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KEARNEY – Mike Konz knows the importance of a community having its own newspaper.
The Hartington native has been a newspaperman for about 52 years, including more than three decades at the Kearney Hub.
“Community journalism is the key to a prosperous, strong community,” Konz said. “Wherever you have a strong newspaper, you’ll find a strong community.”
He noted from a community perspective, readers place a lot of trust in their newspapers.
“Think about it,” Konz said. “Community newspapers are bound to tell the truth. We can’t manufacture fake scores for Friday’s football game or lie about the couple who gives us their wedding writeup.
“Community newspapers cannot disinform readers because our readers know what is true in their communities and what is not true,” he said.
He explained why the printed words of a newspaper are still important in the digital age of information.
“On a national level, newspapers are important because they have the wherewithal to dig up important news using time-tested methods to source stories, back up information in their reports and disprove the people who complain that you can’t trust the press,” Konz said.
He noted National Newspaper Week 2023, which is being celebrated Oct. 1-7, “is a time to remind the people we serve that we believe in what we are doing, but we need our readers’ support.”
The 67-year-old certainly believes in the newspaper industry, having worked in it for nearly his entire life.
Konz started his career in newspapers in 1968 as a carrier for the Hartington Shopper.
That was followed by stints as a sportswriter and photographer at the Cedar County News from about 1969-70 and then editor of the student newspaper at Cedar Catholic High School until he graduated in 1974.
“Time at Cedar was one of the greatest gifts of my life,” Konz said. “We had amazing teachers and administrators who taught for the love of it and gave us opportunities to study subjects that you don’t find anyplace else: Latin, aeroscience and (the) Soviet Union. We also explored our faith. It was the gift of a lifetime.”
He grew up spending a lot of time at his father’s clothing store in Hartington.
“I really enjoyed meeting people who shopped at the Globe, and so I discovered after Wayne State College that journalism is very interesting and exciting,” Konz said.
“My first professional journalism job was on the Omaha and Winnebago reservations (in 1978-79),” he said. “It was a great opportunity to learn my profession.”
Konz then worked for six years in western Nebraska, covering city hall, business and industry, oil and gas, and nuclear missiles in Nebraska, Colorado and Wyoming.
He followed that up by working for three years as newspaper editor in Sterling, Colo., before moving to Kearney in 1989.
“I was editor of the Kearney Hub 30 years, but I stepped down from that role three years ago because I want to end my career doing what I love most as a writer and reporter,” Konz said.
His current role at the Kearney Hub is enterprise editor.
“I am still working full time because there’s still so much that interests me, and it feels good to be a partner in your community’s growth and development,” Konz said. During his newspaper career, Konz has served two terms as president of the Associated Press Managing Editors Association and one term as president of the Nebraska Press Association. He also has spent time on a number of community boards and was a member of the Nebraska State Records Board for six years. Outside of work, Konz enjoys riding motorcycles and welcoming new people to the community and the country. Konz also spends time with his wife of 12 years. Her name is Pilar, which is the abbreviated version of Maria del Pilar Gomez Forero. She is a native of Colombia who comes from a large family. Konz has in-laws in South America, Australia and Ireland. He also has five adult children – daughters Michelle, Kellie and Maggie, son John and stepson Sebastian.
Konz still has connections in the northeast Nebraska region, with his brother Dave living in Hartington and his sister Mary residing near Yankton, S.D.
“I cannot think of a better town to grow up than Hartington,” Konz said. “It’s an amazing place with talented, dedicated people in many professions. That includes Peggy Year and Rob Dump, co-publishers of the Cedar County News and four other publications.”
