Bad Press

Although it is enshrined in the First Amendment of the US Constitution, freedom of the press is not always guaranteed for indigenous journalists based in the sovereign nations across America. When the Free Press Bill of 2015 was repealed in the Muscogee (Creek) Nation in an effort to regulate the news and reporting, Mvskoke Media lost its independent editorial board, and suddenly editorial decisions were overseen by the secretary of the nation and commerce. Directors Rebecca Landsberry-Baker and Joe Peeler follow fearless Mvskoke Media journalist Angel Ellis, who seeks to expose the news censorship and advocate for free-press protections. A dedicated journalist willing to fight for what’s right, Ellis hones in on investigating instances of fraud and corruption by tribal leadership as the Muscogee Nation’s important chief primary elections are approaching and the newspaper continues to face censorship. (KS) Presented by Paytient