9^th Native American Journalism Career
Conference scheduled for April 22-24

Between 100 and 125 students are expected for the 9th annual Native American Journalism Career Conference at Crazy Horse Memorial April 22-24, 2008.

Even though registration closed March 31, experience has shown that attendance numbers "can change dramatically in the next three weeks," conference coordinator Jack Marsh said.

Lodging, meals and conference participation are free to students and their teachers. Some travel assistance is available.

This is the country’s largest conference of its kind, attracting nearly 900 high school and college students, mostly from the upper Midwest and West.

 The 2007 conference attracted more than 160 students, a record.

“This conference introduces and promotes journalism as a career path for Native American youth who otherwise might not consider it,” said Marsh, Freedom Forum vice president and one of the conference founders. “Native Americans are the most underrepresented group in America’s newsrooms. Quality news organizations that value a diverse workforce are eager to hire Native American journalists … When the diversity of a newsroom reflects the diversity of the community it serves, the news coverage is fairer and richer.”

Experienced journalists, many of them Native American, mentor the students on basic journalism writing, photography and multimedia projects. Activities in the Crazy Horse visitor center start with the April 22 evening program featuring South Dakota native Al Neuharth, founder of the USA TODAY national newspaper and the Freedom Forum.

The conference is funded by Freedom Forum and co-sponsored by the Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation, the South Dakota Newspaper Association, the Native American Journalists Association and the journalism programs at South Dakota State University and the University of South Dakota.