Stay Informed About South Dakota Local News

Why South Dakota News?

In South Dakota, the media landscape is a resilient mix of traditional newspapers, public broadcasting, and innovative digital outlets, even as challenges like funding cuts and closures reshape the scene. With one of the highest numbers of newspapers per capita despite around 40 closures over the past 30 years, residents rely on a blend of print, TV, radio, and online sources to stay connected. Public broadcaster South Dakota Public Broadcasting (SDPB) maintains 98% statewide coverage but has faced a 25% staff reduction due to federal funding losses, focusing on essential government and legislative news. Emerging digital players like South Dakota News Watch and The Dakota Scout are filling gaps left by traditional media, offering hyper-local stories on community events, accountability, and regional issues amid postal delays affecting 75 newspapers and consolidations in TV like Nexstar's acquisition of KELO-TV in Sioux Falls. Residents in South Dakota are turning to a hybrid of old and new ways to stay informed—traditional sources for trusted local reporting, supplemented by streaming apps, podcasts, and email newsletters to combat information overload. Closures, such as those from News Media Corporation shutting down four papers in 2025, have created 'big holes' in community coverage, as noted by local leaders, weakening civic engagement and voter turnout. Yet revivals like Champion Media restarting papers such as The Brookings Register and Huron Plainsman show the enduring value of local journalism. Briefsy steps in here, curating personalized newsletters that pull from these trusted outlets, ensuring you get South Dakota-specific updates without sifting through multiple fragmented sources.