Newswatch Journal Summer 2002

Covering Indian Country

by Dara Williams

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In one of comedian Chris Rock's stand-up routines, he jokes about different ethnic groups complaining about being the target of racism. Then, he admonishes people for complaining at all. Rock says: "Nobody got it worse than the American Indians. … Indians got it bad. Indians got it the worst. You know how bad the Indians got it? … When was the last time you met two Indians? You ain't never met two Indians. … I have seen a polar bear ride a … tricycle in my lifetime. I have never seen an Indian family just chillin' out at Red Lobster."

I laughed the first time I heard this joke. But then I started thinking about it.

While I don't like to compare which group is the "most oppressed," and I know American Indians eat out at restaurants, I understand what Rock is saying.

When was the last time you saw an American Indian quoted in the mainstream U.S. news when the story wasn't specifically about American Indians? Did you hear much from American Indians about their reaction to the World Trade Center and Pentagon attacks? What about their Sept. 11 fund raising that brought in about $3 million for victims, their blood drives and their patriotism?

News Watch did a survey of the newspaper photo coverage for two weeks after the Sept. 11 attacks. An American Indian could not be identified in any of the 2,581 faces we examined.

We chose the topic "Covering Indian Country" for News Watch's inaugural online Special Report because we recognized that images of American Indians in the mainstream news media are far and few between. There has been discussion after discussion about bettering the coverage of Indian Country. Now is the time to do something about it.

Mark N. Trahant, a member of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribe of Idaho, and president and CEO of the Robert C. Maynard Institute for Journalism Education, said in one of his essays: "The media has, for its own purposes, created a false image of the Native American. Too many of us have patterned ourselves after that image. It is time now that we project our own image and stop being what we never really were."

But it's not only up to American Indians. As journalists, we have a responsibility to our viewers and readers to report the truth, and report on all segments of the country -- fairly and accurately. If we want to correct the misconceptions brought about by stereotypes, then we must start covering American Indians at times other than mascot or casino controversies. We must start including American Indians in everyday coverage. We must start now with deeper exploration of Indian nations.

What are you waiting for? A multi-billion dollar, Enron-like scandal? You've got it. The U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs is being sued for misappropriating and mismanaging billions of dollars from the Indian Trust funds. Yet, where is the coverage? Where are the investigative pieces?

In this Special Report: Covering Indian Country, you will find the tools needed to get started today.