The Reader (newspaper)

The Reader was an alternative newspaper in Omaha, Nebraska from 1994 to 2023.

The Reader
TypeAlternative newsmonthly
PublisherJohn Heaston
News editorChris Bowling
Founded1994
Ceased publication2023
Headquarters4734 S 27 St

Suite 1A

Omaha, NE 68107
Websitehttps://thereader.com/

History edit

The 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.[1] Baer replaced Beckmann as publisher a few months later.[2]

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.[3] John 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."[4]

The Reader's corporate owner, Pioneer Publishing, also publishes several other papers and websites, including the Spanish language El Perico.[5]

In January 2015, The Reader changed its publication frequency from weekly to monthly and increased daily content on The Reader's website.[6]

The Reader was published out of a train car that was attached to a brewery on 78th and Cass (1995) before it enjoyed stints at offices downtown (1996-1999) and in historic Dundee (2000-2007) until landing in its current location in the immigrant hub that is South Omaha near the intersection of 27th and L Streets.

The paper published its last issue in September 2023.[7]

Current edit

In 2022, The Reader was named as one of "10 news publishers who do it right" by Editor & Publisher Magazine.[8] The 2022 masthead includes Publisher John Heaston, Lead News reporter Chris Bowling,

References edit

  1. ^ "Omaha Reader Sold to Department Store Heir: Former Owner Beckman Remains as Publisher", Altweeklies.com, March 22, 2000.
  2. ^ Christine Iwan, "Omaha Reader Owner Takes Over as Publisher", Altweeklies.com, May 22, 2000.
  3. ^ Christine Laue, "Two Omaha, Neb., Weekly Newspapers to Merge", Omaha World-Herald/Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News, December 23, 2002.
  4. ^ "Reader Radio: OUR FIRST MEMBERSHIP DRIVE!! Heaston's History of The Reader on Apple Podcasts". Apple Podcasts. Retrieved 2022-04-12.
  5. ^ Jon Whiten, "Diversity Grants Fund Innovative Projects at Two Alt-Weeklies", Altweeklies.com, May 28, 2009.
  6. ^ Heaston, John (November 25, 2014). "Print Deep, Web Daily". The Reader.
  7. ^ 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.
  8. ^ Blinder, Robin (March 1, 2022). "10 news publishers that do it right". www.editorandpublisher.com.

External links edit