Sometimes journalism is uncomfortable, even for us journalists.
A few months ago, FFP senior reporter Natalia Alamdari started hearing from Norfolk residents about a nonprofit they were deeply frustrated with.
On one level, this nonprofit does an amazing thing. It gives students from Malawi the chance to go to college in Nebraska. As the nonprofit’s founder points out in our story today, that’s a kind of golden ticket for a kid from one of the poorest countries in the world, a diploma that can change the trajectory of that teenager’s life.
But it became clear, as Alamdari started to report the story, that many of the students who make that 9,000-mile journey both want to cash that golden ticket — and also feel misled, lied to, ghosted and abandoned once they actually arrive in our state.
It’s a story we needed to tell. As a Nebraskan I sincerely hope that it’s the beginning of a better support system surrounding these east African kids simply trying to make a better life for themselves and their families.
Omaha announcement time! I have been so excited to share this. Now I can. Omahans: We’re starting a newsletter specific to your metro area. Written by FFP Omaha reporters Chris Bowling and Jeremy Turley, it will come out on Thursday mornings. It will include all our Omaha stories, news from ‘round the metro — and also art news, info on upcoming events and restaurant reviews.
Some of you may have heard of our new food critic. She goes by the initials SBH and shares a mortgage, custody of two weird cats and a marriage certificate with yours truly. She also has 15 or so years of experience writing the best food and restaurant reviews in the city and state.
The extraordinary Sarah Baker Hansen, mover and shaker Xavier Jackson of Local Art Plug and local artist, art professor and man about town Bart Vargas round out our talented Omaha newsletter crew.
How are we paying for this important journalism? Well, funny you should ask. We’re able to build our journalistic firepower and offerings because of people like you. We’re able to offer diverse voices, and build up an independent media outlet, because 2,764 different Nebraskans, people of all generations, backgrounds and hometowns, have given donations to power this puppy.
Care to join the cause? Our spring drive is currently underway. If you give a monthly donation, we’ll send you a piece of cool FFP merch or your pick of one of several original pieces of Nebraska art.
Don’t worry Lincoln: We also have something cool coming your way. On May 15, we’re hosting a pop-up newsroom event and listening session from 2-4 p.m. at the Bennett Martin Public Library. We’re doing it with our friends at the Lincoln Journal Star, 10/11 News Now and Nebraska Public Media. All four outlets in the same place! Come on down, meet our team and the media partners and share story ideas, questions and thoughts.
Speaking of Lincoln, the Lincoln Community Foundation’s annual Give to Lincoln Day is Thursday, May 30, and online giving is already live at givetolincoln.com. This is Flatwater’s second year taking part. We’ll devote all money raised through Give to Lincoln Day to expanding Lincoln coverage.
Marvelous Bob: We welcomed a new freelancer this week, a writer who needs no introduction to those of you who care about the state’s music scene. Tim McMahan did a fascinating story for us about Bob Hall, the Nebraska native and famed Marvel comic book artist who has returned to his home state and continues to do cool things as he nears his 80th birthday.
It’s wonderful to bring in established talent like Tim. And it’s wonderful that he focused his first story for FFP on a profile of Hall.
Cultural smash up: Last but surely not least, our most-read story so far this week. FFP reporter Chris Bowling took a break from his normal investigative work to do a feature on a sub-genre of the local drag scene. As the story says: “For so long Valdovinos felt too queer for his Hispanic friends, and too Hispanic for his queer friends. On stage, those two sides collided.”
Read Chris’ story and check out his colorful photos on local Latin drag.
Questions wanted: Some of our best story ideas come from readers, and they typically start with a burning question that just cries out for an answer. Have a question that our reporters need to look into? Complete this form or reach our newsroom at [email protected].
Sincerely,
—Matthew Hansen, Executive Editor
Here’s what we’re into this week: News from around Nebraska
Every week we like to share great Nebraska journalism, no matter who made it. Here’s what caught our eye this week:
- Omapod host and friend of Flatwater Tony Bock had maybe the most interesting interview tied to last Friday’s wild tornadoes in eastern Nebraska. Here’s his podcast with storm chaser Aaron Rigsby.
- Zeus the Dog flew four blocks. Zeus the Dog survived. If you’re like me, you’re a sucker for an all’s-well-that-ends-well story of a dog in a twister, courtesy of KMTV’s Jill Lamkins.
- Speaking of those tornadoes — they were the most powerful tornadoes to hit the area in at least a decade, reports the Omaha World-Herald’s Julie Anderson. (Note: Some readers may need a subscription to read this story.)
- Most Nebraska quote of the week. “So here I am, I’m going 22 mph up the road with the tornado behind me. I guess you could call me the Dorothy of Nebraska, and instead of a yellow brick road, it’d be a red brick road because, you know, we’re ‘Go Big Red.’”
Fred Knapp of Nebraska Public Media talks to a woman who tried to outrun a tornado on … a tractor? - This fight over using public dollars to fund private school education in Nebraska appears far from over. The powerful teachers’ union and other opponents of the state’s newly revamped school choice law say they will work to put the issue before voters in November, reports the Nebraska Examiner’s Aaron Sanderford.
- Speaking of the Examiner: Paul Hammel, one of this state’s best reporters for, oh, four decades, is retiring or at least sort of semi-retiring. He had this crucially important story this week about the future of small-town Nebraska newspapers — and Nebraska journalism in general. It’s pure Hammel. Give it a read.
- Another large Lincoln child care center is closing, making things hard for another group of Lincoln parents, reports the Journal Star’s Jenna Ebbers. (Note: This story may require a subscription to read.)
- If you were a food-loving child like I was, you remember the Schwan’s Man. Did you know he’s no more in Nebraska? Read the story by Harvest Public Media’s Elizabeth Rembert.
