Native journalist leaves his mark on startup he built
Mark Trahant, who transformed Indian Country Today into a multimedia news startup for the Indigenous world, will leave ICT in early January to pursue the next chapter in his storied 50-year career in journalism.
Trahant, Shoshone-Bannock, pulled Indian Country Today from deep financial distress and turned it into a nonprofit newsroom in 2018 with support from the National Congress of American Indians, a national nonprofit organization that acquired the news outlet and hired Trahant as editor to manage it. The publication, which got its start in 1981 as the Lakota Times by the late legendary journalist Tim Giago, was acquired in 2021 by IndiJ Public Media, an Arizona-based nonprofit organization that Trahant helped establish.
Trahant started ICT with three employees. The organization grew to more than 30 in 2024 and deepened its coverage of Indigenous communities in the U.S. and internationally. Rebranded as ICT, the news organization publishes its stories on ictnews.org and distributes its weekly newscast across public television stations nationwide and reaches viewers in Canada and Australia. Trahant’s focus has been on delivering quality journalism across multiple platforms while keeping the content free and accessible.
“ICT and IndiJ Public Media would not exist today without Mark’s vision, determination, innovation, journalistic integrity, entrepreneurial spirit, positivity and understanding of Indigenous communities and their issues,” said Karen Lincoln Michel, president and CEO of IndiJ Public Media. “To many, Mark is ICT. His imprint is all over this news organization and we must carry on the standard he set for us, not only as a journalist but as a distinguished leader and an outstanding individual.”
Trahant will continue to contribute to the organization through fundraising and occasional stories and opinion pieces, Michel said. “His presence will continue to be an important part of our organization,” she said.
“With a joyful and appreciative heart, I thank Mark Trahant for his tremendous contributions and service to ICT and IndiJ Public Media,” said Derrick Beetso, chairman of the IndiJ Board of Directors and director of Indian Gaming and Self-Governance at the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University. “As Indigenous people, we are traditionally storytellers and Mark’s indelible imprint on the field of journalism clearly reflects this truth. It has been a pleasure working alongside Mark and his team, first at Indian Country Today and more recently at Indij Public Media. I wish him abundance and happiness in his next chapter.”
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Trahant was editor of ICT until 2022 and became editor-at-large, focusing on specific topics such as economic development and climate change. In 2024, he split his time between news writing and fundraising, earning the title of managing innovator. “It’s hard to put into words how much impact Mark has had on our organization, newsroom, and me. From day one of ICT 3.0 he reminded me to remain aspirational and to have fun in this industry. He’s kept our eyes on the North Star for so long and that brought ICT, the ICT Newscast, and IndiJ Public Media to where they are today. As my mentor, I cannot thank him enough for the kindness, faith, and wisdom he has shown me each day,” said Jourdan Bennett-Begaye, ICT’s executive editor.
In his 50 years as a journalist, Trahant has covered thousands of stories — many of them with impact. The “Fraud in Indian Country” series he co-wrote in 1987 for the Arizona Republic was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize, regarded as the highest honor in journalism. The piece exposed failures in federal policies related to tribes and resulted in the formation of a special Senate committee to investigate issues raised in the series.
Ebonye Delaney, ICT’s executive producer stated, “I am truly inspired by the passion that Mark Trahant brings to his coverage of Indian Country, to his leadership and vision of ICT, and to his commitment to truth. Mark leaves a hole that can never be filled, and a legacy that any journalist of any background, especially Indigenous, longs to aspire to. He has had a career that we all hope to have in journalism, and I am just so honored to have been given an opportunity to learn from him.”
In addition to his experience as a reporter, editor, columnist and publisher, Trahant has been a journalism professor and has led and served on numerous boards and panels. He has shared his knowledge with the ICT reporting staff and created an atmosphere of coaching and mentoring of the next generation of Indigenous journalists.
“It’s been so much fun and my honor to be a part of ICT and its rebirth. I am proud of all of the work that you all have all done, ranging from a brilliant daily news report on ICT and the creation of the ICT Newscast,” Trahant said. “This is a company and a news enterprise that truly values public service. I thank you all for the privilege of working with you — I am awed by the talent of those building IndiJ Public Media. “
Further reading: Blink and it’s 50 years
