PBS Wisconsin News and ICT (formerly Indian Country Today) have selected Erica Ayisi as an Indigenous Affairs Multimedia Reporter for a collaborative partnership between PBS Wisconsin and ICT’s parent company, IndiJ Public Media.
An independent journalist and media educator, Ayisi comes to PBS Wisconsin and ICT with experience writing, reporting, and producing documentary films around the world. She has also worked as a multimedia reporter in commercial news, taught video production in classroom settings, and has provided professional development to journalists in university settings across the United States. She has a Bachelor of Fine Arts and Master of Arts degree from the New York Institute of Technology.
In her new role, Ayisi will work with PBS Wisconsin and ICT to produce news content and reporting on issues from Indigenous communities in Wisconsin. This reporting will be published online and shared on social media and broadcast platforms by both organizations. She will begin her work on Nov. 11.
“We are excited not only for Erica to start in this new role, but also for the Indigenous communities in our region to get the news coverage they deserve on issues that impact them,” said Karen Lincoln Michel, CEO of IndiJ Public Media and president of ICT. “This partnership is built on the journalistic integrity of both our organizations and is an example of what’s possible when we join forces for the good of the communities we serve through our journalism.”
“A critical part of PBS Wisconsin’s mission is to ensure that our work reflects the full diversity of our state,” said Christine Sloan-Miller, PBS Wisconsin Director of Production. “We have long respected ICT and its journalism, so it is an honor to join together in this new partnership. We look forward to serving our combined audience with this unique shared reporting project that will focus on Wisconsin’s Indigenous communities and issues.”
“Reporting on diverse communities is at the heart of what I do as a journalist,” Ayisi said. “I’m delighted and honored to amplify the issues, concerns and achievements of Wisconsin’s Indigenous communities in this new collaborative partnership between PBS Wisconsin and ICT.” Since its inception in 1981 as a weekly newspaper, ICT has grown into the largest news organization serving Native American communities. In April 2020, the organization expanded into public broadcasting through the daily ICT newscast, reporting on how the coronavirus pandemic affected American Indians, Alaska Natives and First Nations. New journalism partnerships, including this one with PBS Wisconsin, expand the reach and impact of ICT’s work covering indigenous communities across the U.S. while also expanding the coverage of Wisconsin’s Native communities on PBS Wisconsin’s broadcast and digital news platforms.
