#SEJSpotlight: Debra Krol, Indigenous Affairs Reporter, Arizona Republic

 

Meet SEJ member Deb Krol! Indigenous storyteller Debra Utacia Krol, Indigenous affairs reporter at the Arizona Republic, is an award-winning journalist with an emphasis on Native issues, environmental and science issues and travel, who's fond of averring that "My beat is Indians." Krol's current assignment is exploring Indigenous peoples at the intersection of commerce, culture and climate. She is an enrolled member of the Xolon (also known as Jolon) Salinan Tribe from the Central California coastal ranges. Debra's forceful and deeply reported stories about peoples, places and issues have won nearly a dozen awards. She seeks to leverage her extensive journalism experience in Native America and in the mainstream to tell the real story of Indian Country.

Debra has been an SEJ member since 2004. When asked if she recommends membership, she said, "Yes! If you're working in environmental journalism or are just interested in the field, SEJ is the place to be."

Here are some of Deb's stories for Arizona Republic:

• "Bikers, bands and barristers: Oak Flat copper mine plan draws a wide range of opponents," Mar 7, 2021.
• "Archeologic finds in Mesa, Tempe connect the history of O'odham peoples' history to present day," Mar 6, 2021.
• "Emotional court hearing follows vigil by Oak Flat supporters who oppose copper mine," Feb 4, 2021.
• "Native plants become Native art. What happens when they're gone?" Dec 17, 2020.
• "'Our right to fire': Tribes battle agencies, old policies to restore fire practices," Nov 25, 2020.
• "Climate question catches young voters' attention during presidential debate, but the answers didn't impress," Oct 2, 2020.
• "As fires rage across the West, White Mountain Apache forests show a balance of tradition, economy," Sep 22, 2020.
• "'Living with fire' may lead to less destructive wildfires, say Indigenous land stewards," Aug 27, 2020.
• "In Phoenix, rising temperatures day and night kill more people each year," Aug 26, 2020.
• "'Being very frank about our history': As Sierra Club acknowledges racist past, Indigenous communities look for reckoning," Jul 26, 2020.

Find Deb:

Twitter        @DebKrol
LinkedIn     /DebKrol
Web            www.azcentral.com/staff/2684011001/debra-utacia-krol

 

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