2012 NAJA Native Voices Application
(College)
Application Deadline (postmarked by): March 9th 2012
You must be a NAJA member to apply. Go to our membership link at www.naja.com to download a membership application.
Included in your application:
A Completed Application Form
One page resume listing your educational background, work history, awards, journalism-related internships, other scholarships, language proficiency and any work done for your school or community newspaper, radio and/or television.
Unofficial Transcript(s).
NAJA Legal Binding Contract
Letter of Recommendation from someone familiar with your academic and/or journalism work
Project Work samples of your best work (SEE PROJECT DESCRIPTIONS ON APPLICATION) the portfolio should consist of written materials, visual materials, or audio.
500 word essay written in third person as a news story. (Typed, double spaced) Pick one Topic: Why should you be selected to take part in the 2012 NAJA Student Projects? What do you think the trend toward convergence means for the future of indigenous journalism?
Mail applications and supporting documents to:
NAJA-Native Voices
Native American Journalists Association
University of Oklahoma, Gaylord College
395 W. Lindsey Street
Norman, Oklahoma 73019-4201
You may also fax or email your submission to:
Fax: (405) 325-6945
Email: jharjo@ou.edu
2012 NAJA Native Voices Application
(College)
First Name: _________________________________ MI: ________ Last Name___________________________________
College or University: _______________________________________ Graduation Date (mm/yy): ____________________
Year in School: ________ Are you currently a graduate student? ___Yes ___ No
Major: _______________________________________ Concentration: __________________________________________
Present Street Address: ______________________________ City: ___________________ State: _______ Zip:________
Present Phone Number: ________________________________ Cell Phone:_____________________________________
Permanent/Parent’s Street Address: _____________________________ City: _______________ State: ____ Zip: ______
Parent(s) Name & Phone: ____________________________________________________
Your E-mail Address: Tribe(s)_______________________________
_____________________________________________________________
*Mandatory, as this is how NAJA communicates with prospective candidates
Have you participated in the NAJA Student Projects before? _________ Yes _______ No
Which media platforms are you primarily interested in working on for NAJA?
Please rate from 1 to 4. 1 is the highest and 4 is the lowest. (Please review project descriptions
on application cover)
_______ Print _______ Broadcast _______ Radio _______ Television
What is your career goal?
____ Breaking News ____ Business Writing ____ Editor ____ Anchor ____ Educational Reporting ____ Entertainment Reporting ____ Environmental Reporting ____Reporter ____ Sports Reporting ____ Producer – Television ____ Producer (Radio) ____Copy Editing ____ Photographer ____ Graphic Designer ____ Page Designer ____ Producer (Online) ____ Web Designer ____ Videographer
Please list all equipment and software program that you have used. Please include your level of proficiency (beginner, intermediate, or advance):
Project Work Samples: (See Project Announcement on NAJA website)
Print and online applicants must have at least three samples of published work focusing on reporting or graphic design.
Print photographers must have at least three mounted samples of published work.
Online applicants should include samples of web design work on USB/Memory Stick. Include any URL’s and your role in its production.
Broadcast applicants must send a resume CD, DVD, or USB Memory Stick of your best work. All recordings should be no longer than 5 minutes. Begin your recording with your name, academic year, college, address, phone and e-mail. Applicants can include stand-ups, anchor sequences, or reporter packages.
TV off-air applicants (producers, etc.) can include stories from a program produced, directed, shot, or edited by the applicant.
Broadcast photojournalists should have three to five stories shot by the applicant.
Radio applicants should have at least three on-air reports, stories, interviews and /or newscasts or an edited version of a program written, broadcasted, directed or produced by the applicant.
For More Information, please contact the NAJA home office at (405) 325-9008 or jharjo@ou.edu
Legal Binding Contract
NAJA
Legal binding document for all students: College/High School Applicants.
NOTE: Please review carefully. This document will need to be signed by both parent/student for the legal protection
of all involved when applying as a student to the NAJA student projects. It is the responsibility of the students/parents to know exactly what is expected of them in the case of any type of situation that may occur.
