The Indigenous Journalists Association awarded Osage News with 10 awards for its 2022 coverage. Winners were announced on July 3.
IJA, formerly known as the Native American Journalists Association, recognized over 200 award winners at its annual conference Aug. 10-12 at the RBC Convention Center in downtown Winnipeg, Canada.
The annual competition recognizes excellence in reporting by Indigenous and non-Indigenous journalists from across the U.S. and Canada. This year, IJA received more than 800 entries across the following categories:
Student Division
- Associate Division I – (Circulation below 5,000)
- Associate Division II – (Circulation 5,000 – 10,000)
- Associate Division III – (Circulation above 10,000)
- Professional Division I – (Circulation below 5,000)
- Professional Division II – (Circulation 5,000 – 10,000)
- Professional Division III – (Circulation above 10,000)
The Osage News team currently consists of Editor Shannon Shaw Duty, Senior Reporter Benny Polacca, Reporter Louise Red Corn, Reporter Natasha Lovato, Columnist Ruby Hansen Murray and Graphic Designer Sherry Stinson.
“I am incredibly proud to be part of this team of outstanding journalists,” Shaw Duty said. “Year after year they produce award-winning work that is recognized by our peers and it’s always humbling. I am extremely grateful to Benny, Louise, Echo, Ruby, Natasha and Sherry for their hard work and continued dedication.”
Below is a list of the awards received by the Osage News staff:
Professional Division II – Print / Online
Print / Online – Best News Story
First Place
Shannon Shaw Duty
Sexual harassment settlement for Osage woman shocks citizens
Osage News
Honorable Mention
Shannon Shaw Duty
Osage citizens protest Fairfax bank’s Reign of Terror memorabilia
Osage News

Print / Online – Best News Photo
Second Place
Shannon Shaw Duty
Indigenous astronaut Nicole Mann answers questions from Osage students aboard ISS
Osage News
Third Place
Benny Polacca
National Veterans Memorial Dedication
Osage News
Print / Online – Best Feature Story
Honorable Mention
Benny Polacca
Indigenous astronaut Nicole Mann answers questions from Osage students aboard ISS
Osage News
Print / Online – Best Environmental Coverage
Third Place
Shannon Shaw Duty
Minerals Council seeks return of Osage Headrights through federal legislation
Osage News
Print / Online – Best Column
First Place
Ruby Hansen Murray
Rez Life
Osage News

Print / Online – Excellence in Beat Reporting
Honorable Mention
Shannon Shaw Duty
Osage Elders Series
Osage News
Print / Online – Best Two-Spirit Coverage
Second Place
Ruby Hansen Murray
Through the gift of music, Marca Cassity is uplifting Two-Spirit Natives
Osage News
Associate Division – Print / Online
Print / Online – Best Photo of Native America
Second Honorable Mention
Louise Red Corn
A girl contemplates her guess at the Osage Nation Indigenous STEAM Camp handgame
Osage News