Changes at the Times, plans for the future

By Tommy Arviso Jr.
Navajo Times

There are some changes that have taken place at the Navajo Times Publishing Company in the last couple of months, and I want to inform you of them.

First, the main Navajo Times office, or headquarters, is now located at the Navajo Nation Shopping Centers complex in Window Rock. The Navajo Times office is situated in a suite just a few doors down from the Navajo Westerners Ace Hardware store, and right next to Kermie’s Sandwiches & Salads. There’s a large sign that sits over the Navajo Times office doors.

In the new office you will find the administrative and financial departments plus the advertising, circulation and production departments. The telephone number for the main office is (928) 871-1130.

The press room still remains at its original site in the Hogan Tso Enterprise’s building complex in downtown Window Rock. The Navajo Times is still printing the weekly newspaper and other publications at this unique press room that was built in 1997. The press room still houses the Heidelberg and Quad Stack printing presses that are maintained and operated by a talented and hard-working Navajo press crew.
The editorial staff are now working remotely from various locations across the Navajo Nation. Krista Allen is the editor, and she can be reached by telephone at (928) 871-1136; or by email at: editor@ntpc.biz. The reporters, photographers and correspondents can be contacted through Krista who monitors and assigns news stories, feature articles and public events for newspaper publication. Sports editor Quentin Jodie can be reached at (928) 871-1142; and by email at: qjodie@ntpc.biz.

The Navajo Times is also busy working on plans to construct its own new headquarters in Window Rock. The proposed land site for the new building is situated across the street from the Window Rock Post Office. It’s where the old KTNN-KWRK studios and modular buildings once stood.

The Navajo Times has been planning and working to find an efficient vacant site in the Window Rock area for many years. In partnership with Navajo Nation Shopping Centers, the Navajo Times was able to secure the new land site. I want to acknowledge and thank NNSC Executive Director Nick Taylor, assistant director DeWaine Boone, and the NNSC Board of Directors for their support, guidance and approval of our plans to construct our own building.

We still have a lot work to do on this whole building project, but the official process has started and the Navajo Times staff is excited and have high hopes for their new building construction. The actual construction should hopefully be completed within the next two years. This will be a dream come true.

And finally, I was recently hired by the NTPC Board of Directors as the acting CEO/publisher, a position that I occupied once before for many years. The most recent CEO/publisher, Olivia Benally, completed her employment contract and is now enjoying some much-deserved personal time off. Olivia did a good, commendable job over the last three years leading the company and overseeing the newspaper. We wish Olivia all the best in her future endeavors and life adventures.

As the acting CEO/publisher I have several basic objectives to work on and complete before the end of 2025. First, I am entrusted to seek and recommend a new chief executive officer for the Navajo Times Publishing Company. We plan to separate the job titles and responsibilities of the CEO and the publisher of the newspaper. I will begin advertising for the CEO post in the coming months and I encourage all interested citizens to apply for the position.

Secondly, I will manage and push the plans for the new Navajo Times headquarters. I will work with NNSC on the infrastructure and construction plans and securing funding for the building project. The new building will allow NTPC to have more control of its future operations and destiny and give the staff a modern building with ample office space to operate and grow.

I will also be supervising the overall company operation and newspaper and ensure the Navajo Times staff are operating efficiently and professionally and working in a safe environment. There are other responsibilities and duties to carry out and I will do my best to be a good leader of the company and newspaper.

I want to finish by extending my appreciation to the Navajo Times staff for their dedication and commitment to the company and to the readers, advertisers, customers and friends of the Navajo Times. The transition in moving to the new office and experiencing such major change in the overall daily operation has been challenging. I also thank the NTPC Board for their support and guidance and making the changes and improvements that needed to happen.

The journalism world and the newspaper publishing industry are going through constant changes these days and the overall costs to operate a newspaper publishing company are increasing regularly. Many newspapers across the country have quit printing their newspapers and have transformed to a total digital format.

The Navajo Times realizes the unique situation it faces as a Navajo owned and operated for-profit corporation. However, we are still committed to publishing a quality printed newspaper for our Navajo people, and for all of our readers for many years to come.

Lastly, Happy Father’s Day to all of the dads, grandpas and great grandfathers. Special recognition to the single moms who live in the role of mother and father in their respectful families. Enjoy your special day and God bless you.

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