NEWS RELEASE
For more information, contact: Jason Begay, ICT National Editor, (505) 726-4175; jason@ictnews.org
ICT partners with Montana Free Press to increase reporting on Indigenous caucus in the Montana Legislature
ICT, formerly Indian Country Today, will share a reporter with Montana Free Press in Helena, Montana, in a partnership designed to increase the coverage of the state Legislature’s Indigenous caucus.
Montana Free Press and ICT have hired JoVonne Wagner, Blackfeet, for the inaugural shared fellowship between the news organizations.
Wagner, who is from Browning, Montana, graduated from the University of Montana School of Journalism in December. Previously, she has worked for Buffalo’s Fire, a nonprofit news organization based on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation in western North Dakota.
Wagner will primarily cover the Montana American Indian Caucus for both Montana Free Press and ICT. The news outlets will work together to provide Wagner with mentorship and training to guide and develop her reporting skills.
This partnership between ICT and MTFP will expand the reach of both news outlets with better coverage of lawmakers who represent a significant population in the state. There are 12 tribes living on, and off, seven reservations in Montana. At 6.6 percent, Natives are the largest minority population in the state. The Montana Legislature has 11 Native American members, making up 7.3 percent of the lawmaking body.
“Montana’s Legislature has the highest Indigenous representation among all state Legislatures and paves the paths for policies that other states follow, such as Indian Education For All,” said ICT Editor Jourdan Bennett-Begaye, Diné. “With that in mind, I’m thrilled to be partnering with Montana Free Press and to have JoVonne be part of it.”
“We’re thrilled about the opportunity to collaborate with ICT,” said MTFP Editor Brad Tyer. “I think our team of five reporters covering the statehouse has a lot to offer an up-and-coming political reporter, and the Legislature’s Indigenous caucus is a critical coverage beat our readers are eager to be informed about. We’re looking forward to welcoming JoVonne to the newsroom and benefiting from her proven skills.”
This collaboration is funded by the Headwaters Foundation, which works side-by-side with Western Montanans to improve the health of Montana’s communities.
Brenda Solorzano, Chief Executive Officer of the Headwaters Foundation, said “As part of our commitment to equity and collaboration, Headwaters Foundation is proud to support community partnerships that increase Native representation and coverage of the policy decisions affecting the health and sovereignty of Native Montanans.”
For more information on Headwaters Foundation’s funding areas, approach, and partners, visit headwatersmt.org.
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ABOUT ICT
ICT, formerly Indian Country Today, is owned by IndiJ Public Media, an independent nonprofit,
multimedia news organization with headquarters in Phoenix, Arizona, and bureaus in Alaska and Washington, D.C. ICT covers the Indigenous world, including American Indians and Alaska Natives through a digital news site and a weekday newscast with international viewership. IndiJ Public Media is a 501 (c)(3) public charity that sustains itself with funding from members, donors, foundations, and supporters worldwide.
ABOUT Montana Free Press
Montana Free Press is an independent, 501(c)(3) nonprofit source for Montana news, information, and analysis based in Helena, Montana. MTFP’s mission is to produce in-depth public-service journalism that creates positive change and helps move society toward justice and equity. We work independently and in collaboration with other news outlets to produce meaningful news stories that have an impact on the lives and livelihoods of local communities.
