By
Benny Polacca
The Osage Nation Executive and Legislative branches of government are seeking two appointees to serve on the Editorial Board after both branches did not reappoint and confirm two board members earlier this year when those terms expired. The board’s third position also expired this year.
In the meantime, the Third ON Congress voted to appoint former Congressional Speaker Jerri Jean Branstetter to a six-month interim Editorial Board term. Congresswoman Shannon Edwards made the motion on Oct. 1 – the last day of the Tzi-Zho Session.
Edwards acknowledged Branstetter does not have the qualifications to be confirmed for the Editorial Board, but said there needs to be a board member in wake of a recently passed bill outlawing board and commission members from serving past their confirmation periods.
The law is ONCA 12-96 (sponsored by William “Kugee” Supernaw) and was passed with a 11-1 vote with a “no” vote by Speaker Raymond Red Corn on Sept. 21. Principal Chief John Red Eagle signed the bill into law on Sept. 27.
The law’s passage means Robert Warrior, Dennis McAuliffe and Tara McLain Manthey are no longer serving in their Editorial Board capacities. Warrior and McAuliffe were confirmed in early 2010 along with Teresa Trumbly Lamsam who resigned in January. Manthey was selected by Warrior and McAuliffe to fill the vacancy until it expired.
Red Corn said emails were sent out in past asking Congress members for Editorial Board nominees but no replies were received. After discussion, Congress voted by majority to confirm Branstetter to the interim position with a 10-2 vote. Voting against the interim appointment were Red Corn and Congressman John Jech.
Branstetter was elected to the First ON Congress in 2006 and served a six-year term until it expired this year. She served on the tribe’s government reform commission and is retired from working in Oklahoma state government.
According to the Nation’s 2008 Free Press Act, The Editorial Board is formed with two board appointments each made by the Legislative and Executive branches and those two members are subject to Congressional confirmation. The two confirmed board members then appoint the third board member.
Editorial board qualifications include: be at least 25 years old; have quality experience in management and operations of publications; be of good character and have a reputation of integrity; be physically able to carry out board duties; have at least five years of professional journalism experience and/ or an advanced degree in journalism; adhering to standards of accepted journalism ethics defined by the Society of Professional Journalists and endorsed by the Native American Journalists Association.
Editorial board duties include: to establish and enforce an editorial policy that will be fair and responsible in reporting news of Osage concern; to ensure the operational structure is sound and the board duties and obligations are fulfilled; to review advertising rates and policies; and to develop fair and reasonable policies on campaign advertising to be published 60 days prior to filing period.
Original Publish Date: 2012-10-05 00:00:00
