SAM MCKEWON Sports Editor, Omaha World Herald

SAM MC KEWON is the sports editor of the Omaha World Herald. He also covers Huskers football. He is a rather non-traditional editor in that he writes and reports, including covering the highest-profile team in the state, Nebraska football. He talks about the paper’s relationship with the Lincoln Journal Star, delivery of the news in the 21st century, the Big Ten adding Washington and Oregon.

Interview recorded August 4, 2023

SHOW NOTES:

:20       introduction

1:45     what do you do?

4:00     does the printed newspaper still drive the business?

5:50     World Herald and Journal Star owned by the same company, how does that work?

8:00     what about the competition in the market? [these two newspapers were once fierce competitors]

11:00   had you aspired to be the Sports Editor when the job came open in 2021? [makes references to the assistant sports editor, Kristin Donovan]

16:00   the value of editing and style of writing

19:00   what is the value of a ‘game story’ in 2023? [and a conversation about the way news is delivered these days – online, social, print, et al]

23:00   we’re in the midst of a transformation in the business – is it challenging and exciting?

24:00   Big Ten adding Washington and Oregon – the process of reporting it is discussed

26:30   is it a good thing that the Pac-12 is dead? [good remarks about the big picture issues regarding college athletics and media delivery, including reference to Apple TV and sports delivery]

29:30   goodbye