South Dakota News Watch is a digital news site that reports on various issues in South Dakota including state politics, marijuana policy, and abortion access. South Dakota News Watch is affiliated with the Institute for Nonprofit News, a left-of-center nonprofit media organization.
Background
South Dakota News was founded in February 2017 by Jack Marsh and Randell Beck. 1
The group is a member of the Online News Association and the Solutions Journalism Network. 1
The outlet covers a wide range of political and social issues in South Dakota, including, efforts to eliminate the food tax, 2 address teacher shortages, 3 legalize abortion, 4 and outlaw recreational marijuana use. 5
Staff
Randell Beck is the co-founder and past co-chair of South Dakota News Watch. He worked as an editor and publisher for Argus Leader Media from 2001 to 2013. 6
Jack Marsh is a co-founder and past co-chair of South Dakota News Watch. Marsh previously worked as executive editor of Argus Leader Media. 7
Carson Walker is the chief executive officer of South Dakota News Watch. 8 Carson has experience working at Argus Leader Media and 17 years of experience with the Associated Press as a writer and broadcast editor. 8
Arnold Garson is a director at South Dakota News Watch. Arnold was the president and publisher of Argus Leader Media for 12 years. 9
Stu Whitney is an investigative reporter at South Dakota News Watch. Previously, Whitney worked at Argus Leader Media for over 28 years as a sports editor, news columnist, content coach, and editorial board member. 10
Michael Klinski is an engagement specialist at South Dakota News Watch. Klinski has 17 years of experience working at Argus Leader media as a reporter, copy editor, page designer, and social media coordinator. 11
Partnerships
South Dakota News Watch Trust signed a content sharing agreement with Associated Press, CalMatters, Honolulu Civil Beat, Montana Free Press, and Nebraska Journalism to expand the coverage of local news ahead of the 2024 U.S. presidential election. 12
Financials
The financial records of South Dakota News Watch indicate that in 2022, the nonprofit generated revenue of $551,771 and incurred expenses totaling $366,152. 13
References
- Walker, Carson. “About.” South Dakota News Watch, April 18, 2024. https://www.sdnewswatch.org/about/.
- Whitney, Stu. “Updated Nov. 28, 2022: Controversy Surrounds Plan to End Food Tax by Ballot Measure.” South Dakota News Watch, October 23, 2023. https://www.sdnewswatch.org/controversy-surrounds-plan-to-end-food-tax-by-ballot-measure-rather-than-through-legislature/.
- Hendry, Jackie. “South Dakota’s Teacher Shortage a Matter of Pay and Pipeline.” South Dakota News Watch, February 15, 2024. https://www.sdnewswatch.org/south-dakota-teacher-pay-salary-national-rankings/.
- Whitney, Stu. “Lawsuit over Abortion Amendment Challenged in Federal Court.” South Dakota News Watch, June 20, 2024. https://www.sdnewswatch.org/lawsuit-over-abortion-amendment-challenged-in-federal-court/.
- Whitney, Stu. “Poll: Most South Dakota Voters Oppose Recreational Marijuana Measure.” South Dakota News Watch, June 14, 2024. https://www.sdnewswatch.org/south-dakota-recreational-marijuana-initiative-measure-poll/.
- Randell Beck – Sioux Falls, South Dakota, United States. Accessed June 24, 2024. https://www.linkedin.com/in/randell-beck-74074b9.
- John S. “Jack” Marsh – South Dakota News Watch | LinkedIn. Accessed June 24, 2024. https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-s-“jack”-marsh-2302797.
- “Carson Walker – South Dakota News Watch.” LinkedIn. Accessed June 24, 2024. https://www.linkedin.com/in/carsonwalker/.
- Arnold Garson – University of nebraska-lincoln – sioux falls, South Dakota, United States | LinkedIn. Accessed June 24, 2024. https://www.linkedin.com/in/arnold-garson-b187473/.
- Walker, Carson. “Staff and Contractors.” South Dakota News Watch, May 16, 2024. https://www.sdnewswatch.org/staff/.
- “Michael Klinski – SDN Communications.” LinkedIn. Accessed June 24, 2024. https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-klinski-970081b0/.
- Ross, Chuck. “Behind AP’s ‘nonpartisan’ Initiative to ‘Reach New Audiences in an Election Year’: Democratic Megadonors.” Washington Free Beacon, May 29, 2024. https://freebeacon.com/media/behind-aps-nonpartisan-initiative-to-reach-new-audiences-in-an-election-year-democratic-megadonors/.
- South Dakota News Watch, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2022 https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/814674814/202322969349301417/full.