I didn’t really understand the brutal history that led directly to this week, when Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of democratic Ukraine. I didn’t understand until I read our latest Flatwater Free Press story, from longtime Nebraska reporter Andrew Nelson. He went and hung out at the Blessed Virgin Mary Ukranian Church for the last few weeks, as it became clearer that there may be an all-out assault on this congregation’s homeland. And the time he spent there led to trust. It led to people telling him their own tales of long ago fleeing Stalin and Hitler, famine and forced labor. He allowed these Nebraskans from Ukraine to tell their own stories. They detail their dread at the thought of a Putin invasion, and a dark history repeating itself yet again. Really nice work from Nelson and photographer Alex Carter, and a nice reminder of one of the reasons we started Flatwater Free Press — to go a bit deeper on stories that matter for a Nebraska audience.
Future of Journalism Takes Center Stage: On Wednesday night, I looked down the row of a five-person panel we convened on the future of Nebraska news, and was startled by the following truth: Every single leader on this stage represented a media outlet that didn’t exist in the 20th century. These organizations, including the Flatwater Free Press, were and are truly new. Together, we represent a potential shared path forward for Nebraska journalism.
During the panel, which was attended by more than 100 people at Millwork Commons’ beautifully renovated Ashton Building, we chewed on issues related to the future of journalism in Nebraska. How do we collaborate instead of compete? Can we better avoid clickbait in the future? Can we get people out of their information silos and echo chambers?
You can read more about the Future of Nebraska News discussion and/or watch the whole thing for yourself. Be advised: We had some technical growing pains. The sound kicks in at the 2-minute mark, for example.
Thank you to Humanities Nebraska and the Nebraska Cultural Endowment for sponsoring this discussion, and thank you to Millwork Commons for hosting.
We are going to do much more “journalism on stage” in 2022. I’m so jazzed about the chance to do important stories, and then convene a group of people somewhere in this state we call home and talk about the important issues at hand.
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:
- Where was Nebraska gubernatorial candidate Charles Herbster on Jan. 6 as insurrectionists stormed the U.S. Capitol? Who was he talking to? What was he talking about? Nebraska Examiner reporter Aaron Sanderford allows us to see the answers to some of those questions in today’s story…because he received Herbster’s texts. An important one from Aaron.
- Dirk Chatelain takes a lot of bull-pucky from people who get mad about X or Y related to Husker sports. What gets lost in that bull-pucky is he’s an incredible writer, the best at his thing in Nebraska. He proves it for the 8,743rd time with this story on a great coach, in his final days, returning to the small town where he changed lives. As I said on Twitter, it’s a must-read if you are from a small town. Or if a teacher or coach made a difference in your future. Or if you have a heart that beats.
- Two from the OWH this week, because I can do whatever I want. And because I think they did two incredible things worth sharing. Reporter Emily Nitcher on the closure of a small-town nursing home — in fact, many small town nursing homes — and how it can devastate Nebraska families.
- Last but not least: The Journal Star’s Chris Dunker, who has doggedly stuck with the story of the environmental disaster in Mead, on the latest lawsuits and allegations in that case.
