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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
LINCOLN, Neb. (March 17, 2016)—Parts of central Nebraska will step into the national spotlight March 19-24, as the state plays host to a group of 21 journalists writing for international, national and regional media outlets. This will be the thirteenth media tour sponsored by the Nebraska Tourism Commission. The tours are designed to show selected media outlets what Nebraska has to offer visitors in various regions of the state.
The tour will show off the state’s Central Platte River Region, the annual sandhill crane migration and other attractions such as The Archway, Harlan Reservoir, Pioneer Village, Fort Kearny, Stuhr Museum of the Prairie Pioneer, Wessels Living History Farm and many more. In addition to visiting many unique Nebraska attractions, the journalists will sample local restaurants, learn about famous Nebraska historical figures and much more. Cities featured in the tour include McCook, Kearney, Gothenburg, Minden, Grand Island, Henderson, York, Aurora, Hastings and Red Cloud.
The visiting journalists write for a wide variety of publications including National Geographic Traveler, AAA World, AAA Home and Away, USA Today, Smithsonian, History Channel Magazine, Alaska Airlines’ Magazine, Audubon Magazine, US Weekly, Family Fun, Every Day with Rachel Ray, American Cowboy, Saveur, Cooking Light, Relish, Byways Magazine, The Chicago Tribune, The Minneapolis Star Tribune, St. Paul Pioneer Press, The Indianapolis Star, Nashville Tennessean, The Des Moines Register, Minnesota Parent, Canadian World Traveler, the Toronto Star and several others.
Some 272 journalists have visited Nebraska on the previous media tours, resulting in 743 articles or broadcast segments, which have appeared in media outlets including Midwest Living, Smithsonian, Latina Magazine, Better Homes & Gardens, Parade, USA Today's Go Escape magazine, Saveur, IN Magazine, American Cowboy, Wall Street Journal, Group Tour, Group Travel Leader, Canadian Geographic, Byways, Smart Meetings, Short Escapes, American Way, MotorHome Magazine, Huffington Post, Texas Golfer, AAA Journeys, National Public Radio, Kansas City Star, Miami Herald, Nashville Tennessean, Minneapolis Star Tribune, Oklahoman, Fort Worth Star Telegram, Toronto Sun, Albuquerque Journal and the Coloradoan.
Some 854,208,316 potential visitors have been exposed to this coverage. If this editorial coverage had been purchased as paid advertising it would have cost more than $11.5 million. National and in-state tourism sponsors have provided more than $500,000 in goods and services including air transportation, lodging, meals and activities to support the Nebraska Tourism Commission's media tour program.
“This is the Commission’s fourth year supporting and hosting statewide media tours. We greatly appreciate the support from the local businesses and communities who participate in the tours. As we strive to find balance in such a fluid industry, the media tours are an example of the unique opportunities we must constantly consider to promote the exploration of Nebraska. We also hope they remind those who have moved away why they should come home," said Kathy McKillip, Director of the Nebraska Tourism Commission.
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