By JAMI CUSTER
Reporter

TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – The Cherokee Phoenix’s radio show will celebrate its one-year anniversary in February, and there are plans to expand the broadcast to other northeastern Oklahoma markets.

The Cherokee Phoenix increased its multimedia effort on Feb. 6, 2011, by creating a weekly radio news show that airs from 9 a.m. to 9:15 a.m. each Sunday on Lakes Country 102.1 FM in Tahlequah. 

Phoenix Executive Editor Bryan Pollard said the show has come a long way in a year.
“When we started working with Shane and Cindy (Sellers) at Lakes Country to develop the program we had a modest 15 minute news brief in mind and since that time we have really developed a much broader idea of what the show can become,” Pollard said. “So now were looking into new markets, new radio stations and actually developing different types of content for the program. So the future is very exiting for Cherokee Phoenix Radio.

Pollard said he would also like to see the types of stories within the program expand.

“I’d like to see more long-form interviews where we sit down with newsmakers and news leaders in the Cherokee Nation and kind of go in-depth about the pressing issues that the Cherokee Nation is facing right now with the decision makers who are going to be determining the course for the Cherokee Nation,” he said.

Lakes Country Radio personality Shane Sellers said the Phoenix’s show sounds “better and better all the time.”

“I think the more you talk about community events and things that matter to the Cherokee Nation the better,” he said. “I do get positive feedback on covering the Cherokee Nation as a whole and you all (Cherokee Phoenix) are now a big part of that.”

Pollard said the radio show is a natural progression in the development in the Cherokee Phoenix. Since the newspaper’s inception in 1828, the Phoenix has been the “primary source of news and information for the Cherokee people in regards to the culture and government.” 

“When we launched the Cherokee Phoenix Radio program, it was consistent with that mission,” Pollard said. “Everything that we do is going to be aimed at reaching more and more Cherokee people so that they can have the news and information that they need to improve quality of their lives.”

The weekly show is posted each Monday on the Cherokee Phoenix’s website www.cherokeephoenix.org. The show can also be heard as a podcast on iTunes, which can be found in the iTunes store by searching for Cherokee Phoenix Radio. 

jami-custer@cherokee.org
918-453-5560