Reporting on the Freedmen vote

The Cherokee-Freedmen Story:  What the Media Saw• In general, the Cherokee-Freedmen story was reported as a classic clash between oppressor and victim. Missing were nuance, historical perspective, and a context within which to understand the contemporary significance of the story.

• Spokespeople on both sides of the issue had their say in the news reporting, and but opponents of the amendment (Freedmen president Marilyn Vann and attorney Jon Velie) generally were quoted before Cherokee officials (Principal Chief Chad Smith and spokesman Mike Miller).

• Both issues of racism and self-determination were discussed, but the racism theme figured more prominently (that is, sooner) in the story than the self-determination theme.