15 ONC § 12-106 Editorial Board

§ 12-106. Editorial Board.

A. Composition. An Editorial Board for the Osage News is hereby created and shall consist of three members and two alternate members. The third member shall be deemed the at-large member and shall be appointed by the other two members.

B. Board Term. All Board members shall serve for three-year staggered terms. The beginning and ending term of each confirmed member shall be immediately following the last day of the Hun-Kah Session in the appropriate year. The initial appointment for the Board member appointed by the Principal Chief shall be three years. The initial term for the Board member appointed by the Osage Nation Congress shall be two years. The initial term of the at-large member shall be one year. Appointment by the Board of the at-large member shall be no later than one week before the last day of the Session. Should the at-large member not be confirmed by the end of Session, the Board shall appoint another at-large member, who shall be considered for confirmation at the next Regular Session, but whose term will relate back to the last day of the Hun-Kah Session.

C. Alternate Board Term. All alternate Board members shall serve for three-year staggered terms. The beginning and ending term of each confirmed member shall be immediately following the last day of the Hun-Kah Session in the appropriate year. The initial appointment for the alternate Board member appointed by the Principal Chief shall be three years. The initial term for the alternate Board member appointed by the Osage Nation Congress shall be two years.

D. Vacancies. In the event a Board member position is vacated, the remaining Board member or members shall select the replacement from the available alternates within ten (10) business days from the date the position was vacated. The alternate may then serve as a Board member for the balance of the term.

E. Recusal. A Board member shall recuse oneself from discussing issues that pertain to a member of their immediate family of one-degree separation, their spouse, a partner in business, or a business owned by the Board member. In the instance of a Board member’s recusal, an alternate may assume the position of the recused Board member. Upon reinstatement, the Board member shall recuse from all subsequent issues which led to their recusal. Recusal under the provisions of this section does not constitute a vacancy.

1. To be eligible to serve as a Board member the person appointed by the Principal Chief and the person appointed by the Osage Nation Congress must (a) be at least twenty-five (25) years of age; (b) have five years’ professional experience in a newsroom, or on a publication editorial board, or publication ownership; (c) be of good character and have a reputation of integrity; (d) be physically able to carry out the duties of office; (e) have the ability to assess political, familial and personal circumstances without bias; (f) certify he or she will adhere to the standards of accepted ethics of journalism as defined by the Society of Professional Journalists and endorsed by the Native American Journalists Association.

2. The Editorial Board member at large by the two confirmed appointments of the Principal Chief and Osage Nation Congress shall have at least a bachelor’s degree in the disciplines of journalism, government, law or business, or have five years of professional journalism experience, or have served for three or more years as an elected official, or confirmed member of an Osage Nation Board, Committee, or Commission. All persons who have not received training in ethics and publications editorial responsibility shall attend such a training course sponsored by the Society of Professional Journalists and endorsed by the Native American Journalists Association within six months of confirmation. The alternate Board members shall have the same requirements as the at-large Board member.

G. One member shall serve as Chairperson, one member shall serve as Vice-Chairperson and one member shall serve as Secretary. Officers shall be chosen annually amongst the Board members, once confirmed by the Osage Nation Congress.

H. The alternate Board members shall have the same requirements as the Board members appointed by the Principal Chief and the Osage Nation Congress.

I. The Board shall meet no less than monthly, and meeting by conference call or other electronic means shall be valid, except that the Board shall meet at least once annually in person.

J. Editorial Board members shall not be current Osage Nation employees.

K. Board members shall serve their terms of office free from political influence from any Executive, Judicial or Legislative officials of any branch, Division or Department of the Government of the Osage Nation and may be removed only for cause subject to a hearing by the Osage Nation Trial Court. Removal of Board members shall be conducted in accordance with Article XII of the Osage Nation Constitution. Except as authorized under the Constitution of the Osage Nation, no member of the Board shall, directly or indirectly, solicit, receive or in any manner be concerned in soliciting or receiving any assessment, subscription or contribution for any political organization, candidacy or other political purpose. The Board members shall not participate in any political campaign or be involved in any tribal political activity, except to exercise his or her right as a member of the Osage Nation to express his or her individual opinion by casting his or her vote, or to attend social activities on election day.

L. The Editorial Board members shall be subject to any provision of 15 ONC § 5-105 which is not in conflict with this law. The Editorial Board shall be classified as a nonbusiness board in accordance with 15 ONC § 5-102, the Osage Nation Boards Act. ONCA 08-07, eff. Apr. 17, 2008; ONCA 11-26, eff. Apr. 12, 2011; ONCA 13-32, eff. Apr. 16, 2013; ONCA 19-78, eff. Sept. 30, 2019.