From the Nominator

"The Leading Nebraska podcast series shares the stories of researchers, faculty, staff, and students across the University of Nebraska who are making an impact. From teachers and doctors to engineers and ag experts, these Nebraska leaders are touching lives and making a difference.   

The podcasts use storytelling to show the impact that the university has on the state in areas that matter. This helps taxpayers and influencers understand why their investment in the university is so critical. The primary audience is external, statewide influencers: business, agricultural and community leaders, public officials, advisory group members and advocates, and alumni.   

As of February 25, 17 podcasts have aired. Twelve podcasts aired between July 1, 2020-December 31, 2021. The podcast is released every six weeks and is distributed via the NUforNE website, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, SoundCloud, email newsletters to advocates and state/federal leaders, organic social media, and campus email newsletters. A press release is distributed the day a new podcast is released, and each podcast is promoted on Facebook with a two-week paid social media campaign.  

Our goals are awareness (as measured by content impressions) and engagement (as measured by time on site and podcast listens). The 17 podcasts generated 1,800,211 impressions through related content pushed out through press releases, emails, web pages, and social media (LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook). The podcasts were listened to over 4,000 times on Soundcloud, Spotify, and Apple Podcast. Users stay on the podcast site for an average of 3:10, demonstrating the content’s value."

From the Judges

Leading Nebraska stands out among the other entries, both for its target audience—external stakeholders, including public officials and community, business, and agricultural leaders—and its strong strategic purpose: to use storytelling to help those audiences understand why their investment in the university is so critical. The episodes, which run about 15 minutes, are digestible, but meaty. The topics, from infectious diseases to counterterrorism, are timely. Leading Nebraska serves as a model for other institutions with modest budgets interested in amplifying faculty research and student experiences, and could serve as a useful tool for media relations teams pitching those stories.