Although the law currently in place includes language that the newspaper, television show, radio show and graphic design are supposed to have editorial independence, the measure also expands the definition of a journalist to include the Muscogee (Creek) Nation’s Secretary of the Nation and Commerce, a Cabinet position appointed by the principal chief.

Speaking before the council’s Business, Finance and Justice Committee recently, current and former Mvskoke Media employees outlined the impact that the free press act repeal has had on their operations, including live radio broadcasts being edited after the fact to omit sections, YouTube videos being taken down and executive branch employees setting advertising policies for the current election cycle.

“Since the repeal of free press, I can tell you for a fact that I have had my newspaper pages edited by the executive branch,” Mvskoke Media reporter Angel Ellis told the committee. “I have had my stories edited by members of the executive branch, and they are not editors. They are not journalists, but your ... act names them as that.

“There’s a specific line that says the Secretary of the Nation is a journalist, and it is a little crazy to think that.”