Indian Country Today

Indian Country Today is a nonprofit, Indigenous-focused multimedia news organization based in Phoenix, Arizona. Its reporting serves American Indian, Alaska Native and First Nations communities, while also reaching readers interested in Indigenous politics, sovereignty, culture, law, public health, the environment, education and social affairs. The organization publishes digital journalism through ICTNews.org and has also operated print, newsletter, video and broadcast products. The publication began in 1981 as the Lakota Times, a weekly newspaper founded by Oglala Lakota journalist Tim Giago on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. It was designed to operate independently of tribal government and to provide reporting from an Indigenous perspective. In 1989 its offices moved to Rapid City, South Dakota, and in 1992 Giago changed the name to Indian Country Today, a title intended to describe a broader national and intertribal editorial mission. In 1998, Giago sold the publication to Standing Stone Media, an enterprise of the Oneida Indian Nation of New York. Ownership brought the newspaper into a larger institutional setting and eventually moved its headquarters to Central New York. Operations later shifted to New York City in 2011, when the organization used the name Indian Country Today Media Network. The printed newspaper ended in 2013, after which the operation became primarily digital, although a weekly news magazine continued to be available online and in print for a period. The organization faced a major transition in 2017. New content was temporarily suspended in September while alternative operating models were considered. In October, the Oneida Indian Nation donated the publication to the National Congress of American Indians. Indian Country Today returned to regular publication in February 2018 under editor Mark Trahant, with Vincent Schilling as associate editor. The relaunch placed renewed emphasis on Native writers, editors and correspondents and rebuilt the organization as a national digital news service. In 2019, the headquarters moved to the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University in Phoenix. The organization also developed a Washington, D.C., bureau and an Alaska bureau at Alaska Pacific University in Anchorage. These locations supported national political reporting and broader coverage of Indigenous communities across the country. A 2020 grant of $1 million from the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians helped support the organization and its national broadcast ambitions. Indian Country Today expanded into video and television during this period. It began posting a Video News Report on YouTube in 2018 and collaborated with First Nations Experience and Native Voice One on national election coverage that year. In 2020 it launched the half-hour ICT Newscast, produced at Arizona State University and carried by PBS stations through Arizona PBS. The program extended the brand beyond written journalism into television news and streaming video. On March 26, 2021, ownership transferred from the National Congress of American Indians to IndiJ Public Media, an Arizona 501(c)(3) organization led by Karen Michel. Jourdan Bennett-Begaye became executive editor in January 2022, succeeding Mark Trahant. On June 23, 2022, the publication adopted the shorter name ICT. Despite the rebranding, its editorial purpose remained focused on independent, community-centered journalism about Indigenous peoples and issues. The organization is known for reporting on tribal sovereignty, the Indian Child Welfare Act, Native American representation and mascots, federal policy, energy and land disputes, environmental threats, elections and Indigenous cultural life. Notable coverage has included the Baby Veronica custody case, the Dakota Access Pipeline protests, the proposed transfer of sacred Apache land associated with Resolution Copper, and national debates over the Washington NFL team's former name. Its editorial and reporting work has received recognition from the Native American Journalists Association.

