The region’s leading digital newsroom has earned national recognition for its commitment to routinely reporting on Indigenous communities throughout New York State. FingerLakes1.com won three 2021 National Native Media Awards for its coverage of the Haudenosaunee in 2020, which were announced by the Native American Journalists Association on August 4, 2021.
With more than 730 entries received, the annual competition distributed more than 250 awards to honor “the best coverage of Indian Country” across Indigenous and non-Indigenous media outlets and journalists alike within the United States and Canada.
The three entries were selected from the combined Associate I & II categories, all of which were consolidated within the radio-podcast medium.
National News Editor Gabriel Pietrorazio, who recently joined NAJA as an associate member, sought to serve as an ambassador on behalf the digital-exclusive platform — bringing back new tools to enhance FingerLakes1.com‘s coverage of Indigenous peoples and issues. Non-Indigenous journalists like Pietrorazio are solely eligible to compete for the prestigious “Best Coverage of Native America” categories.
His FL1 Daily Debrief program with Bear Clan Sachem Chief Sam George of the Cayuga Nation titled “Traditionalists blindsided by Cayuga Nation lawsuit against federal government,” won the category’s top-prize.
Another FL1 Daily Debrief along with Jason Corwin, the Seneca Media & Communications Center’s executive director, placed second overall on his coverage about how COVID-19 impacted the Seneca Nation’s casinos and reservations.
Pietrorazio’s conversation with Gabriel Galanda, a nationally-ranked Indigenous rights lawyer, in the immediate aftermath of an overnight demolition of Cayuga Nation properties in February 2020, also placed third.
Since then, Pietrorazio has continued telling the stories of the Haudenosaunee far beyond the geographical boundaries of the Finger Lakes.
He’s now frequently writing for national audiences while uplifting Native voices in the process — with in-depth feature and investigative articles appearing online for Civil Eats and Penguin Random House’s TASTE, a digital food magazine.
“The effort put fourth by Gabriel to keep the community informed as these situations evolved showcases a fire that he has for journalism,” said Josh Durso, who oversaw the newsroom as News Director in 2020 and 2021. “Of course, it goes without saying that I’m not surprised, because his work is not only worthy- but the same quality that he’s produced for 2+ years. The difference now is recognition on a larger scale- and reaching an audience well-beyond the local one.”
Speaking to the importance of access to news and information during a pandemic, Durso said that 2020 was a landmark year for a number of reasons. “This recognition is only part of the bigger success over the last 24 months, which has been spent by our newsroom cementing ourselves as the definitive source for local news. Beyond getting excellent written coverage- podcasts like this one, which are free to access for every single user on our platform- provide nuance in a way that newspapers and short radio pieces simply cannot.”
The success of FingerLakes1.com‘s coverage speaks to the overall reach of the platform, which provides constantly updated news and information, as well as in-depth reporting in audio, video, and written word. While a free platform- it’s not one that comes without cost to maintain. To become a monthly supporter of truly local journalism, click here and subscribe on Patreon.
Radio-Podcast – Best Coverage of Native America
First Place
Gabriel Pietrorazio
FingerLakes1.com
DAILY DEBRIEF: Traditionalists blindsided by Cayuga Nation lawsuit against federal government
Second Place
Gabriel Pietrorazio
FingerLakes1.com
DAILY DEBRIEF: Seneca Nation talks pandemic response, economic fallout of casino closures
Third Place
Gabriel Pietrorazio
FingerLakes1.com
INSIDE THE FLX: Nationally recognized Indigenous rights lawyer weighs in on Cayuga Nation conflict
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