The Reader was an alternative newspaper in Omaha, Nebraska from 1994 to 2023. The newspaper was owned by Pioneer Publishing, which also published several other papers and websites, including the Spanish language El Perico.[1]
| Type | Alternative newspaper |
|---|---|
| Owner(s) | Pioneer Publishing |
| Publisher | John Heaston |
| News editor | Chris Bowling |
| Founded | 1994 |
| Ceased publication | 2023 |
| Headquarters | 4734 S 27 St
Suite 1A Omaha, NE 68107 |
| Website | thereader |
History
editThe Reader was established in 1994 by a group that included John Heaston and Dan Beckmann. Beckmann bought out Heaston in 1999, then sold nearly all of his ownership interest in February 2000 to 77-year-old Alan Baer, a member of the family that had founded the J. L. Brandeis and Sons department store chain.[2] Baer replaced Beckmann as publisher a few months later.[3]
Meanwhile, Heaston established another paper, the Omaha Weekly, in March 2000. After Baer died in November 2002, Heaston bought the Reader and merged it with the Weekly.[4] Heaston was interviewed in 2021 about the Reader's history as part of the paper's recent membership drive on a biweekly podcast "Reader Radio."[5]
In January 2015, The Reader changed its publication frequency from weekly to monthly and increased daily content on The Reader's website.[6]
In 2022, The Reader was named as one of "10 news publishers who do it right" by Editor & Publisher magazine.[7] The paper published its last issue in September 2023.[8] In May 2024, Heaston gifted the assets of The Reader and El Perico to Nebraska Public Media.[9]
References
edit- ^ Jon Whiten, "Diversity Grants Fund Innovative Projects at Two Alt-Weeklies", Altweeklies.com, May 28, 2009.
- ^ "Omaha Reader Sold to Department Store Heir: Former Owner Beckman Remains as Publisher", Altweeklies.com, March 22, 2000.
- ^ Christine Iwan, "Omaha Reader Owner Takes Over as Publisher", Altweeklies.com, May 22, 2000.
- ^ Christine Laue, "Two Omaha, Neb., Weekly Newspapers to Merge", Omaha World-Herald/Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News, December 23, 2002.
- ^ "Reader Radio: OUR FIRST MEMBERSHIP DRIVE!! Heaston's History of The Reader on Apple Podcasts". Apple Podcasts. Retrieved 2022-04-12.
- ^ Heaston, John (November 25, 2014). "Print Deep, Web Daily". The Reader.
- ^ Blinder, Robin (March 1, 2022). "10 news publishers that do it right". www.editorandpublisher.com.
- ^ Grace, Erin (2023-09-08). "Longtime publisher of The Reader is ready to close the book on Omaha's alternative newspaper". Flatwater Free Press. Retrieved 2023-09-09.
- ^ "Nebraska Public Media Acquires 'The Reader' and 'El Perico'". Nebraska Public Media. May 9, 2024. Retrieved 2024-05-12.
External links
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