Norris Alfred to be inducted into the Nebraska Journalism Hall of Fame

Tagged: October 2009 • General

Norris Alfred, who was nominated by W. Don Nelson, publisher of Prairie Fire Newspaper, will be inducted into the 2009 Nebraska Journalism Hall of Fame on Oct. 23, 2009, at 7:00 p.m. in Lincoln, Neb. Gene Morris of McCook, Neb., Shirley Bogue of Crofton, Neb., and Fred Rose (posthumously) of Ainsworth, Neb., are also being inducted in the 2009 Hall of Fame. The Nebraska Journalism Hall of Fame recognizes distinguished journalists who have made significant contributions to print journalism, their communities, the state or the nation. The Hall of Fame is sponsored by the Nebraska Press Association (NPA) and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln College of Journalism and Mass Communications. A selection committee of NPA and Journalism College representatives chooses the inductees.

Norris Alfred published the Polk Progress from 1955 until 1989. Alfred was born in Polk in 1913, worked at the Progress during high school and after graduation, then attended Doane College in Crete, graduating with a degree in chemistry. He worked as a printer and an artist in various parts of the U.S. before returning to Polk to be near his aging parents. He bought the Progress in 1955.

The paper’s motto, “Slower is better,” was accompanied on the masthead by a drawing of a snail wearing glasses. In addition to the typical small-town news, the newspaper featured Alfred’s bird-watching column, a column about the weather and impassioned editorials. In its last few months, the Progress had 900 subscribers in 45 states. Alfred was named a Master Editor-Publisher by the Nebraska Press Association, and his work was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize in 1980. Alfred died in 1995.

The NPA and the Journalism College are pleased to be able to honor each Hall of Fame inductee who has contributed so much to Nebraska and its journalism.

For more information or if you would like to attend this event, contact Katie Pelster at the NPA office at nebpress[at]nebpress[dot]com

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