The Reader, formally Nebraska’s only nationally-recognized alternative newsmonthly, is now part of the Nebraska Public Media family. Nebraska Public Media tells the state’s stories, first-hand, through the voices of the people who live here. In 2024, Nebraska Public Media acquired The Reader and its sister publication El Perico with the mission of continuing to provide news, entertainment, reviews, and other community happenings to those in and around the Omaha area.
Nebraska Public Media will rely on staff and a group of talented freelancers to serve new and existing audiences of The Reader. News coverage will follow the editorial guidelines of Nebraska Public Media, meaning coverage will be fair, truthful, and unbiased. A team of experts will continue to provide movie and music reviews, entertainment news, and community impact stories.
This new version of The Reader will be online only, with a new content coming regularly.
The Reader, under the leadership of the late John Heaston, endured numerous changes while becoming a staple in the Omaha community.
The Reader’s first issue was published in February of 1994 by a group of five, including Heaston, out of an apartment at 49th and Dodge streets. Things only grew from there.
Over the next decade-and-a-half, the paper endured a couple changes in ownership while a series of quality editors kept a keen focus on providing Omaha with cutting edge news and sharp cultural coverage, each issue complete with great writing, great presentation and the city’s most complete event listings.
The Reader has now published well over 30,000 stories, thanks to contributions from hundreds of creative individuals. In addition to event listings, edgy feature stories and vigorous coverage of Omaha’s music and arts scenes, staples of the magazine include eagerly anticipated film reviews by Ryan Syrek and a local column from Tim McMahan.
The Reader and Nebraska Public Media are also fully committed to transparency.
Our news judgments are made independently – not based on or influenced by donors or any revenue source.
Nebraska Public Media discloses, on-air or online as appropriate, the funders of specific programs, areas of coverage, or other activities. We acknowledge any person or organization that gives us money or other valuable consideration to broadcast specific content. Additionally, persons or organizations that have provided substantial funding are disclosed when they become the subject of a news story or other program. Nebraska Public Media discloses the relationship in the program or in an announcement adjacent to it, whether or not the donation was in support of the story or program.
Nebraska Public Media reserves the right to refuse any donation for any reason, including, but not limited to, perceived conflicts of interest, potential audience misconception regarding a funder’s role or influence, and perceived impact on our reputation, integrity, or fundraising ability.