NAJA mission is to serve to empower Native Journalist through programs and actions designed to enrich journalism and promote Native cultures. NAJA Recognizes Native Americans as distinct peoples based on tradition and culture. In this spirit, NAJA educates and unifies its membership through journalism programs that promote diversity and defends challenges to Free Press, speech, and expression. NAJA is committed to increase the representation of Native journalist in mainstream and tribal media to attain the highest standards of professional journalism, ethics, and responsibility.
Being a journalist takes responsible effort and as such your student will be fully responsible for the following:
Be Professional:
You must treat the project as an internship. Behave like you are interning for any news organization. Remember, when you are out reporting, on the phone gathering information, or meeting with interviews - be professional, be courteous, and make sure to always identify yourself as a journalist working for the Native American Journalists Association.
Workflow:
Your immediate supervisor is your assigned mentor. Work with them first on any assignments, questions, and/or problems. Once your assignments are complete, your mentor will relay it to the appropriate platforms for publications, post, or air. When it comes to deadlines, time is of the essence therefore communications is a must in order to complete your assignments accordingly.
Room and Board:
NAJA dedicates a large amount of money to pay for your travel, room, and food. Please keep your room clean, respect your assigned roommates, and DO NOT make trouble for hotel staff. There are NO room swaps nor having anyone not involved in the project staying with you in your room at anytime. In addition, if there are any charges incurred during your stay, including phone calls, room service, etc., the student will be solely responsible to pay for it. NAJA gives each student a per-diem to utilize while on the trip so charges DO NOT and should not be made to individual rooms, unless otherwise authorized. Parents may want to consider purchasing a phone card for their child to maintain contact while attending the conference if they so desire.
Appropriate Wardrobe:
There will be numerous professionals in attendance at the conference who hold full-time journalism positions and could be seeking qualified, young inspired journalist so dress to impress for possible recruitment. You will be working as a reporter and the coverage will not always be indoors so dress comfortably appropriate, but professional. There is no wearing of cut off shirts, shorts, low-riding hip-hugging jeans, muscle shirts, or bikini tops while participating “On the job.” Please bring comfortable, yet professional shoes. You never know when you may need to do some walking for your story and high heels or tight shoes/sandals make for unhappy feet. Mandatory business attire will be required for the Student Media Recognition Banquet.
Financial Responsibility: If you are selected to participate in the project, and for some unknown reason, decide not to show up after all travel, lodging, etc, has been paid, you will be solely responsible to repay all funding put fourth by NAJA. No Exceptions. If you cannot make the conference, it will be your responsibility to inform NAJA within 20 days of the initial day you would leave. If you cannot fully commit to the project it would be responsible, not to apply, saving each of us the hassle of fully completing the application process.
Students will be sent home: In the case that the student does not fully adhere to these circumstances set fourth, they will be sent home and therefore be fully responsible in paying back the association for breaking this contract agreement. No exceptions.
Student Print Name:_______________________________Signature:________________________________Date:______________
Parent Print Name:________________________________Signature:________________________________Date:______________
Crazy Horse Journalism Workshop set for April 15-19, 2012
Native American high school students planning to attend college and interested in careers in the news media will learn firsthand about higher education opportunities and journalism during a week-long workshop next April at Crazy Horse Memorial in South Dakota’s Black Hills.
Journalists and educators from around the country will teach a condensed course about the fundamentals of journalism at the Crazy Horse Journalism Workshop, April 15-19. Students will attend for free and will be selected through a competitive application process. High school juniors and seniors, regardless of where they live, will be given preference over younger applicants.
Students, under the guidance of experienced mentors, will report and write articles, take photographs and produce multimedia projects that will be published online and printed in a newspaper. They also will learn about preparing for success in college and opportunities in journalism.
The conference was created by the South Dakota Newspaper Association and is funded primarily by the Freedom Forum Diversity Institute. Co-sponsors include Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation and journalism programs at South Dakota State University and the University of South Dakota.
