The University of New Mexico

NEWS RELEASE

Media Contact: Laurie Mellas, 277-5915, lmellas@unm.edu

Oct. 13, 2005

JOURNALISTS TO DISCUSS NATIVE AMERICAN NEWS COVERAGE

“Beyond Beads and Feathers: News Coverage of Native Americans,” a discussion featuring local, national news media, will be held Wednesday, Nov. 9, from 1 to 4 p.m. at the University of New Mexico in Zimmerman Library's Willard Reading Room. The event is free and open to the public.

Journalists will share their experiences and insights regarding news coverage of issues critical to Native Americans. Topics will include Indian gaming, the U.S. Department of Interior's alledged mismanagement of the Individual Indian Money Accounts - Cobell v. Norton, Indian health care and the Red Lake Indian Reservation shootings.

Invited speakers are Tom Arviso, Navajo, chief executive officer of the Navajo Times Publishing company and publisher of the Navajo Times; Leslie Linthicum, reporter for the Albuquerque Journal, Antonia Gonzales-McConkey, Navajo, producer and anchor for National Native News, Jodi Rave, Mandan-Hidatsa, and reporter for the Missoulian and columnist for the Poynter Institute.

Daniel Littlefield, director of the American Native Press Archives at the University of Arkansas , is also a participant.

The event is co-sponsored by the Native American Journalists Association, UNM's Native American Studies, NAS Indigenous Research Group and Indigenous Nations Library Program.

For information, call 277-3917.

The University of New Mexico is the state's largest university, serving more than 32,000 students. UNM is home to the state's only schools of law, medicine, pharmacy and architecture and operates New Mexico's only academic health center. UNM is noted for comprehensive undergraduate programs and research that benefits the state and the nation.

www.unm.edu