Indian Country Today was founded in 1981 by Oglala Lakota journalist Tim Giago as the Lakota Times, a weekly newspaper published on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. The publication operated independently of tribal government and sought to provide journalism by and for Indigenous communities. Its offices moved to Rapid City, South Dakota, in 1989. Giago renamed it Indian Country Today in 1992 as its editorial ambitions expanded beyond a single reservation and toward national coverage. In 1998, Giago sold the newspaper to Standing Stone Media, an enterprise of the Oneida Indian Nation of New York. The change placed the publication under institutional ownership and led to a move to Central New York. Operations moved again in 2011, this time to New York City, and the title became Indian Country Today Media Network. In 2013, the printed newspaper ceased regular publication. The organization shifted toward digital-first reporting, with an online news operation and a weekly news magazine offered in digital and print formats. A significant period of uncertainty began in September 2017, when the organization suspended new content while exploring alternative business models. The Oneida Indian Nation donated the publication to the National Congress of American Indians in October of that year. After a transfer-of-ownership hiatus, the news operation announced its return on February 28, 2018. Mark Trahant served as editor and Vincent Schilling as associate editor. The relaunch gradually expanded its staff and gave particular attention to Native writers and editors. Indian Country Today broadened its presence in 2018 and 2019 through video, election coverage and academic partnerships. It began publishing a Video News Report on YouTube in July 2018. In November of that year, it worked with First Nations Experience and Native Voice One on a national broadcast and streaming project focused on Native candidates in the United States election. In July 2019, its headquarters moved to the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University in Phoenix. By the end of 2019 it also had a Washington, D.C., bureau and an Alaska bureau at Alaska Pacific University in Anchorage. In February 2020, the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians awarded ICT a $1 million grant and became a founding partner in a proposed national news broadcast about American Indian and Alaska Native issues. That March, Katie Oyan became the organization's first managing editor. After Oyan returned to the Associated Press in February 2021, Jourdan Bennett-Begaye succeeded her in the editorial leadership structure. ICT Newscast launched in March 2020 as a 30-minute program produced at Arizona State University and later carried by PBS stations through Arizona PBS. On March 26, 2021, ownership passed from the National Congress of American Indians to IndiJ Public Media, an Arizona 501(c)(3) organization led by Karen Michel. Jourdan Bennett-Begaye became executive editor in January 2022, succeeding Mark Trahant. On June 23, 2022, the publication was renamed ICT. Its journalism continues to address Indigenous governance, federal policy, law, cultural representation, environmental protection, land and resource conflicts, elections and community life. The publication's reporting record includes extensive coverage of the Baby Veronica custody case and the Indian Child Welfare Act, Native American sports mascots, the former Washington NFL team name, the Dakota Access Pipeline protests and the proposed transfer of sacred Apache land connected to Resolution Copper. Its journalism has received multiple Native American Journalists Association awards, including recognition for digital publication and general excellence.

• 2022

  Brand is renamed ICT

  [1]Indian Country Todayen.wikipedia.org

  Indian Country Today adopts the shorter ICT name.

• 2021

  IndiJ Public Media becomes owner

  [1]Indian Country Todayen.wikipedia.org

  Ownership transfers from NCAI to an Arizona nonprofit media organization.

• 2020

  ICT Newscast begins broadcasting

  [1]Indian Country Todayen.wikipedia.org

  The organization launches a half-hour television news program focused on Indigenous affairs.

• 2019

  Headquarters move to Arizona State University

  [1]Indian Country Todayen.wikipedia.org

  The organization establishes its main newsroom at the Walter Cronkite School in Phoenix.

• 2018

  News operation relaunches

  [1]Indian Country Todayen.wikipedia.org

  Indian Country Today resumes regular publication under editor Mark Trahant.

• 2017

  Publication is donated to NCAI

  [1]Indian Country Todayen.wikipedia.org

  After a temporary content suspension, the Oneida Indian Nation transfers the publication to the National Congress of American Indians.

• 2013

  Print newspaper publication ends

  [1]Indian Country Todayen.wikipedia.org

  The organization shifts to a digital-first news model, with a weekly magazine continuing in online and print forms for a period.

• 1998

  Standing Stone Media acquires the publication

  [1]Indian Country Todayen.wikipedia.org

  Tim Giago sells the newspaper to an enterprise of the Oneida Indian Nation of New York.

• 1992

  Publication is renamed Indian Country Today

  [1]Indian Country Todayen.wikipedia.org

  The Lakota Times adopts a broader national title.

• 1989

  Offices move to Rapid City

  [1]Indian Country Todayen.wikipedia.org

  The newspaper relocates its offices from Pine Ridge to Rapid City, South Dakota.

• 1981

  Lakota Times is founded

  [1]Indian Country Todayen.wikipedia.org

  Tim Giago establishes the weekly newspaper on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota.

