This month, National Native News (NNN), the first daily news service to take a strictly Native American perspective on current events, celebrates its 25th anniversary.
Over the last quarter-century, with critical funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), NNN has grown from a small, local program into an influential, nationwide source of information on Native American issues. Today, NNN, with its staff of more than 50 reporters, can be heard on 307 public radio stations in 22 states and around the world, giving an important voice to Native communities that are often under-represented in mainstream media.
Filling a Crucial Gap
Just 25 years ago, news for or about Native Americans did not exist and Native American issues were not regularly covered on news broadcasts or in daily newspapers. This lack of information and visibility created a widespread void within Native communities.
In 1987, a group of non-Native and Native Americans recognized the urgent need to address this gap by better informing Native Americans about social, economic and cultural issues. They also sought to help non-Native listeners understand the interconnectedness between themselves and their Native American neighbors. Together, they founded the news service known as National Native News.
CPB, recognizing the changing needs of an increasingly diverse public media audience, provided NNN with a $60,000 grant to fund the first 13 weeks of the program. With this funding and through support from the Alaska Public Radio Network, NNN's first broadcasts reached 22 stations, mostly in Alaska.
Despite their limited distribution, these 15-minute news briefs immediately filled a crucial need in the media by offering coverage of national and regional news stories through a different lens.
“Then, just like today, National Native News provided a critical source of news gathered from across Native America to bridge the communications gap that exists among Natives, while providing a unique perspective to non-Natives,” said Jaclyn Sallee, president and CEO of Koahnic Broadcast Corporation, the governing non-profit that oversees National Native News.
NNN Goes National
In the mid-1990s, Native leaders began expressing concern about the lack of Native voices in the media, especially in Anchorage — home to the largest Native population in the state. This group also felt that NNN should be managed by a Native-controlled public broadcasting organization. Alaska Public Radio Network agreed and turned over the program to Koahnic Broadcast Corporation, based in Anchorage, in 1995. This move was important in keeping the program on the air in Anchorage as well as expanding its reach nationwide.
In 2005, with a grant from CPB, Koahnic launched Native Voice One, a program service that distributes content for the Native public radio system, including NNN, around the country through public radio stations, online audio streams and downloadable podcasts.
With its expanded national reach, NNN gained a platform to further demonstrate the impact of Native American news and events to non-Native audiences.
In 2008, NNN teamed with Native American Public Telecommunications to provide ongoing coverage of the Presidential election. The NNN story, “Barack Obama Adopted into Native American Tribe,” was featured not only on Native Voice One's website, but on NPR's election news website as well, bringing the Native perspective to a national story.
National Native News also covered the September 11th attacks and its effects on the Native community. Mohawk ironworkers helped build the Twin Towers and, after the attack, Native people from both upstate New York and Canada assisted in the clean-up efforts at Ground Zero. In the years since 9/11, NNN has profiled these individuals and their important contributions to this significant moment in our nation's history.
In addition to providing the Native perspective on current events, politics, the environment and culture, NNN has also influenced the creation of other Native American-focused shows, including Native America Calling, the country's first Native call-in program.
NNN Embodies Public Media's Mission
CPB has been a proud supporter of NNN since its inception and its investment continues to be critical to the program's longevity and ability to preserve and disseminate Native culture.
“Over the last 25 years, National Native News has exemplified public media's mission — to serve unserved and underserved audiences with content that is not available through commercial media outlets,” said Patricia Harrison, president and CEO of CPB. “Through our strategic platform, known as the Three Ds — digital, dialogue and diversity — we are proud to support programs that reach diverse audiences and connect to all Americans.”
In addition to the start-up grant that helped to launch NNN in 1987, CPB has provided grant support for critical marketing and resource development activities that enabled NNN to increase its reach, both within the Native American community and with non-Native listeners.
In 2004, CPB made the first of five grants to sustain both NNN and Native American Calling for the long term. By the end of the first grant in 2006, NNN had experienced a 10 percent increase in the number of stations carrying the program. Subsequent grants continue to increase NNN's reach and ability to address important Native topics.
CPB also provides annual operating grants to NNN, which are important in helping the service raise additional funds from the community.
“CPB provides the crucial support that is used to leverage strategic collaboration and partnerships among foundations, agencies, corporations, affiliate stations, reporters, and individuals who understand and appreciate the need for diverse content,” said Sallee. “The growth and impact of NNN would not have been possible without this important seed money from CPB over the last 25 years.”
The Future of NNN
National Native News took time to celebrate its 25th birthday earlier this month, but the service is already focused on the future, looking ahead to the big issues facing Native communities in 2012 and beyond. Several of these issues will be priorities on Capitol Hill this year. Lawmakers are scheduled to tackle important legislation protecting women on reservations from violence; Native American women experience 2.5 times more sexual assaults than women in other ethnic groups.
National Native News will also continue its coverage of the Keystone Pipeline.
This fall, NNN will follow the Presidential election and will focus on important topics such as the efforts to protect voting rights of Native people. NNN will also devote coverage to the push by tribal leaders from around the country to encourage Native Americans to vote.
“We are extremely proud of National Native News — an outstanding example of what makes public media so unique,” said Sallee. “For 25 years, National Native News has succeeded in serving Native and non-Native listeners throughout the country, and we are looking forward to how we can best reach the next generation of those interested in and impacted by Native issues.”
