Bad Press
Directed by Rebecca Landsberry-Baker and Joe Peeler

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In 2015, the Muscogee Nation of Oklahoma became one of only five federally recognized tribes to legislate free press protections by transferring oversight of Mvskoke Media from the executive branch to an independent editorial board. But three years after the election of a new Principal Chief, a small faction of legislators conspired via a secretive “emergency session” to repeal the Free Press Act, turning control back over to the chief and his cabinet. Censorship came swiftly, as reporters were ordered to take down a story covering the repeal that same night. Tribal citizens erupted with shock and anger, and the battle to restore free press began.

Our film tells the story of the repeal and the factors that led to it, then follows the journey of tenacious Muscogee reporter and free press activist Angel Ellis as she fights to bring free press back. It’s an election year for the Muscogee Nation that pits a progressive reformer against a dangerous incumbent for Principal Chief. A regime change could spell the return of free press, but that doesn’t stop Angel from speaking truth to the powers-that-be by investigating the political machinations behind the repeal and fighting to expose the corruption of those who perpetrated it. The election is full of twists and turns, and Angel refuses to leave the fate of free press to its outcome. She and an ally on the National Council get to work on an amendment that would guarantee free press at the constitutional level, protecting it against the whims of each new chief.

This documentary provides unparalleled insight into the inner workings of a modern Native American tribe, revealing for the first time a holistic look into the structure of its media, sovereign government, and election process that few audiences will have experienced before.