The Californer - The Imprint Joins Associated Press Global Indigenous Journalism Network

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LOS ANGELES - Californer -- The Imprint, the nation's leading news outlet covering child welfare and youth justice, has joined the Global Indigenous Journalism Network at The Associated Press and will contribute coverage of Indigenous children and families to its members.

The network, launched in February, is a collaboration of outlets that aim to lift and center Indigenous voices through insightful, multiformat and digital-friendly storytelling. The Associated Press supports the network by facilitating and enhancing coverage of breaking and investigative news within Indigenous communities and sharing opportunities for training and mentorship among the partners. Funding is provided by charitable contributions to the AP Fund for Journalism, a 501(c)3 established to support local news.

"The Imprint is exactly the type of outlet we want in the network," Bryan Pollard (Cherokee Nation), a senior manager at APFJ and co-director of the network, said. "Their dedication to covering issues that are so critical to the health and wellbeing of our communities, and doing it with authenticity through a Native reporter - we couldn't ask for a better partner."

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Since 2022, The Imprint has covered Indigenous children and families with a full-time beat reporter, Nancy Marie Spears of the Cherokee Nation. Spears has produced more than 100 articles, including in-depth enterprise projects and breaking news covering an array of topics. Her stories have focused on the Indigenization of child welfare systems, legal battles over the Indian Child Welfare Act and the multi-generational impacts of forced adoptions and Indian boarding schools.

The Imprint's collaboration with the Global Indigenous Journalism Network began with the May 5 National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous People, with reporters attending events in Colorado, Minnesota, Oklahoma and Wisconsin. Nancy contributed live coverage and photographs of a prayer walk in Colorado Springs which was shared and republished by numerous partners in AP's extensive network.

"We are grateful to The Associated Press and its partners for the opportunity to join the new global network, and to help strengthen the power and reach of Indigenous journalists," said Karen de Sá, The Imprint's executive director. "The work being produced by these reporters, writers and editors cannot be found in most media outlets — and is needed now more than ever."

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About The Imprint

The Imprint is a daily news outlet dedicated to covering the child welfare and youth justice systems.

About Fostering Media Connections

Fostering Media Connections (FMC) is a nonprofit news organization that publishes media and journalism to lead the conversation about children, youth and families in the US. FMC publishes The Imprint and Fostering Families Today, and operates the SafeCamp Audio podcast network as well as a youth journalism training program called Youth Voices Rising. Learn more at fosteringmediaconnections.org.