Renfro, P. (2005). Building bridges between nations: The first fifteen years of the natvie american journalists association. Ethnic Media in America Taking Control (pp. 3-24). Iowa: Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company.

Paula Cozort Renfro is an associate professor of Mass Communication at Southwest Texas State University, San Marcos. Renfro earned a B.A. and M.A. from Baylor University and a PhD from The University of Texas at Austin.

"Building bridges between nations: The first fifiteen years of the Native American Journalists Association" is an article by Paula Cozort Renfro. The article is provided in chapter one of the book Ethnic Media in America Taking Control edited by Guy T. Meiss and Alice A. Tait.

In this article Renfro (2005) provides a detailed timeline of the history of the Native American Journalism Association (NAJA). The NAJA was first known as the Native American Press Association. Renfro covers the challenges and obsticles that the NAJA faced within its first 15 years. A few of the major conflicts that Renfro discusses are as follows: What should be the focus of the NAJAconventions, publishers or publishing; The improvement of advertising in papers; and the support of Native journalists entering mainstream press.

One of the biggest conflects that the author disscusses occured within NAPA and its president Tim Giago, editor of Lakota Times. Giago consistently argued that Native papers should inprove their advertising and become more independent like the Lakota Tims. He also criticized Native journalists who worked for mainstream papers, even though the NAJA gladly recognized the efforts of openminded mainstream editors.

The author comments in the manner the organization brought reporters together by checking censorship and other editorial decisions. According to Renfro (2005) the organization worked toward these efforts by educating not only news management, reporters and future reporters, but the public as well. Renfro (2005) states that the most effective way the NAJA could get their message out into the minds of journalists and young journalists was through education.

Throughout the article the author also discusses how censorship affected the Native American Press. Renfro (2005)  points out that the press is censored by tribal leaders, and if the editors and journalist acts against that censorship they face the risk of ridicule and threats. NAJA attempted to deal with this issue by meeting with tribal leaders and continuing the fight for Free Speech rights.

The author believed that even the sole existence of the NAJA is an accomplishment for Native American press. NAJA has been able to create a model has assisted the Native American reporter. This model gives direction in how they can change the amount control by Native American leaders and the way they can have an influence on mainstream press.

This article provides the reader with details on what has occurred in Native American press inorder to continue to exist. It is useful in that it provides rare information regarding the NAJA and Native American press. It was written in a manner that shows the reader the changes that happened with the journalist, their conflicts and the positive contribution and influence by the NAJA. Overall, this article would be useful when studying any type of ethnic media and the struggles that ethnic news outlets encounter in mainstream news or within their own community. I would recommend this reading when looking for information about Native press, because it is provided in chronological order making the situations easier to study and understand. (Reviewd by Erika Gutierrez)