By Lani Hansen, Senior Reporter
OKMULGEE, Oklahoma- The Mvskoke Media’s Editorial Board selection has now been completed with all three members being chosen.
Those being placed onto the Mvskoke Media board are Principal Chief David Hill’s pick of Rebecca Landsberry; MCN National Council pick of Spencer Torbett; and the third member Travis Snell was chosen by Landsberry and Torbett combined.
Snell is a Cherokee citizen, who grew up in Delaware County in Kansas, OK where he graduated high school. He attended Oklahoma City University receiving his bachelor’s degree in Mass Communications, with an emphasis in print.
“I worked at the Grove Sun Daily in Northern Delaware County after I graduated for about six months,” Snell said. “Then I was transferred to its weekly paper, Delaware County Journal for about four or five months before joining the Cherokee Phoenix.”
Snell joined the Cherokee Phoenix in November 2000, when he started out as a staff writer. According to Cherokee Phoenix website, he won numerous awards from the Native American Journalists Association and the Richard LaCourse Award in 2003 for best investigative story. Now Snell is the assistant editor for the Cherokee Phoenix.
Snell was selected by Landsberry and Torbett and he will serve one-year on the board. Snell previously served on the Editorial Board before it was eliminated under the old free press act when he served as the President of the board.
“I want to make sure Mvskoke Media has editorial policy that is fair and balanced to everyone,” Snell stated about his goal for Mvskoke Media. “Also provides accurate news, and basically operate as a news gathering source and present it properly to its citizens.”
Snell also added their goal for Mvskoke Media should be to hire someone in the Director’s job that handles the day-to-day operations properly.
“I was happy to serve again,” Snell said about being selected to serve. “I had fun the first time until the eliminations of the free press act. I really felt honored to be asked to serve again.”
When Snell served on the board the first time, he wanted to see another newspaper in Indian Country with a free press act to make sure it was carried out properly. He has seen some editorial boards in the past who have people to serve political goals, and he did not want that to happen for Mvskoke Media.
Snell will be serving as the Mvskoke Media’s Editorial Board Vice President.
