The Native American Journalists Association has awarded Osage News with 14 awards for its 2021 coverage. Winners were announced July 19.
NAJA will present more than 200 awards at this year’s awards banquet Aug. 27 as part of the 2022 National Native Media Conference Aug. 25-27, 2022 at the Hyatt Regency Phoenix.
The annual competition recognizes excellence in reporting by Indigenous and non-Indigenous journalists from across the U.S. and Canada. This year, NAJA received more than 750 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.
“This is bittersweet for us because five of our colleagues on this winners list left us this year for great opportunities at bigger publications and one TV station,” Shaw Duty said. “But it just goes to show that the journalism being produced for the Osage people is quality journalism, produced by individuals who are passionate about their work and serving our community.”
The Osage News competes in Professional Division II, which contains some of the best tribally owned publications in the state of Oklahoma and Indian Country. Other publications competing in Division II are the Cherokee Phoenix, Mvskoke Media, Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribal Tribune, Confederated Umatilla Journal, Winds of Change Magazine, Mountain West News Bureau and more.
Below is a list of the awards received by the Osage News staff:
Professional Division II – Print / Online
Second Place
Shannon Shaw Duty
Dr. Ricco Wright apologizes to Osage Nation and takes down Reign of Terror-themed exhibit
Osage News
Print / Online – Best News Photo
First Place
Shannon Shaw Duty
A house blew up in Fairfax
Osage News
Second Place
Cody Hammer
Heritage Trail Opens
Osage News
Third Place
Cody Hammer
May Day Parade Queens
Osage News
Print / Online – Best Feature Story
First Place
Shannon Shaw Duty
Lily Gladstone will play Mollie Burkhart in upcoming Scorsese film, ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’
Osage News
Print / Online – Best Feature Photo
First Place
Cody Hammer
International Indian Relay Champions – a young rider practices
Osage News
Second Place
Cody Hammer
Paying for the Drum
Osage News
Third Place
Cody Hammer
International Indian Relay Championships
Osage News
Print / Online – Best Sports Story
First Place
Shannon Shaw Duty
Lynn Star McGuire Holloway inducted into INFR Hall of Fame
Osage News
Print / Online – Best Health Coverage
Second Place
Benny Polacca
Dr. Shaw delivers town hall update on vaccine efforts
Osage News
Print / Online – Best Editorial
First Place
Ruby Hansen Murray
Seeing ourselves on screen
Osage News
Second Place
Ruby Hansen Murray
Celebrating representation – and greasy frybread
Osage News
Print / Online – Best Layout
Third Place
Sherry Stinson
Osage News
Print / Online – General Excellence
Second Place
Shannon Shaw Duty, Benny Polacca, Cody Hammer, Lenzy Krehbiel-Burton, Ruby Hansen Murray, Sherry Stinson, Abigail Mashunkashey, Natasha Lovato, Jessica Brent, Kennedy Sepulvado
Osage News