Picking Corn

Authors

Aaron Sanderford, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow

First Advisor

Karez Hassan

Committee Members

Kaci Richter, Linda White, Chris Graves

Date of this Version

12-2024

Document Type

Project

Citation

A professional project master's degree defense consisting of a local political podcast addressing Nebraska’s shifting media landscape

University of Nebraska-Lincoln, December 2024

Also available at Picking Corn: Nebraska's 2024 Senate Races (https://soundcloud.com/nebraska-examiner/picking-corn-the-pilot?si=095171d6710b43a190cebc0fb1dbec30)

Comments

Copyright 2024, Aaron Sanderford. Used by permission

Abstract

Nebraska’s shifting media landscape, marked by the decline of newspapers and traditional broadcast viewership, has created an opportunity for innovative, local storytelling. My professional project, Picking Corn, is a podcast that gives voice to Nebraska’s political conversations, focusing on in-depth, long-form interviews with key political figures. Inspired by successful models like The New York Times Daily and NPR Politics Pod, this podcast aims to engage audiences by prioritizing thoughtful questions and meaningful dialogue.

In its first year, Picking Corn reached over 3,300 listeners across platforms like Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and SoundCloud. The podcast achieved a 72% episode completion rate—far exceeding industry averages for political podcasts—and garnered positive feedback, including nine 5-star reviews. Episodes featuring lesser-known candidates and hard-hitting questions performed particularly well, reflecting the audience’s appetite for authentic, unscripted political discourse.

While the project succeeded in elevating some local political conversations, it also revealed areas for improvement. Expanding social media efforts to include TikTok and Instagram, for instance, could further boost visibility and engagement. Additionally, refining the structure of interviews to hook listeners more quickly remains a key learning. Picking Corn demonstrates the demand for high-quality, nonpartisan journalism in Nebraska. This project highlights how a well-executed podcast can bring fresh energy to local reporting and deepen civic engagement by providing a space for deeper stories to be heard.

Advisor: Karez Hassan