For Immediate Release
Nebraska Public Media Honored with Neihardt Foundation’s Word Sender Award
LINCOLN, Neb. (Nov. 10, 2025) – The John G. Neihardt Foundation honored Nebraska Public Media with its Word Sender Award at the organization’s annual “Laureate’s Feast” Sunday, Nov. 9 at the German-American Society in Omaha.
The Word Sender Award honors a person or organization that spreads the word about Neihardt’s works, his craft or about themes he wrote about, including the frontier, Native Americans and mountain men. Early interviews with Neihardt by Nebraska Public Media’s Ron Hull led to wider publicity of the author/poet’s work and notoriety for his million-seller, “Black Elk Speaks.” During the interviews, the Oglala Lakota holy man Black Elk discussed his religious views, visions and events from his life.
“We are honored to receive the Word Sender Award from the John G. Neihardt Foundation. As Nebraska’s public media network, it is our privilege to help preserve and share the voices, stories and history that shape our state. We are proud to play a role in carrying Neihardt’s legacy forward for future generations,” said Nebraska Public Media General Manager/CEO Stacey Decker.
The foundation described the public media network as an essential beacon of news concerning the state’s literary figures and the humanities, noting that listener-supported media like is even more important in today’s world as Americans and Nebraskans sort out what’s true and what isn’t.
“Word Sender” is how Black Elk described Neihardt, an author who would “send” his story, accurately, to the wider world.
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Nebraska Public Media has connected citizens with news, sports, education and entertainment since 1954. Providing global and compelling stories from PBS and NPR, the statewide public media network also produces award-winning local content. Its programs and services reach Nebraskans on television, radio, online, social media and mobile apps. Visit NebraskaPublicMedia.org for more information.