The World-Herald is among the best-read newspapers in America, a fact I trace, in part, to our commitment to youths of the region.
You can see that commitment on the front of the Midlands section today, where we have coverage of the Midwest Spelling Bee, an event The World-Herald has sponsored since 1929.
Or look in Sports and see our extensive coverage of the boys state high school basketball tournament. Or pick up any Saturday Community Connection section and marvel at all of the interesting activities involving young people.
The World-Herald ranks fifth among U.S. newspapers in its share of daily readers and ninth in the nation in its share of Sunday readers. For as long as I can remember, we have earned top 10 rankings in what's called market penetration. That is the percentage of households in our community that read us.
We know from independent research that our printed newspaper and our popular Web site, Omaha.com, together reach three out of four homes in the metropolitan area at least once a week.
We also know from a fall 2008 study that our weekly World-Herald readership among those 18 to 24 years old is about as strong as it is among older readers.
I often mention these facts when I speak to groups. They are an impressive testament to your trust in us.
When I am asked why we are so successful, I point, in part, to our conscious efforts to cover the heck out of young people doing good things.
We engage young readers often with coverage of their friends, their peers and their rivals across town. We also strike a chord with their parents and many other adults who keep close ties to their alma maters.
We live in a uniquely homegrown part of America, which is one reason why I think high school coverage is so popular here.
Each Thursday while school is in session, we have a page dedicated to high school sports. We have regular coverage of games and features ahead of big matchups. We cover state tournaments in every NSAA-sanctioned sport, publish weekly team rankings and name all-state teams at the ends of seasons.
Of course, we cover all sports news — good and bad. But the bulk of this coverage features the youths of Nebraska and Iowa excelling in positive activity.
Our Community Connection coverage is always good news, and often about youths.
Good Deeds, which appears every Sunday in Midlands, is full of good works by school and church groups, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts.
In our Saturday Community Connection section, youths often appear in the column Noteworthy, which salutes achievements by individuals and organizations. Chalkboard highlights what's going on in schools.
Get to Know often features young people who stand out. Our March 6 article, for example, featured Jordan Somer, a junior at Omaha Central High School. Back in eighth grade, she started the Miss Amazing Pageant for girls and women with physical and mental disabilities. Now she's organizing her fourth annual event. She's 16 years old. Talk about amazing.
The World-Herald's commitment to youths extends beyond coverage.
We have recognized top graduates of Omaha area high schools with scholarships since 1922. We have awarded scholarships to outstanding newspaper carriers for more than 30 years.
Our premier Omaha World-Herald Scholars program currently supports about 50 young people with four-year scholarships at nine Nebraska colleges. Since the program's inception, about 1,000 young people have received a free college education with the assistance of The World-Herald.
Eighteen years ago, the newspaper began its All Academic Team recognition program to honor high school seniors.
Last year, 1,025 nominations were received from 293 schools in Nebraska and western Iowa. Each of their faces appeared in our Scholars section that May, along with the faces — and hundreds more names — of other award-winning seniors. This Wednesday, judges will gather at The World-Herald Building to consider the class of 2010. Look for our special salute on May 30.
We're happy to make these commitments. Happy to help bright young minds achieve educational goals. Happy to devote newsroom resources to informing and affirming the good deeds of our young people.
It's one of the ways we sustain a devoted base of readers, generation after generation. And in a world with too much rotten going on, it's a darn nice part of our job.
Contact the executive editor:
444-1277, mike.reilly@owh.com
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