The workshop will focus on Native American high school students who want to continue their education and be equipped for success in college and careers that follow. Students will receive classroom instruction, attend presentations and be put to work in a functioning newsroom, set up temporarily at the Crazy Horse facility.
“More American Indians are needed in journalism to improve the accuracy, breadth and depth of media coverage about Native people and issues,” said Jack Marsh, president of the Freedom Forum Diversity Institute. “The workshop organizers are committed to guiding and inspiring young people to continue their education and pursue journalism as a fulfilling and important career.”
Students interested in attending the workshop, or schools interested in nominating students, should contact the Freedom Forum’s Janine Harris at 605/677-5424 or jharris@freedomforum.org by Feb. 1 for application information.
NAJA 2012 Media Awards
2012 UNITY Convention
UNITY 2012 August 1-4, 2012
Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas, Nevada
https://s3.goeshow.com/unity/convention/2012/
Contest Rules:
1. Contest entries will only be accepted from now to March 15, 2012, by 5:00pm.
2. Contestant must be a current NAJA member at time of entry and also at the time of the Media
Awards Banquet on August 3, 2012.
3. Submitted entries must have been published, broadcasted, or posted between Jan. 1, 2011 and
Dec. 31, 2011.
4. If an editor or producer is entering the work of an employee, the employee must be a current
NAJA member or the work will not be considered.
5. Cost is $20 per entry and $10 for students.
Individuals may turn in three separate entries in any one category as desired. Entries in multiple
categories are encouraged:
6. Each entry must have its own entry form & payment must accompany each entry.
Each entry (clip, DVD, CD, USB Memory Stick etc.) should have last name of contestant and
contest legibly displayed.
7. Each Entrant must include proof of Native American or First People of Canada Ancestry. (i.e.
Copy of CDIB, Enrollment Card, OR a letter from their tribe stating enrollment). Excluding the
Associate Category.
8. Because of status within NAJA, Associate members can only enter the Associate category.
9. General Excellence awards are for Native American-owned media outlets that are at least 50
percent Native American- owned, managed or controlled.
10. All categories will be recognized at the 2012 NAJA Media Awards Banquet, but only those
categories with a minimum of three entries from three separate persons or organizations will be
judged. .
11. Only fully completed entry forms with full payment will be judged.
12. Judges’ decisions are final and entries will not be returned.
Categories for NAJA 2012 Media Awards
Best Radio - single news story no longer than ten minutes; feature story no longer than 15
minutes on CD, or Flash Drive. Divisions are commercial and non-commercial
Best TV - single story no longer than ten minutes on CD/DVD or Flash Drive. Divisions are
commercial and non-commercial
Divisions for newspaper entries are:
Division 1 – circulation of 20,000 or more copies
Division 2 - circulation of 15,000 to 19,999 copies
Division 3 - circulation of 10,000 to 14,999 copies
Division 4 - circulation of 5,000 to 9,999 copies
Division 5 - circulation of less than 5,000 copies
Best Layout - three different and complete issues per entry within your respective division
category.
Best Photo - submit only three 8 x 10 prints within your respective division category
Best Online Newspaper - 8.5 x 11 copy of home page and URL address within your respective
division category
General Excellence – Print, Radio, & TV: three different and complete issues per entry within
your respective division category.
College and High School - print, two entries; broadcast, no longer than ten minutes; three
different issues for General Excellence
Richard LaCourse Award sponsored by Gannett Foundation- Excellence in investigative
reporting in print or broadcast; if broadcast, place on CD/DVD or Flash Drive. The winner
will receive a $5,000.00 award. No division categories for this entry.
WINNERS WILL BE NOTIFIED VIA EMAIL BY June 1, 2012.
NAJA 2012 Media Awards Entry Form
Title of
Entry____________________________________________________________
Category of Entry:____________________________________
Name of Journalist: ___________________________________
Job Title of Journalist:___________________________
Organization:
________________________________________________________________
Mailing Address:
_____________________________________________________________
Work Telephone Number: ____________________
Work Fax Number: _________________________
Email
address:_________________________________________________________
Are you entering for an employee?
