Payne Journalism Award to Editor is a "Travesty of Justice"
Presented by Former Akwesasne Notes Editors Tom Cook et.al. & Florida Chapter of the American Indian Movement
Dean
School of Journalism and Communication
University of Oregon
1275 University of Oregon
Eugene, OR 97403-1275
Phone: (541) 346-3738
Fax: (541) 346-0682
Dear Dean Gleason,
A wide spectrum of American Indian people, including many leaders and members of the American Indian Movement (AIM) have signed the statement below:
The recent Payne Journalism Award, granted to Paul Demain, editor of News From Indian Country, at the University of Oregon, is a travesty of justice. It constitutes an insult against both Native peoples and human rights causes and against the nature of Journalism itself. It even entails the appearance or maybe even an actual conflict of interest, among the committee that assigned such an award.
The American Indian Movement challenges the Payne Awards Committee and the University of Oregon School of Journalism to justify and document just what in Mr. Paul Demain's so-called journalistic work on the Leonard Peltier or the Anna Mae Aquash cases recommends your award. Since when does hearsay and innuendo, and hiding behind unnamed sources to slander long-term victims, constitute sound Journalism?
Please Read the Record: Paul Demain's journalistic methods are shameless. There is nothing ethical in what he is doing. He constantly hiding behind so-called unnamed sources. Demain has spun a web of intrigue over American Indian life, in ways that serve no one, but where is the new information, where the documented knowlege that justifies such a recognition? Think, again, University of Oregon School of Journalism, you are endorsing and rewarding a mission that is mediocre, despicable, and devoid of actual production of news.
We wonder too, where is the courage to be found in insulting and slandering a man who has already spent 27 years behind bars and who has paid more than his share for those very intense, confrontational days of the 1970s. Pity on Leonard Peltier--in prison for two lifetimes already--to have a tale spinner like Demain getting famous and winning awards off of his lone suffering. As the New York Times recently found out, journalism with poor or non-existing sources is a serious betrayal of trust.
A third note of wonder about your unfortunate award is the participation of Mr. Mark Trahant in the committee that selected Paul Demain. Mr. Trahant is an owner of the News From Indian Country, the tabloid that prints Mr. Demain's rumours. We wonder how as a business partner of Paul Demain, Mr. Trahant can ethically justify granting his own Editor an award that will bring value to his own business? We wonder even more how Mr. Trahant, as a respected journalist, can justify the shoddy methods of Mr. Demain meriting a Payne Award?
The AIM rank and file across the country condems this award. It is far removed from the reality of the cases at hand and rewards cheap, low quality communications work. At a time when so many good Indian journalists are working hard to provide Native perspectives to elevate a marginal, self aggrandizing character such as Mr. Paul Demain is a serious disservice to Indian Country.
In The Struggle,
(145 Signatures Attached)
American Indian Movement
Florida AIM
Officers and Members,
2./s/ Robert Quiver Jr
3./s/ Andy Mader
4./s/ Tom Poor Bear
5./s/ Webster Poor Bear
6./s/ Russell Blacksmith,
(NCAI Youth Commissioner)
7./s/ Ivis Long Visitor Sr.
8./s/ Rosalyn Jumping Bull
9./s/ Tom Cook,
(Nebr Commission on Indian Affairs)
10./s/ Faye Brown, Minneapolis
11./s/ Bruce Ellison, Rapid City
12./s/ Geraldine Black Elk Clifford
13./s/ Rick Powers, Anishinabe Ojibway
14./s/ Russell Loud Hawk, Oglala
15./s/ Stacy Stanart, Oglala
16./s/ Frank Little Brave
17./s/ Thomas J. Ballanco
18./s/ David C. Frankel
19./s/ John Trudell
20./s/ Clyde Red Shirt
21./s/ Clifford Black Elk
22./s/ Chauncy Lone Elk
23./s/ Vera Good Lance
24./s/ Eldora Kills Small
25./s/ Tim He Crow
26./s/ Ernie & Connie Evans
27./s/ Loracita He Crow
28,/s/ Nathan Black Elk
29./s/ Gerald American Horse
30./s/ Shannon J. Brave
31./s/ Charlie Thunder Hawk
32./s/ ? (illegible)
33./s/ Bobbie Jo Janis
34./s/ Alicia Good Lance
35./s/ Deborah Stewart
36./s/ Arnel Under Baggage
37./s/ Pearl Stewart
38./s/ Jackie Oakie
39./s/ Neil Black Crow
40./s/ Calli Provost
41./s/ Tonya Black Crow
42./s/ Megan Provost
43./s/ Bruce Good Voice Elk
44./s/ Wilma Adams
45./s/ Vanessa Good Voice Elk
46./s/ Devona Good Voice Elk
47./s/ Evangeline Poor Bear
48./s/ Demi Petow---
49./s/ David P. Brings Plenty
50./s/ Starlight Brings Plenty
51./s/ Corrine Brave (Oglala)
52./s/ ? Long Visitor
53./s/ Stanley Good Voice Elk
54./s/ Loren L. Black Elk
56./s/ Ernie Evans Sr.
