Awards
The Nebraska Journalism Trust’s programs and publications are recognized across the Great Plains and around the country for depth and impact. Our journalism connects, informs and inspires people statewide, and has resulted in changes to Nebraska law and leadership.
2025
Nebraska Press Women, 2025 Professional Communications Contest
First, online news story: “Seventeen horses owned by a Nebraska veterinarian died. Why is no one paying?” by Destiny Herbers
Herbers followed the story of Shelby, a palomino mare whose veterinarian owner was accused of animal neglect, but never criminally charged even after 17 horses died in her care.
First, online feature: “Marco’s journey: As others sleep, a Nebraska high schooler survives the graveyard shift” by Natalia Alamdari
Alamdari paints a portrait of student Marco Gutiérrez as he pursues his American dream, forgoing sleep to work two jobs and complete high school. Nearly half the students at his central Nebraska school are immigrants learning English as a second language. Marco’s science teacher says, “They come here wanting a better life, and they have the desire to work hard for it.”
First, government/politics: “Recalling and name-calling: The political fight fracturing a southeast Nebraska community,” by Natalia Alamdari
First, in-depth reporting: “A year in, Nebraska doctors say 12-week abortion ban has changed how they care for patients,” Sara Gentzler and Yanqi Xu
The Flatwater Free Press spoke with 11 doctors specializing in pregnancy and childbirth-related fields to learn if the state’s stricter 12-week abortion ban has affected their work since it became law a year ago. Nearly all said it has changed how they care for patients.
First, environmental: “After five years without drinkable water, Santee asks: When will our drinking water be safe?” by Destiny Herbers
Herbers tagged along for a bottled water delivery on the Santee Sioux Nation reservation, where residents told her they haven’t been able to drink the tap water for nearly five years. Their hopes for clean drinking water are pinned on funding for a $53 million water system project.
- Second, online news story: “A Malawi-to-Nebraska pipeline changes lives. It also leaves students broke and stranded, they say.” Natalia Alamdari
- Second, government/politics: “Nebraska confines some sex offenders years after their prison sentences,” Sara Gentzler
- Second, in-depth reporting: “Ricketts’ riches: Wealthy governor widened gulf in Nebraska Legislature, observers say,” Sara Gentzler
- Third, government/politics: “Pillen’s promises: Economic boom and little harm for neighbors. They haven’t always panned out.” by Yanqi Xu with Sky Chadde
- Third, in-depth reporting: “Nebraska tribe pays $65,000 a year to rent and on its own reservation.” by Destiny Herbers
- Third, history: “Samuel and Edward: Two boys buried under misspelled headstones at the center of fight with U.S. Army,” Destiny Herbers
Nebraska Press Association
Second, A-Mark Prize for Investigative Journalism: “Ricketts’ riches,” by Sara Gentzler and Alex Richards
The Flatwater Free Press analyzed campaign finance records and interviewed every living former Nebraska governor to uncover how Gov. Pete Ricketts’ own political spending influenced elections, advanced his agenda, and drove increased partisanship at the state Capitol.
Online Journalism Awards
- Finalist, Innovation in Revenue Strategy, small newsroom: Silicon Prairie Startup Week
Education Writers Association
- National Award for Education Reporting, feature, small newsroom: “Marco’s Journey”
2024
Nonprofit News Awards (INNYs)
Insight Award for Explanatory Journalism, Medium division: “Who’s Buying Nebraska” by Yanqi Xu and Destiny Herbers
The Flatwater Free Press series explored how multinational corporations, out-of-state corporate farms, and far-away investors are scooping up Nebraska farmland — and driving up the average cost per acre. Flatwater examined how buyers, including billionaires Bill Gates and Ted Turner, spent nearly $250 million in the past five years to own a piece of the state’s farmland, the cost of which has jumped 41 percent since 2018. Read the series here.
Startup of the Year: Flatwater Free Press
The award “Honors a young organization for establishing strong support of their journalism throughout the community and the revenue growth to sustain it.”
2023
Nonprofit News Awards (INNYs)
Insight Award for Explanatory Journalism, Small division: “Nebraska’s Dirty Water” by Yanqi Xu
Yanqi Xu’s series linked the source of cancer-causing nitrate and uranium in Nebraska’s water to fertilizer for corn, exposed the state government and local boards who denied the problem, and provided solutions for staying safe. A resulting water quality town hall brought together 250 residents and a panel of experts to continue the conversation. Following Xu’s reporting, the state’s legislature introduced four new water quality bills. Read the series here.
Society for Advancing Business Editing and Writing (SABEW)
Best in Business award, Government category, Small division: “Pigs and Power” Series
“The judges loved how this entry holds the powerful accountable and breaks new ground tying the water supply environmental impact to the governor’s business ties. A timeless, traditional investigation, but one of great importance.” Read the series here.
2022
Great Plains Journalism Awards
In its first full year of publication, FFP bested newspapers and nonprofit newsrooms in an 8-state region to win Great Plains Journalism Awards in three categories.
Beat Reporting: Inside Nebraska’s troubled correctional system
Reporters Natalia Alamdari and Yanqi Xu won for a series of important stories on Nebraska’s troubled correctional system. Stories in the winning entry included Nebraska parole board’s not showing up for parole hearings, how Nebraska’s overcrowded prison system harms guards and prisoners alike, a violent prisoner’s lack of rehabilitation leading up to a murder and Nebraska’s geriatric prisoners, costing state taxpayers dearly.
Business Reporting: Exposing a corporate landlord’s homebuying spree
Vinebrook, an Ohio-based, hedge-fund backed company, didn’t own a single piece of property in Omaha three years ago. Now it’s one of the biggest landlords in the city.
Our work with KETV Channel 7 in Omaha exposed the out-of-state company’s buying spree in North Omaha, and showed how it’s changing things for renters and entire neighborhoods.
Feature Writing: A heartwarming tale from an Omaha Reservation skateboard park
They built a skate park in the poorest county in Nebraska. And then they watched as Junior did something priceless. FFP Editor Matthew Hansen was there, and his heartwarmer from the Omaha Reservation in northeast Nebraska won the Great Plains award for best feature story.
The Great Plains Journalism Awards, sponsored by the Tulsa Press Club, is an 8-state regional journalism contest open to newsrooms in the states of Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma and South Dakota.
Nonprofit News Awards
- Nonprofit Newcomer of the Year: Shane Pekny, Grant Writer & Development Consultant, Flatwater Free Press