Moore’s career in Indigenous journalism to be honored during IJA Membership Meeting July 26
NORMAN, Okla. — The Indigenous Journalists Association (IJA) has selected Nellie Moore (Iñupiaq) as the recipient of the 2024 IJA-Medill Milestone Achievement Award.
The award honors IJA’s mission and the exemplary people who have led the way with outstanding work and contributions to the field of journalism. The award recognizes important contributions made by journalists in the past, as well as encourages the new generation of Indigenous journalists to achieve career excellence.
Moore transitioned to the spirit world on Feb. 10, 2024, but her legacy is still with the IJA community.
“Nellie Moore was a legendary journalist and mentor for Alaska and beyond during her career,” said Shyanne Beatty (Hän Hwëch’in Athabascan) a former board member of the Indigenous Journalists Association. “As one of the only working journalists during her Alaska career, she understood the urgency of ensuring that newsrooms across the state were equipped with reporters from the diverse Indigenous population of Alaska. Nellie inspired me and so many others to uphold journalistic ethics, while ensuring Natives were included in policy or decisions that impacted their community or way of life.”
“Nellie was instrumental in bringing Native voices to the airwaves nationally, as the host and producer of National Native News, a five-minute news program,” Beatty said. “She created a strong foundation for Alaska public radio newsrooms, connecting print to Native radio stations throughout the state where 27 radio stations cover five major cultural regions, with 21 distinct dialects of language.”
“Nellie’s dedication and experience in the field has opened doors for the next generation of journalists,” said Medill Dean Charles Whitaker. “Although she is no longer with us, her contributions continue to make a difference. Medill is dedicated to highlighting the work of Native journalists and is proud to partner with IJA on this award.”
Moore, also known by her Inupiaq name, Iriqtaq, was originally from Kotzebue. She was the daughter of Ada and Ed Ward Sr., and the third of four siblings. Her prolific career began when her father encouraged her passion for reading, writing and getting involved in her community.
He then connected Nellie, at the age of 19, with professional writer Jane Pender, who became a lifelong mentor and friend. From this experience, Moore started a local newspaper and in 1973 she served, initially, as a reporter and then as station manager for Kotzebue’s KOTZ Radio. During her tenure, she covered public affairs, local news and some of the first Inupiat programming from the area.
In 1983, Nellie joined the Northwest Arctic TV Center and produced video programs to preserve Inupiat knowledge, such as traditional healing practices, subsistence skills and profiles of Inupiat leaders. Copies of these programs are in museum collections in New Zealand, Canada, Norway, and Alaska. Educating and advocating for young Alaskans was a cornerstone of Nellie’s work.
In 1986, she co-produced six TV segments for Sesame Street, accurately depicting the Inupiat people from Kotzebue and Noatak. Nellie hosted and produced a five-part series on the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act that is still used to educate high school and university students. Nellie’s dedication to journalism and her community garnered her numerous accolades.
She received The Alaska Press Club’s Public Service Award in 1984 and 1986; The Native American Journalists Association’s Wassaja Award in 2001; and the University of Oregon’s Ancil Payne Award for Ethics in Journalism in 2001.
Nellie was best known for her nationwide coverage of Native American and Alaska Native news throughout her career, including co-founding award-winning Independent Native News with her husband, Greg. However, Nellie considered her greatest achievement to be the mentorship of dozens of young Alaska Native journalists.
Throughout her 44-year journalism career, Nellie worked to inform, empower and connect others. She was not afraid to leave her mark on the world, which was epitomized in her traditional radio and television signoff: “I’m Nellie Moore.”
Nellie was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother who loved and supported her children and grandchildren. She also enjoyed sewing and gardening, specifically growing fireweed, African violets, bluebells and begonias. Nellie is survived by her siblings, Ed Ward Jr., and Lenora Ward; husband, Greg Moore; children, David Moore and Elizabeth Cravalho; and grandchildren, Blair, Dylan and Alika.
Obituary was provided by Anchorage Daily News.
Moore will be recognized during the IJA Membership Meeting on Friday, July 26 as part of the 2024 Indigenous Media Conference at the Omni Hotel in downtown Oklahoma City.
