We committed some serious acts of journalism in 2024. And when I say “we” I want to be clear about who that is — the six reporters listed above, plus talented UNL fellow Naomi Delkamiller and managing editor Ryan Hoffman, together formed the beating journalistic heart of this award-winning nonprofit newsroom this year.
I’m so glad they work at the Flatwater Free Press. I’m so thrilled to be their editor. And I’m so grateful that we were able to bring to you stories that illuminated dark corners, changed things and also stories that bound us together as Nebraskans.
A few days ago I sat down and picked my favorite stories of the year written by FFP reporters. Not necessarily the stories that won awards, though several did. And not necessarily the most clicked stories, though several proved wildly popular. This is a curated collection of my 13 favorites of 2024, including tales of a lonely freshman, school lunch debt, a horse mystery, Busby and his dog, Gov. Jim Pillen’s promises, Ricketts family money, the hunt for the elusive pawpaw, alleged biased policing, a child care fail, undrinkable water, Zesto, a new land baron and, last but not least, Marco’s stunning journey. Check ‘em out.
I’m already kicking myself for leaving out this one on fighting in Brownville and this one on the juvenile justice center that isn’t. Ok ok, I’ll stop.
Great stories do not grow on trees: They come from our talented, dedicated reporters, who produce important stories that we then give for free to every media outlet in the state — and every reader who wants them, too.
If this seems like something you can get behind, it’s your final chance this year to support the mission of the Flatwater Free Press, Nebraska’s statewide, independent nonprofit newsroom. So many of you have already given — thank you!
If you haven’t yet, give before Jan. 1 and your donation gets doubled. We appreciate the support, and we pledge to spend it on even more quality Nebraska journalism.
Our final story of 2024: It’s the final installment of “Nebraska Evolving,” Natalia Alamdari’s look at how immigration is changing — and growing — towns across the state. This week we published her story on South Sioux City, where a group of Somali immigrants has banded together to help the newer refugees coming to town, which they view as a land of opportunity.
Looking ahead: 2025 will bring at least one new reporter, a new larger newsroom (we outgrew the old one!), the third annual FlatFest, a journalism barnstorming tour around the state, several other special “journalism on stage” events and a whole bunch of important stories, well told.
From myself, our executive director Matt Wynn and the entire team at Flatwater Free Press and the Nebraska Journalism Trust…thank you for being a part of our journalistic lives in 2024. Thank you for reading, for sharing our stories, for giving us story ideas, for helping us get better, for cheering us along. See you in 2025.
Happy New Year,
—Matthew Hansen, Executive Editor
News from Around Nebraska will make its triumphant return in 2025.