(Employee must be NAJA member)
Yes No
Your Name:___________________________________________________
Your Position/Title:_____________________________________________
Name of Employee/Journalist:____________________________________
Employee/Journalist Position/Title:_________________________________
WINNERS WILL BE NOTIFIED VIA EMAIL BY June 1, 2012.
Winners who are unable to attend the banquet, may send someone to accept
their award for them.
CATEGORIES (Indicate division and check box of category you are
entering and sub- category, if applicable):
DIVISION
BESTCOLUMN ◊Commercial
Daily/Weekly ◊Non-commercial
Monthly/Bimonthly BEST RADIO STORY
News Feature
DIVISION
BEST EDITORIAL
Daily/Weekly
Monthly/Bimonthly
DIVISION ◊Commercial
BEST SPORTS STORY ◊Non-commercial
Daily/Weekly BEST TELEVISION
Monthly/Bimonthly STORY News Feature
DIVISION
BESTFEATURE STORY
Daily/Weekly
Monthly/Bimonthly
DIVISION
BEST
ENVIRONMENTAL
STORY
Daily/Weekly
Monthly/Bimonthly
DIVISION
BEST NEWS STORY
Daily/Weekly
Monthly/Bimonthly
DIVISION
BEST PHOTO
News
Feature
Sports
DIVISION
BEST LAYOUT
Daily/Weekly
Monthly/Bimonthly
DIVISION
BEST ONLINE
NEWSPAPER
DIVISION
GENERAL
EXCELLENCE
Daily/Weekly
Monthly/Bimonthly
DIVISION
ASSOCIATE
News Story (Print)
News Story (Radio)
News Story (TV)
Beat
Coverage of Native
Americans (Print)
Photo
COLLEGE STUDENT
News Story (Print)
Feature Story (Print)
Sports Story
Editorial
Photo
Radio Story (News)
Television Story (News)
HIGHSCHOOL
STUDENT
News Story
Feature Story
Photo
General Excellence
RICHARD LACOURSE AWARD
sponsored by Gannett Foundation
(Excellence in investigative reporting in broadcast or print)
No division categories for this entry.
PAYMENT OPTIONS:
Please check one of the following payment options: Check Money Order
MAIL TO: NAJA 2012 Media Awards,
395 West Lindsey Street,
Norman, OK 73019-4201
FOR INFORMATION ABOUT PROVIDING PAYMENT VIA INVOICE, PURCHASE ORDER, ETC.
PLEASE CONTACT NAJA, AT 405/325-9008 OR VIA EMAIL AT jharjo@ou.edu
Payment must be received in the NAJA office by 5 p.m., MARCH 15,
2012 in order to be eligible for contest.
For more information please go to our Web site at www.naja.com, call (405) 325-9008, or email
jharjo@ou.edu
NAJA 2012 Media Awards
2012 UNITY Convention
UNITY 2012 August 1-4, 2012
Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas, Nevada
http://s3goeshow.com/unity/convention/2012/
Official Credit Card Payment Form
PLEASE CIRCLE ONE:
Visa Mastercard
Name (As it appears on card) :
____________________________________________________
Card Number: ______________________________
Expiration Date:_____________CVV2 (3-4 Digits):___________
Billing Address:
_____________________________________________________________
Billing City:
_____________________________________________________________
Billing State:_______________________________
Billing Zip:_________________________
Amount to Charge:_______________
I, ____________________________, agree to pay the above amount according to the
card issuer agreement.
______________________________ _____________________________
Signature Date
Submit Payment form to:
NAJA- 2012 Media Awards
395 West Lindsey Street
Norman, OK 73019-4201
Fax (405) 325-6945 OR
Use online store at http://www.naja.com
Marei Spaola I like how the awards are 'similar' to how the Oscars would do their awards but on a budget. Good times.