57./s/ Mike Richards
58./s/ Clinton Yellow Bird
59./s/ Donovan Kills Small
60./s/ Sylvan Stands
61./s/ Paul Picotte
62./s/ Clifton Long
63./s/ Robert Cross
64./s/ Fedelia Cross
65./s/ Ann Cross
66./s/ Thomas K. Dockstader
67./s/ Charles Yellow Bird
68./s/ Lequaw West
69./s/ Alice Two Bulls Young
70./s/ ? illegible
71./s/ Carmelita Long Visitor
72./s/ Arlette J. Featherman
73./s/ Carla M. Jumping Bull
74./s/ Robert Briggs
75./s/ Monte Briggs
76./s/ John P. Stewart
77./s/ Verdell Comes
78./s/ Leola One Feather
79./s/ Edison Richards
80./s/ Earl Tall
81./s/ Lorin R. Janis
(Sanyela Wambli tiospaye)
82./s/ R.H. Herley?
83./s/ Dale Alan
84./s/ LPSG France: Celine Plancha
85./s/ LPSG France: Sophie Geyand
86./s/ LPSG France: Celine Pietras
87./s/ LPSG France/CSIA: Vincent Pharabot
88./s/ Cheryl Hensley
89./s/ Jim Page
90./s/ Catherine A Kennon
91./s/ Linsey Pain
92./s/ Carla Long Visitor
93./s/ Angie White Shield
94./s/ Brooke Brave
95./s/ Misty Two Bulls
96./s/ Derek Yellow Cloud
97./s/ Sioux Dawn Janis
98./s/ Ellen Kills Small
99./s/ Rose Plenty Arrows
100./s/ Ola Featherman
101./s/ Barry Landeros Thomas
102./s/ illegible
103./s/ illegible
104./s/ R? B?
105./s/ A? W?
106./s/ Rachel L Salway
107./s/ Natalie M. Yellowhammer
108./s/ A? illegible
110./s/ ?? Landeros Thomas
111./s/ Fern Poor Thunder
112./s/ Hope Brings Plenty
113./s/ Billy J. Janis
114./s/ Renee C. Mader
115./s/ Russell Flye
116./s/ Curtis Quiver
117./s/ Norman Featherman
118./s/ Suzanne Peterson
119./s/ Virginia Atkinson
120./s/ Benedict Good Buffalo
121./s/ Thyra Williams
122./s/ Timothy W. Larson
123./s/ Charity Afraid of Bear
124./s/ Collette Swallow
125./s/ Y? Cook
126./s/ C? Afraid of Bear
127./s/ Joe American Horse
128./s/ Aloysius J. Weasel Bear
129./s/ Justine M. Begay
130./s/ Aimee S. Begay
131./s/ Loretta Afraid of Bear
132./s/ Anpowin White Plume
133./s/ S. Ramona White Plume
134./s/ Alex White Plume
135./s/ Craig Lee
136./s/ Ruth Fahrbach
137./s/ Misty Sioux Little-Davis
138./s/ Lester Bo J. Davis
139./s/ Dorinda D. Lee
140./s/ V. M?
141./s/ Robert Leads (Pine Ridge)
142./s/ Farrell Red Cloud (Pine Ridge)
143./s/ R. Milo Yellow Hair (WKSD)
144./s/ Dagmar Georgius (Germany)
145./s/ Pietra Birkhold (Germany)
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