Copyright © 2002 NLThomas
All Rights Reserved

Minneapolis, MN - The Native American Journalists Association announced the winners of this year's Native Media Awards contest at their 18th annual convention held in San Diego, CA (June 19 - 22).

The Navajo Times topped the list of print winners by garnering nine awards including First Place for General Excellence (Weeklies). Included in the paper's list of awards was photographer, Paul Natonabah's First Place wins in News and Sports Photography.

Brian Bull of South Dakota Public Radio won seven Radio awards including Best News Story, Best Sports Story and Best Documentary. Native America Calling took First Place for General Excellence in Radio News.

The Aboriginal Peoples Television Network won three awards in the Television category. APTN took First Place for Best News Story.

The Seminole Tribune won First Place for General Excellence in Internet News Sites.

In the Individual Non-Native category, Jennifer Shubinski (El Paso newspaper) won First Place for Best News Story for Print. Paul Vandevelder, Native Americas Journal, won First Place for Best Feature Story.

In the Television category, Cynthia Kaump and Dawn Thomas (WLUK-TV, Green Bay) won First Place for Best News Story. KNBC-TV Producer, Rebecca Nieto, swept First Place, Second Place and Honorable Mention of the Best Feature Story for a week-long series on the Los Angeles Native American community.

In the Radio category, Sharon Dempsey (National Native News) won First Place for Best News Story. David Sommerstein (North Country Public Radio) won First Place for Best Feature Story.

The Navajo Times' Marley Shebala won the Richard LaCourse Award, which honors the best Native American investigative journalism.

The NAJA Board of Directors also recognized Paul DeMain, Editor of News From Indian Country, for reporting on imprisoned activist, Leonard Peltier and the murder of Anna Mae Aquash. Mr. DeMain was awarded the Wassaja Award, which salutes courage shown by journalists covering Indian country.

Former Minneapolis Star Tribune Editor, Tim McGuire, was honored with a Board of Directors Special Recognition for his decision to stop publishing Native American mascots since 1994.

GENERAL EXCELLENCE
Weeklies
First Place - Navajo Times
Second Place - The Eastern Door
Honorable Mention - Wotanin Wowapi

Monthlies
First Place - Confederated Umatilla Journal
Second Place - The Circle
Honorable Mention - Arizona Native Scene

Twice A Month
First Place - The Native Voice
Second Place - Kalihwisaks
Honorable Mention - Potawatomi Traveling Times

2 ­ 6 Times Per Year
First Place - National Museum of the American Indian
Second Place - Native Americas
Honorable Mention - Well Nations Magazine

Radio News
First Place - Native America Calling
Second Place - South Dakota Public Radio
Honorable Mention - National Native News

Internet News Site
First Place - Seminole Tribune
Second Place - Potawatomi Traveling Times
Honorable Mention - Char-Koosta News

Layout / Design
Broadsheet
First Place - Native Voice
Second Place - Navajo Times
Honorable Mention - Seminole Tribune

Tabloid
First Place - Pequot Times
Second Place - Confederated Umatilla Journal
Honorable Mention - Bay Mills News

Magazine
First Place - Redwire
Second Place - National Museum of the American Indian
Honorable Mention - Native Americas Journal

INDIVIDUAL NATIVE
Print
Best News Writing: Daily
First Place - Tara McLain, The Statesman Journal
Second Place - Rob McDonald, The Spokesman Review
Honorable Mention - Tara McLain, The Statesman Journal

Best News Writing: Wkly
First Place - Nathan J. Tohsoni, Navajo Times
Second Place - Chris Mercier, Smoke Signals
Honorable Mention - Chris Mercier, Smoke Signals

Best News Writing: Mthly
First Place - Marcus Luke, II, Confederated Umatilla Journal
Second Place - Trace A DeMeyer, Pequot Times

Best News: 2x / Month
First Place - Yvonne M. Kaquatash, Kalihwisaks
Second Place - Yvonne M. Kaquatash, Kalihwisaks
Honorable Mention - Della James, Potawatomi Traveling Times

Best News: 2-6xz / Year
First Place - Travis Snell, Cherokee Phoenix & Indian Advocate
Second Place - Julie Hubbard, Cherokee Phoenix & Indian Advocate
Honorable Mention - Dan Agent, Cherokee Phoenix & Indian Advocate

Best Feature Writing: Daily
First Place - Rob McDonald, The Spokesman Review

Best Feature: Weekly
First Place - Jennifer Greene, Char-Koosta News
Second Place - Chris Mercier, Smoke Signals

Best Feature: Monthly
First Place - Winona LaDuke, The Circle
Second Place - Marcus Luke, II, Confederated Umatilla Journal
Honorable Mention - Debra Croswell, Confederated Umatilla Journal

Best Feature: 2x / Month
First Place - Peta Tinda, Smoke Signals
Second Place - Leta Rector, Native American Times
Honorable Mention - Catherine Higgins, Pequot Traveling Times

