OCTOBER LUNCHEON:

Local journalism is changing rapidly. Newsrooms are adapting to shifting audience habits, new technologies, evolving business models and growing demands for timely, trustworthy reporting.
Join leaders from key local and statewide media outlets for a candid conversation about the current state of journalism in Nebraska. During this panel discussion, you’ll hear how their organizations are setting coverage priorities, attracting audiences, investing in the future and navigating newsroom staffing challenges. Whether you're a journalist, public relations professional, communicator or community leader, you'll gain valuable insights into what stories matter most, why local journalism is essential and how the media landscape continues to evolve.

PRSA Nebraska would like to thank Nebraska Public Media for its generous sponsorship of and partnership in presenting this program.

Meet our panelists:
Matthew Hansen, editor, Flatwater Free Press
Sarah Klinger news director, KETV in Omaha
Matt Olberding, news director, Nebraska Public Media
Aaron Sanderford, managing editor for news, Omaha World-Herald

Matthew Hansen

Matthew Hansen is the editor of the Flatwater Free Press. Hansen spent 16 years at Nebraska newspapers, as a reporter at the Lincoln Journal Star and then a reporter and metro columnist at the Omaha World-Herald. The native of Red Cloud and one-time intern at the Red Cloud Chief and the Hastings Tribune now lives in Omaha and is married to Sarah Baker Hansen, a longtime Nebraska food writer and restaurant critic.

Sarah Klinger

Sarah Klinger was named news director of KETV in December 2023 after serving as assistant news director at the station. She began her career at WXMI-FOX 17 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, then served as a news producer at WXYZ in Detroit, before becoming an executive producer at WTAE in Pittsburgh. Over her career, her work has been recognized with such awards as an Emmy and multiple regional Edward R. Murrow awards. A native of eastern Michigan, she graduated from Grand Valley State University. Sarah and her husband, Josh, have three children.

Matt Olberding

Matt Olberding joined Nebraska Public Media as news director in 2025 after nearly 30 years in the newspaper industry. Prior to joining the team, Matt spent 20 years as a reporter and editor at the Lincoln Journal Star and also has worked at the Columbus Telegram and Tampa Bay Times. He is a Lincoln native and graduate of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Aaron Sanderford

Aaron Sanderford is the managing editor for news at the Omaha World-Herald. He rejoined the paper after having served as editor-in-chief of the Nebraska Examiner and working as its first political reporter. He has spent more than 25 years reporting and editing for the Examiner, The World-Herald and the Lincoln Journal Star and was an investigative reporter at KMTV in Omaha. From 2005 to 2007, he served as communications director for then-Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman. A North Carolina native, he holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Kentucky and a master’s degree in professional journalism from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Program Sponsor

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Questions? Contact us at [email protected]. 

Tickets

$25.00 PRSA Member ticket

$25.00 Non-member ticket or guest ticket

$20.00 Student ticket