TABLED
Cherokee Council House
Cherokee, North Carolina

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t1AR 0 3 201B
Ordinance No.125(2016)

WHEREAS, Section 75-55 of the Cherokee Code, a section of the Free Press Act of 2006, deals with
the creation of an Editorial Board; and
WHEREAS, Sec. 75-55 (a) states, "An Editorial Board is hereby created and shall consist of all
members of the One Feather staff and the Tribal Director of Marketing and Public Relations,"; and
WHEREAS, the members of the Editorial Board feel that having the staff of the paper and their
immediate supervisor comprise the Board does not lend itself to best practices and an environment
of free expression; and
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT ORDAINED by the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians in Tribal Council
Assembled, at which a quorum is present, that Cherokee Code Section 75-55 be amended as
follows:

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(a) An Editorial Board shall consist of three voting individuals with the Editor of the Cherokee
One Feather serving as a fourth non-voting member. Two of the Board members will have a
background in journalism and the third member will be chosen from the community at
large.
(b) The first Board will be chosen by the existing Board within 30 days of the ratification of this
legislation. Neither Tribal Council nor Executive Office approval is needed for these
appointments. After that, Board members will serve in perpetuity or until they resign their
position. New Board members will be selected by the Sitting Board members.
(c) All members of the Editorial Board certify that 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.
(d) The Editorial Board will meet quarterly, either in person or by conference call, to review
guidelines and polices for the Cherokee One Feather.
(e) The Editorial Board shall operate free from political Influence from any Executive or
Legislative Officials of any branch, division or department of the government of the Tribe.
(f) No Board member 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 activity, except to exercise his or her right as a
citizen to express his or her individual opinion and cast his or her right to vote.

Submitted by: One Feather Editorial Board