The Indigenous Journalists Association (IJA), previously known as the Native American Journalists Association, is a nonprofit aimed at supporting Indigenous journalists and promoting Native American culture through media. The 900-member association operates in both Canada and the United States and is housed at the University of Oklahoma. ^{1 2}

Background

The Indigenous Journalists Association, located at the University of Oklahoma, was founded to promote a greater and more accurate representation of Native American culture in the media. The group tracks freedom of the press in tribal communities and hosts an annual conference on Indigenous journalism. ^{1 3 4}

IJA has worked with Freedman Consulting, a left-of-center consulting company that focuses on philanthropy and policy organizations. ⁵

IJA runs the “End Racist Mascots Coalition,” stating that “mascots and team names derived from Indigenous peoples are inherently racist.” ⁶

Activities

The Indigenous Journalists Association conducts research on media trends concerning Indigenous representation, offers scholarships and fellowships for Indigenous journalism, hosts annual conferences, and presents awards. ^{3 7 8 9 4}

The IJA conducted the Indigenous Research Initiative to research tribal media trends, such as the representation, censorship, and languages by tribal media. ³ The data collected from the survey included how often stories concerned with tribal affairs were censored, how often media included materials in tribal languages, budgetary restrictions placed on tribal media, and how well tribal media was perceived to reinforce tribal values. ³ The Indigenous Research Initiative, concluding in 2019, was funded by the Ford Foundation, Reporters Without Borders, Democracy Fund, the Indigenous Media Freedom Alliance, and the Reporters Committee for the Freedom of the Press. ³

IJA supports scholarships and fellowships, including the IJA-NYU scholarship given for students in journalism aligned with IJA values. The group also hosts the Indigenous Journalism Fellowship to develop and train journalists in line with IJA’s values. ^{7 8}

Funding

In 2022, the Indigenous Journalists Association’s revenue totaled $1,179,405. IJA’s expenses were $1,576,795, and its assets totaled $778,764. ¹⁰

IJA has received $1 million in grants from the Ford Foundation, a large left-of-center grantmaking foundation. Specific projects of IJA and IJA members funded by the Ford Foundation include the Indigenous Research Initiative, and the executive director of IJA Rebecca Landsberry-Baker’s documentary Bad Press. ^{11 3 12}

In 2023, IJA received $175,000 from Perspective Media Initiatives and $5,606 from the Minneapolis Foundation. ^{13 14}

IJA received $150,000 from Democracy Fund in 2022, and $80,500 in 2020. ¹⁵ The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation gave IJA $25,000 in 2022 and $100,000 in 2021. ¹⁶ The Walton Family Foundation gave $30,000 to IJA in 2022, $130,000 in 2021, and $30,000 in 2020. ¹⁷

In 2022, IJA received $50,000 from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. ¹⁸

In 2015, the Annie E. Casey Foundation gave $10,000 to IJA. ¹⁹ In 2014, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation gave $125,000 to IJA. ²⁰

Leadership

Rebecca Landsberry-Baker is the executive Director of the Indigenous Journalists Association. Landsberry-Baker’s journalistic work includes the film Bad Press, a film about journalistic censorship and corruption in a Native American tribal community, according to IMDb. The film was supported by the “Sundance Institute, Ford Foundation, and NBC.” ^{21 22}

Francine Compton is the associate director of the IJA. Previously, Compton worked for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, and as a producer at the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network. ²³

1. “Mission and History.” IJA. Accessed December 16, 2024. https://indigenousjournalists.org/naja-history/.
2. Warren, Michael. “‘Native American’ or ‘Indigenous’? Journalism Group Rethinks Name.” AP News, August 10, 2023. https://apnews.com/article/native-american-journalists-association-indigenous-a011a451ba06f479ad6766b0eccf9a6e.
3. “Indigenous Media Initiative.” IJA. Accessed December 16, 2024. https://indigenousjournalists.org/programs/red-press-initiative/.
4. Medina, Justine. “Indigenous Media Conference Set for July 25-27, 2024 in Oklahoma City.” IJA, November 1, 2023. https://indigenousjournalists.org/2023/11/indigenous-media-conference-set-for-july-25-27-2024-in-oklahoma-city/
5. Our work – freedman consulting, LLC. Accessed December 16, 2024. https://tfreedmanconsulting.com/our-work/.
6. “End Racist Mascots Coalition.” IJA. Accessed December 16, 2024. https://indigenousjournalists.org/resources/end-racist-mascots-coalition/.
7. “NYU Graduate Scholarship.” IJA. Accessed December 16, 2024. https://indigenousjournalists.org/programs/ija-new-york-university-graduate-fellowship/.
8. “Indigenous Journalism Fellowship.” IJA. Accessed December 16, 2024. https://indigenousjournalists.org/programs/native-american-journalism-fellowship/.
9. 2024 Indigenous Media Award winners – ija. Accessed December 16, 2024. https://indigenousjournalists.org/2024-indigenous-media-award-winners/.
10. “Indigenous Journalists Association,” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990) 2022. Page 1 Part 1.
11. “Grants Database.” Ford Foundation. Accessed December 16, 2024. https://www.fordfoundation.org/work/our-grants/awarded-grants/grants-database/?search=Native%2BAmerican%2BJournalists%2BAssociation.
12. “Rebecca Landsberry-Baker.” IJA. Accessed December 16, 2024. https://indigenousjournalists.org/team/rebecca-landsberry-baker/
13. “Perspective Media Initiative” Return of Private Foundation Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990PF) 2023. Page 11 Part XIV.
14. “Minneapolis Foundation,” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990) 2023. Schedule I.
15. “Democracy Fund,” Return of Private Foundation Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990PF) 2022, 2020. Page 11 Part XIV.
16. “John S. and James L. Knight Foundation,” Return of Private Foundation Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990PF) 2022, 2021. Page 11 Part XIV.
17. “Walton Family Foundation,” Return of Private Foundation Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990PF) 2022, 2021, 2020. Page 11 Part XIV.
18. “John D. and Catherine T. Macarthur Foundation,” Return of Private Foundation Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990PF) 2022. Page 11 Part XIV.
19. “Annie E. Casey Foundation,” Return of Private Foundation Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990PF) 2015. Page 11 Part XIV.
20.  “W.K. Kellogg Foundation,” Return of Private Foundation Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990PF) 2014. Page 11 Part XIV.
21.   “Rebecca Landsberry-Baker.” IJA. Accessed December 16, 2024. https://indigenousjournalists.org/team/rebecca-landsberry-baker/.
22. “Bad Press.” IMDb, December 1, 2023. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt24076780/.
23. “Francine Compton.” IJA. Accessed December 16, 2024. https://indigenousjournalists.org/team/francine-compton/.