WINNIPEG, Canada – The Quapaw Post won three awards from the Native American Journalist Association's (NAJA) 2023 conference. The conference is held annually and allows Indigenous media experts from across North America to meet and promote Indigenous representation in the media.
Over 800 award entries were submitted in this year's competition. The competition recognizes journalism excellence covering Indian Country. The Quapaw Post received three awards for their excellence in covering news over the Quapaw Nation, including one for best layout.
"As a team, our number one priority is to figure out how to better bring the message and information to Quapaw tribal members," said Linduff. "This is our main objective, day in and day out. We have come a long way, but we have a long way to go. We will never stop trying to continue to bring the best to the Quapaw Nation because that is what it deserves."
Full awards list:
Third place, Print / Online – Best Layout, Editor John E Rodgers, Reporter Austin Headlee, Director Barry Linduff and Graphic Designer Josemiguel Gomez.
Third place, Print / Online – Best Environmental Coverage, Reporter Aust Headlee for "Our Changing World – Climate Change and Indian Country."
Honorable Mention, Print / Online – Best News Story, Editor John E Rodgers for "Dhegiha Language Conference."
“I am personally honored that we were chosen for a few awards again,” said John Rodgers, communications manager for Ogahpah Communications and a writer for the Quapaw Post. “You are going up against the best writers and storytellers in Indian Country, any recognition from this prestigious body is an accomplishment.”
Last year The Quapaw Post came home with two awards. Rodgers won a first-place award for best feature story for his coverage of McGirt, and the publication won second place for best layout.
On August 12, in Winnipeg, Canada, NAJA organized a ceremonial banquet to honor the victors of its National Native Media Awards competition. This occasion was an integral segment of NAJA's yearly conference, which took place from August 10 to 12 at the RBC Convention Center in downtown Winnipeg.
During the conference, NAJA members voted to change the organization's name to Indigenous Journalist Association (IJA). By a vote of 89–55, the members also unveiled the new logo during the Membership Luncheon.
The group was originally formed in 1983 under the name Native American Press Association before changing it in 1990 to NAJA to be more inclusive. The organization is based at the University of Oklahoma on the Norman campus.
IJA caters to over 850 members, encompassing media experts engaged in Indigenous, freelance, autonomous, and conventional news platforms, alongside scholars and students focusing on reporting about Indigenous individuals and communities.
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