ABSTRACT
Most tribal newspapers are divisions of government and editors act as public extensions of tribal councils. Some tribal editors are even charged with a "public relations" role as part of their job description. Only a decade later another editor of the Navajo Times, published as a weekly, had another confrontation with tribal leaders. In March 1997, reporter Marley Shebala sent out an e-mail warning that her editor, Tom Arviso Jr., might soon be fired for writing about the tribal administration. Tribal journalists rallied to support Arviso. He kept his job and went on to win an award from the Native American Journalists Association for his courage. Native American communities have a rich history of discourse—even when the truth expressed makes uncomfortable. It is this heritage that keeps the best Native American journalists going, knowing that they provide tribal members with solid information and discussion. It's a way of working directly for their people, their readers.
