"the People's Paths!" Cherokee News Path - New Cherokee Phoenix Editor Named

TAHLEQUAH, OKLAHOMA – The Cherokee Nation recently named Bryan Pollard as the new editor of the Cherokee Phoenix, becoming the second editor to serve the Cherokee people under the Cherokee Independent Press Act of 2000.

Pollard has served as assistant editor for the past two years and succeeds Dan Agent, who will serve as an associate editor during the transition.

“I’m excited and grateful for the opportunity to serve our Cherokee communities and people as editor,” Pollard said. “The Phoenix has a long and important history in Cherokee society and I look forward to expanding our ability to inform our readers in more dynamic and interactive ways. My priorities are to launch a new Web site, refine and expand the newspaper, and integrate the use of more Cherokee language in our products. We have a very talented and dedicated staff, and we will continue to publish a product to make Cherokees proud.”

The selection was made by the Cherokee Phoenix Editorial Advisory Board which includes George Benge, Gannett news executive and columnist, based in Arlington, Va.; John Shurr, Associated Press bureau chief in Columbia, S.C., and Gerald Wofford, media specialist with Creek Nation Communications in Okmulgee, Okla. All are Cherokee.

“As a Cherokee and a member of the Phoenix editorial board, I’m delighted we’ll have Bryan Pollard as the new editor of the Phoenix,” Shurr said. “He has a solid track record as a fair, unbiased newsman and that will be reflected in the newspaper’s news coverage. He’s also very fortunate to have a fine staff working with him. The Cherokee people will be the winners from his selection and the talents of his news team.

“We’ll miss Editor Dan Agent, who saw the newspaper through many important changes in recent years, but he’ll still be available as associate editor to help Bryan and his staff with the transition.”

Since the implementation of the Independent Press Act in 2000, the Phoenix has won 45 media awards at the annual Native American Journalists Association conference, including 13 first place (two in the General Excellence category), 18 second place, six third place and eight honorable mentions.

“Bryan, along with the other members of the staff, has been very instrumental in refining a publication that has won 45 awards in five years from NAJA,” Agent said. “Having worked with Bryan for nearly four years now, I’ve seen him display a number of impressive skills required for the position of editor, but the foundation of those skills is his commitment to serve the Cherokee people with the best newspaper possible. I am confident that he and the staff will continue the progress that has been achieved since the free press act was passed and move the Phoenix toward excellence in print and online.”

Pollard joined the Phoenix staff as photo and graphics coordinator in February 2003 and became assistant editor in 2005. Since joining the Phoenix staff, he initiated an award-winning school newspaper at Sequoyah High School and has been elected to the board of directors of the Native American Journalists Association.

Prior to joining the Phoenix, Pollard was a co-founder and managing editor of street roots, a newspaper that covered poverty-related issues in Portland, Ore. During his tenure, the publication grew from an initial circulation of 2,000 to more than 16,000 from 1998 to 2003.

Born in Stillwater, Pollard was raised in New Orleans and attended Louisiana State University, earning a bachelor of arts in anthropology in 1994. Following graduation from LSU, he moved to Portland where he worked as a freelance photographer before establishing street roots. He is currently working toward a master’s in communications at Northeastern State University in Tahlequah.