OKMULGEE, Okla. – Another Oklahoma tribe is giving its media professionals more room to operate without interference or prior restraint.

Adopted earlier this month by its legislature by a 14-0 margin, the Muscogee (Creek) Nation’s Independent Press Act moves the tribe’s media department, Mvskoke Media, out of the executive branch and places it on par with the tax commission and other independent statutory agencies.

Under the law, despite providing the bulk of its through appropriations, the Muscogee (Creek) government will be explicitly prohibited from influencing the Mvskoke Media staff in their professional capacities.

The department includes the tribe’s newspaper, a weekly television show aired by a Tulsa broadcast channel, a weekly radio show on an Okmulgee AM station and a graphic design and printing division.

The law also calls for the creation of a three-person editorial board to oversee the tribe’s media department.

All three board members are subject to confirmation, with one nominee each from the executive branch, legislative branch and Mvskoke Media. Of the three board members, one must have a background in tribal law and at least one must have journalism experience. The third seat may go to someone with a background in journalism, graphic design or printing. Muscogee (Creek) Nation citizens must occupy at least two of the three positions.

The two Oklahoma tribes with an Independent Press Act already on the books, the Cherokee and Osage nations, also use editorial boards.

The Cherokee Phoenix’s editorial board has five members and under the terms of its Independent Press Act, at least three must have experience in publication management. Of the five seats, Cherokee Nation citizens must occupy at least four. The fifth member, selected by the rest of the editorial board and subject to confirmation by the Tribal Council, must be a citizen of a federally-recognized tribe.

Under the Osage Nation’s Independent Press Act, at least two of its three editorial board members must be Osage and at least five years of professional journalism experience.

Rebecca Landsberry, a Muscogee (Creek) Nation citizen and the interim executive director of the Native American Journalists Association, worked with members of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation National Council on drafting the legislation. The organization offers technical support for journalists and tribal governments considering enacting sunshine laws, including template legislation, a legal hotline and legal resource room.

“If you look at the big picture and see how it’s going to do great things long term, it’s going to provide an independent voice that journalism is supposed to provide in any good democracy,” Landsberry said. “It’s just enabling us to tell our own stories without that interference.”

However, when that statutory lack of interference kicks in is still undetermined. As per the legislation, the editorial board must be in place by Jan. 1, 2016. Sterling Cosper, the editor of the Muscogee Nation News, said he and his staff are still trying to determine what, if any impact, the new law will have on their operations until the editorial board members are confirmed and able to start enacting policies. 

“It’s really profound,” he said. “We made history today, but we’re still trying to figure out what this means for us.”