Our mission is to share more stories from Indigenous communities, told by Indigenous voices. Our vision is to transform the future of nonprofit newsrooms with expansive news coverage and Indigenous journalism, and position ourselves as the leader in reliable, compelling Indigenous-centered news.
ICT is a division of IndiJ Public Media, a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit news enterprise that honors our ancestors and future generations through stories that make Indigenous peoples come alive. Our digital and broadcast coverage provides 7 million people each year with news about Indigenous communities - including American Indians, First Nations and Alaska Natives. ICT produces a half-hour weekday newscast across nearly 200 public broadcast stations (PBS) nationwide as well as 200+ public television stations in the United States, Canada, and Australia. ICT'S daily digital news stories reach 500,000+ people each month.
Our primary service is news. IndiJ Public Media was formed to empower ICT to transform the narrative of how Indigenous people and communities are reported on in the media. American Indians and Alaska Natives make up approximately 3% of the U.S. population, at 9.7 million people, and telling the stories of Indigenous communities by Indigenous journalists is at our core.
Since our beginnings in 1981 as a weekly newspaper, ICT has grown into the largest news organization serving Indigenous communities today. In April 2020, we expanded into public broadcasting through the daily ICT Newscast about how the coronavirus pandemic has affected American Indians, Alaska Natives and First Nations. With this bold new step into public television, ICT has become a spacious channel through which it distributes news across multiple platforms. We also allow third party publications/media outlets to republish our content for free.
Our Indigenous-led newsroom routinely covers topics often missed by other news outlets. When mainstream media does report on issues of importance to Native people, it often misses key voices. It lacks the cultural awareness and nuanced understanding of Indigenous communities, let alone the connections to them. Our stories provide historical and regional context to major issues facing Native America, including health care, education, treaty rights, climate change, land rights, and language revitalization, in addition to celebrating our culture.
We are working to expand our broadcast and digital Indigenous programming by opening new bureaus across the country, focusing on areas with high concentrations of Indigenous populations. We currently have three regional news bureaus established in Alaska, Washington D.C. and Montana, with a goal to launch six new bureaus in the coming years, including: Northwest (Oregon), North Central (Wisconsin), Northeast (New York), Southeast (Florida), South Central (Oklahoma), and Pacific (California). This initiative operates in conjunction with our internship program, which serves to mentor young Indigenous journalists and foster future leaders of Indigenous and mainstream news ecosystems.
Indigenous journalists make up less than 1% of professional reporters in the U.S. ICT is growing that number by offering internships to aspiring media professionals, mentoring young reporters, and providing growth opportunities to seasoned newsroom leaders.
There is no single news organization with the reach or depth of ICT's digital or broadcast coverage on stories that impact Indigenous communities, or the nuanced knowledge of our cultures, legal frameworks, and tribal sovereignty, that leads to a more accurate representation of news stories. By serving as the voice for our communities, we highlight the unique challenges that impact readers, viewers, and listeners on a daily basis and connect them to tribes throughout the country facing similar circumstances. As a result, our reporting creates a more informed and engaged public and inspires increased civic participation through access to accurate, fact-based information.
Testimonials
Testimonials from our donors include:
"You provide outstanding coverage of indigenous news."
"I have relied upon ICT in my work as a non-Native advocate and greatly admire Mark who spoke at a symposium years ago sponsored by Friends Committee on National Legislation."
"I believe that supporting those who are Native ambassadors of their people will ultimately contribute to equitable rights for proper healthcare, sovereignty, and federal recognition."
"I want to better the lives of Native Americans and I love your articles. Wish I could give more!"
"First-rate reporting of stories that I don't find reported elsewhere."
"I read your newsletters regularly and appreciate the excellent journalism."
"Your newsletter helps me teach relevant history, perspective, and storytelling in the Boston Public Schools...