Katie Oyan, a member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe, has been named chief executive officer of IndiJ Public Media, the largest news organization serving Indigenous communities in the United States. The 20-year veteran of The Associated Press starts her new role on June 23.
Oyan, who will also serve as president and chief editorial officer, brings more than two decades of editorial leadership and national experience to the position. She not only returns to her former news organization with this move, but she also steps into the executive role at a time when public service journalism is facing economic and political pressures.
“I am humbled and honored to be returning to this storied institution, which has its roots in my homeland of South Dakota and has served as a connective tissue to so many Indigenous people in so many places over the years,” said Oyan, who is AP’s outgoing deputy director of local news success, based in Phoenix, and is a former managing editor of ICT, the news brand owned by IndiJ Public Media. “I look forward to the vitally important stories we will tell and the communities we will serve in the months and years ahead.”
During her time at AP, Oyan became one of the highest-ranking Native American leaders, where she led initiatives that expanded newsroom collaborations, strengthened local coverage, and promoted inclusive reporting. Oyan also served as West desk editor of the AP and has worked as a reporter and editor in California, Montana, and Colorado, consistently focusing on accuracy, mentorship, and representation. She also has a journalism degree from the University of Montana.
In 2020, she was on staff of Indian Country Today (now ICT) through a partnership with the AP. During her time as managing editor, she led efforts to deliver timely, trusted information to Native communities during the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2020 presidential election. The initiative produced award-winning coverage and helped elevate Indigenous perspectives across mainstream media.
Following an extensive national search, Oyan will succeed Karen Lincoln Michel, Ho-Chunk, who is stepping down as CEO.
“Katie is an innovative leader who understands the Indigenous communities we serve through our journalism and I am confident she will take IndiJ Public Media and ICT to new heights,” said Michel, who has led the organization since 2020. “When I started a succession plan more than two years ago, I had hoped to hand the torch to an emerging leader with strong Indigenous values. My hope has been realized, and I am thrilled for Katie.”
As CEO, Oyan will guide the next chapter of IndiJ Public Media and its flagship brand, ICT. Her leadership will advance the organization’s mission to provide trusted, independent news that continues to reflect and serve Indigenous communities.
“This is a critical moment for Indian Country and Katie is ideally suited to meet the challenge. She is passionate about ICT and journalism and understands the importance of a strong business model based on public service,” said IndiJ Public Media’s board chair Mark Trahant. “I look forward to working with her to build on our news organization’s remarkable legacy.”
About IndiJ Public Media:
IndiJ Public Media is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to honoring our ancestors and future generations through stories that bring Indigenous peoples to life. Founded to strengthen and sustain independent Indigenous media, IndiJ Public Media supports journalism that informs, educates, and uplifts Native communities across the country. IndiJ Public Media is funded by members, donors, foundations, and philanthropic partners who support Native-led storytelling.
About ICT:
ICT (formerly Indian Country Today) is the flagship news organization of IndiJ Public Media. Headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, with bureaus in Alaska, Montana, Oregon, and Washington, D.C., ICT produces digital and broadcast news coverage from an Indigenous perspective. ICT reaches national and international audiences through award-winning journalism focused on Indigenous peoples, cultures, and issues.