We didn’t start the Flatwater Free Press in order to compete with your favorite Nebraska newspaper, news site, radio, or TV station.
We founded this new journalism nonprofit with the express goal of helping to make them — and Nebraska journalism — a bit stronger.
Today we wanted to send you a few thoughts about collaboration, why it’s crucial, and how we plan to go about it here at FFP.
In the past few months, we have met with the editors of the state’s largest and smallest newspapers, alternative weeklies, community-based news sites, radio conglomerates, public radio and TV affiliates, and many, many more.
Our pitch to them: Our full-time reporters, once hired, will produce high-quality investigative journalism, the kind of journalism that can increase awareness of big and hidden problems and lead to serious change. Our freelancers will write interesting feature stories from all around the state, the sort of stories that bind us together as Nebraskans.
We will produce these stories and photos and then give them to every Nebraska newspaper, TV station, radio station, and news website that wishes to publish them for the low, low price of free.
Yes, free.
If this seems a tad loony, remember that similar nonprofit websites with similar distribution models are working in nearby states like Oklahoma, South Dakota, and Wyoming. One reason we created the Flatwater Free Press was to fill journalistic gaps as they become apparent in Nebraska. Two such gaps we believe exist in 2021 are a lack of investigative reporting on subjects that matter from Omaha to Ogallala, and a lack of stories that illustrate our shared identity and help us find common cause as Nebraskans.
We could write these stories and take these photos and squirrel them away on our website. But what’s the point of that, when the ultimate goal is to get those important stories to you, no matter where you get your news?
We aim to begin publishing feature stories in September. We aim to get our full-time reporters in place and working on investigative stories by this fall.
Our overarching aim is as simple as it is audacious. Soon enough, we hope to prove to Nebraska media outlets and informed Nebraskans alike that the Flatwater Free Press can help make this state’s journalism, and the state itself, better.
It’s a lofty bar. We’re gonna jump as high as we can to try to clear it.
What we’re reading, watching, and listening to this week
In the spirit of collaboration, we’re starting a new feature where we highlight examples of good local journalism in Nebraska. Here are a few stories we enjoyed or admired in the past week:
Nebraska taxpayers are on the hook for more than $300,000 — and likely far more — because state leaders agreed to pick up the tab when sending Nebraska National Guard troops to the Texas border.
We know this because Sara Gentlzer, the Omaha World-Herald’s new political reporter, repeatedly asked who was paying for the deployment. State leaders had offered vague assurances that Nebraska would be reimbursed for the cost. But Gentlzer actually got the contract, and the language isn’t vague at all: “NEBRASKA WILL NOT SEEK COST REIMBURSEMENT FROM THE STATE OF TEXAS…” it says in all capital letters. Read Gentzler’s story here.
And a follow-up from News Channel Nebraska and the Associated Press: At a press conference, state leaders defended the deployment, described what they view as a crisis at the border, and said reimbursement may still be possible.
What else?
Is Lincoln’s historic Gold’s Building really going away? Margaret Reist has the story of a frustrated building owner threatening to demolish a Lincoln landmark. Read here.
Will rural Nebraska soon have less power in the Nebraska Legislature? Don Walton, the don of Nebraska political journalism, with the story about how redistricting could swing the balance of power more toward Omaha, Omaha suburbs, and Lincoln. This story appeared statewide in Lee Enterprises’ Nebraska newspapers.
Thank you for following along.
—Matthew Hansen, Executive Editor