Best Feature: 2-6x / Year
First Place - Valerie Taliman, Natl Museum of the Am. Indian
Second Place - Valerie Taliman, Natl Museum of the Am. Indian
Honorable Mention - Richard Peterson, Natl Museum of the Am. Indian

Best Column: Native Pub
First Place - Elaine Shepard, Potawatomi Traveling Times
Second Place - Kenneth Deer, The Eastern Door
Honorable Mention - Traci Miller, Wotanin Wowapi

Best Column: Non-Nat Pub
First Place - Deborah Locke, St. Paul Pioneer Press
Second Place - Travis Armstrong, San Jose Mercury News
Honorable Mention - Rob McDonald, The Spokesman Review

Best Sports Writing
First Place - Travis Snell, Cherokee Phoenix & Indian Advocate
Second Place - Will Chavez, Cherokee Phoenix & Indian Advocate
Honorable Mention Oree Foster, Navajo Times

Best Editorial Cartoon
First Place - Jack Ahasteen, Navajo Times
Second Place - Francisco Vando, Akwesasne Phoenix

Photography
News
First Place - Paul Natonabah, Navajo Times
Second Place - Will Chavez, Cherokee Phoenix & Indian Advocate
Honorable Mention - Peta Tinda, Smoke Signals

Sports
First Place - Paul Natonabah, Navajo Times
Second Place - Larry Daugherty & Will Chavez
Honorable Mention - Paul Natonabah, Navajo Times

Feature / Single Picture
First Place - Brent Merrill, Smoke Signals
Second Place - Brian Yazzie & Larry Daugherty, Cherokee Phoenix & Indian Advocate
Honorable Mention - Peta Tinda, Smoke Signals

Feature / Multiple Pictures
First Place - Paul Natonabah, Navajo Times
Second Place - Ken Blackbird, American Indian Magazine
Honorable Mention - Brent Merrill, Smoke Signals

Television
Best News Story
First Place - Producer/Reporter: Greg Taylor, APTN

Best Feature Story
First Place - Producer: Tod Lilburn/Reporter: Corrie Vaus, Channel 4 San Diego
Second Place - Reporter: Duncan McCue, CBC-TV
Honorable Mention - Producer/Reporter: Joe Beardy, APTN

Best Documentary
First Place - Reporter: Duncan McCue, Vision TV Saskatoon
Second Place - Producer: Joe Beardy, APTN
Honorable Mention - Reporter: Nelson Bird/Producer: Norm Shuttleworth CTV

Radio
Best News Story
First Place - Producer/Reporter: Brian Bull, South Dakota Public Radio
Second Place - Producer/Reporter: Bernadette Chato, National Native News
Honorable Mention - Producer/Reporter: Bernadette Chato, National Native News

Best Feature Story
First Place - Producer: Keevin Lewis, Natıl Museum of the American Indian
Second Place - Producer/Reporter: Brian Bull, South Dakota Public Radio
Honorable Mention - Producer/Reporter: Brian Bull, South Dakota Public Radio

Best Sports Story
First Place - Producer/Reporter: Brian Bull, South Dakota Public Radio
Second Place - Producer/Reporter: Brian Bull, South Dakota Public Radio
Honorable Mention - Reporter: Sage Yardley, National Native News

Best Documentary
First Place - Producer/Reporter: Brian Bull, South Dakota Public Radio
Second Place - Producer/Reporter: Brian Bull, South Dakota Public Radio
Honorable Mention - Producer: DıAnne Hamilton, Native Voice Communications

INDIVIDUAL NON-NATIVE
Print
Best News Story
First Place - Jennifer Shubinski, El Paso
Second Place - Wil Phinney, Confederated Umatilla Journal

Best Feature Story
First Place - Paul Vandevelder, Native Americas Journal
Second Place - Mike Mosedale, City Pages
Honorable Mention - Wil Phinney, Confederated Umatilla Journal

Television
Best News Story
First Place - Reporter: Cynthia Kaump/Producers: Cynthia Kaump & Dawn Thomas, WLUK-TV

Best Feature Story
First Place - Reporter: Laurel Erickson/Producer: Rebecca Nieto, KNBC-TV
Second Place - Reporter: Colleen Williams/Producer: Rebecca Nieto, KNBC-TV
Honorable Mention - Reporter: Laurel Erickson/Producer: Rebecca Nieto, KNBC-TV

Radio Best News Story
First Place - Reporter: Sharon Dempsey, National Native News
Second Place - Reporter: Neva Reece, National Native News
Honorable Mention - Reporter: Sharon Dempsey, National Native News

Best Feature Story
First Place - Reporter/Producer: David Sommerstein, North Country Public
Second Place - Reporter/Producer: David Sommerstein, North Country Public Radio
Honorable Mention - Reporter/Producer: Daniel Kraker, KNAV Arizona Public Radio

RICHARD LACOURSE AWARD
Marley Shebala, Navajo Times