Independent, nonprofit and Indigenous-centered journalism for Native communities and the wider public, with an emphasis on reporting that reflects Indigenous perspectives and community priorities.

• Digital news platform

  ICTNews.org

  The organization's primary website publishes original reporting, analysis, commentary and features about Indigenous communities and public affairs. Coverage includes tribal sovereignty, federal policy, courts, elections, environmental issues, culture, health, education and community news, with particular attention to American Indian and Alaska Native subjects.

• Television and streaming news program · 2020

  ICT Newscast

  A 30-minute news program created to bring Indigenous affairs and Native community reporting to television and streaming audiences. It is produced at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University and is carried by PBS stations through Arizona PBS.

• Online video news · 2018

  Video News Report

  A digital video news format introduced on YouTube, extending the publication's written reporting into broadcast-style online coverage. The early reports were hosted by associate editor Vincent Schilling.

• Digital and print magazine · 2013

  Weekly news magazine

  After the end of the regular printed newspaper, the organization maintained a weekly news magazine available online and in print for a period. It provided a packaged version of the publication's reporting and commentary.

• 2018National Native candidates election broadcast

  United States

  ICT collaborated with First Nations Experience and Native Voice One on a national broadcast and streaming project covering Native American candidates from across the country.

  Outcome. An 18-correspondent team reported from locations including Alaska and Hawaii, expanding ICT's election journalism beyond text.

  Source
• 2016Dakota Access Pipeline coverage

  United States · International digital audience

  ICT devoted sustained reporting to the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe's opposition to the Dakota Access Pipeline, including disputes over water protection, cultural resources, consultation and federal environmental review. In October 2016 it produced a single-subject, event-driven edition focused on the project and the protests.

  Outcome. The coverage documented a nationally and internationally visible Indigenous-led protest movement and the federal government's temporary intervention in construction.

  Source
• 2014Stop Apache Land Grab reporting and petition coverage

  United States

  The publication reported on a provision in the National Defense Authorization Act involving the proposed transfer of sacred land associated with the San Carlos Apache Reservation to Resolution Copper, a Rio Tinto and BHP joint venture. Its coverage included the public petition campaign directed to President Barack Obama.

  Outcome. The petition received more than 104,000 signatures and prompted an official White House response.

  Source

• 2022

  Shortened brand name to ICTStrategy

  Background

  The publication had developed into a multimedia organization rather than a conventional newspaper.

  Action taken

  Indian Country Today was renamed ICT on June 23.

  Aftermath

  The shorter name aligned the brand with its digital, video and broadcast operations.

  Source

• 2021

  Transfer to IndiJ Public MediaM&A

  Background

  Following its period under the National Congress of American Indians, the publication moved to a new nonprofit owner.

  Action taken

  On March 26, ownership was transferred to IndiJ Public Media, an Arizona 501(c)(3) organization.

  Aftermath

  The organization continued operating as an independent nonprofit news platform and later adopted the ICT name.

  Source

• 2018

  Expansion into video newsProduct launch

  Background

  The relaunched organization sought to broaden its reach beyond written digital journalism.

  Action taken

  ICT began publishing a Video News Report on YouTube and later developed national broadcast partnerships.

  Aftermath

  The move established a continuing multimedia direction that led to ICT Newscast.

  Source

• 2017

  Temporary publication suspensionStrategy

  Background

  Indian Country Today paused new content while its owners considered alternative business models.

  Action taken

  The organization suspended publication in September and subsequently transferred ownership to the National Congress of American Indians.

  Aftermath

  The news operation returned in February 2018 with a rebuilt editorial team and renewed nonprofit-oriented mission.

  Source

• 2013

  Shift from a printed newspaper to digital-first publishingStrategy

  Background

  The organization faced changes in the news industry and discontinued regular publication of its printed newspaper.

  Action taken

  It replaced the newspaper with digital-first reporting and continued a weekly magazine in online and print formats for a period.

  Aftermath

  The brand became primarily an online news organization and later expanded into video and television.

  Source

1. 1Indian Country Todayen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Indian Country Today official websiteictnews.org