Onica N Makwakwa I like the part at the banquet where gifts are collected on a blanket. I'm not sure why but since my home is in South Africa, somehow this part always makes me feel homesick while at the same time I still feel so at home. Maybe it heals my homesickness, there that's it! NAJA is homely!
Doug Mitchell There are many... from being humbled by The NAJA Lifetime Achievement Award in '09 in ABQ to Patty T and the NAJA tv students in San Diego working in "the kitchen."
Nancy Kelsey My fave: my first student project in Green Bay in 2003. As a college sophomore, I got to meet some of the most talented Native journalists in the country. Very inspiring and a true testament to the power and impact of the student projects. It's 2011 and this is still my career of choice :) (Nancy is also on our Board of Directors)
John Christian Hopkins visiting New Echota, Ga. as part of 1994 Unity in Atlanta
Abbey Thompson UNITY convention in D.C. easily...
Lee Longhorn The G-rated version is being around talented journalist and feeling inspired to keep telling stories.
Vi Waln 1999 UNITY convention in Seattle WA was a great gathering
Louis Montclair Washington DC. It was the greatest! I remember this because our group got to question President Bush first, and Mark Trahant asked the tribal sovereignty question and the President sounded like an ass trying to answer (didn't make any sense). Then later that night, I heard that the clip of the tribal sovereignty question was a viral video on ALL national news networks, even made #1 on Countdown with Ketih Olbermann.
Susan Arkeketa too many to list as favorite, jut add there were some classic moments.
Ishmael Agnimitra Elias 2007 in Denver. Worked on the student project, learned tons, and made bonds stronger.
So what would YOU say was a great memory of a NAJA convention? We want to hear from you! Go to our Facebook Group page and tell us! And don't forget to "Like" us on the Fanpage! You can follow us on Twitter too @NaJournalists.
As we venture into 2012 and the UNITY conference, NAJA is dedicated to our mission: to empower our Native journalists, enrich journalism and promote Native cultures. We ask that all our members, new members and interested parties submit panel session ideas. This conference is all our responsibility that we have those sessions that meet our needs.
As Native journalists we are dedicated to our journalism work as well keeping our own tribal stories alive and educating others about our people. I look forward to the future with great motivation from NAJA’s past leaders.
I would also like to invite you all to keep in contact with me via e-mail, Facebook, Twitter, and/or my blog. NAJA can only get better with your contributions.
Thank you,
Rhonda LeValdo, Acoma Pueblo, President, Native American Journalists Association
facebook: www.facebook.com/rhondalevaldo
twitter: www.twitter.com/rhondalevaldo
blog: http://skycity1.wordpress.com/
The following is the Form990 of Fiscal year 2009-2010.
The following is the Form990 Return Summary
"All our board members are fully committed to raising funds that are needed for NAJA along with our Executive Director. While we didn't make our budget for last year, we know that it was because our usual funders have reduced the amounts given and many of our members could not make our conference due to the economy we are in. All our finances were completed with 990's submitted every year and we realize that an audit needs to be done.
Again our board understands the position we are in, we are working together to remedy the situation. We also look forward to working with our alliance partners as we plan for UNITY 2012."
-- Rhonda LeValdo, NAJA President
NAJA CURRENT FINANCIAL REPORT ENDING 10/31/11
Bank Statements as of 10/31/11
BancFirst Checking Beginning balance 10/1/11 $19,999.66
Ending Balance 10/31/11 $19,999.62
BancFirst Sweep Account Beginning balance 10/1/11 $31,173.02
Ending Balance 10/31/11 $1,945.94
Bank2 Checking Beginning Balance 10/1/11 $7,125.78
Ending Balance 10/31/11 $6,303.58
Bank2 Money Market Beginning Balance 10/1/11 $44,778.46
Ending Balance 10/31/11 $44,803.18
Bank Statement as of 10/21/11
Bank of Oklahoma Money Market Beginning Balance 9/22/11 $10,018.93
Ending Balance 10/21/11 $12,521.25
Minneapolis Foundation (Protected funds) Balance as of 10/31/11 $85,234.19
