, a son-in-law Levi Ethridge and grandson Keean.

Panelist Bios

Mark Trahant

Mark Trahant is a writer, teacher and a “Twitter poet.” He’s a 2009-2010 Kaiser Media Fellow, and former editor of the editorial page for the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. He has been chairman and CEO at the Robert C. Maynard Institute for Journalism Education. Mark is a member of Idaho’s Shoshone-Bannock Tribe and a former president of the Native American Journalists Association. In July he will have a new book out about Henry Jackson and Forrest Gerard and the campaign for American Indian self-determination.