Moreover, her audiences send her about a dozen video tapes of raw footage each month. She then digs for leads and story lines, and narrates short, human-interest pieces, giving the audience some control in the making of their own story. The Native Alaskans, formerly unhappy with coverage by TV network affiliates, now feel they can do something about how their lives are covered. Here we are with no apologies. This is who we are.
Fife also thinks big, and globally.
There he tried to get an international audience for Native issues, yet sees far more success with Heartbeat and One Sky. Created in 1991, IBC responded to 25 tribal radio stations' concern about deficiency in training. The IBC provides classes and seminars in Anchorage and on-site at tribal stations, with two full time staff, several freelance teachers and an annual budget of 3180.000. Training targets both professional journalist and also youth in a program that offers instruction in radio and video production as well as print and photo journalism. IBC's current goal also is to produce more Native managers at tribal stations.