Introduction to South Dakota News Media
South Dakota is a state in the midwestern region of the United States. With a population of 884,659 (as of 2019), South Dakota is the fifth smallest state by population and the 5th least densely populated in the country.
Though South Dakota was officially annexed to the union only on November 2, 1889, the history of press & printing in the state can be traced back to 1858 7 the establishment of the first press in the region.
First Press In South Dakota
Samuel J. Albright established the first press in South Dakota, then squatter governor of Dakota in 1858. It was a used Washington hand press from Minnesota, and the press was set up in Sioux Falls. Election notices were the first material to be printed from the media.
Within a few months after the press was established, the first newspaper in South Dakota entered circulation.
First Newspaper In South Dakota – The Democrat
The Democrat was the first newspaper to be published within the present boundaries of South Dakota. Samuel J. Albright was the owner and publisher of the paper, and it first hit the newsstands on September 20, 1858. It was a four-page newspaper and was published irregularly until July 2, 1859. Following which, The Democrat was printed and circulated as a daily newspaper.
Samuel J. Albright sold the newspaper to Mr Stewart in 1860, and he renamed the paper to The North-western Democrat. The paper continued to be in circulation until the Indian war broke out in 1862. With the onset of the action, the settlement of Sioux Falls was abandoned, and the Indians destroyed the printing press.
Second Newspaper in South Dakota – The Weekly Dakotaian
The Weekly Dakotaian was the second newspaper to be published in South Dakota. Frank M. Ziebach published it, and the paper first hit the newsstands in June 61,861 as a weekly newspaper. In 1862, Frank sold the newspaper to J. C. Trask who later converted the paper to a daily publication in 1875.
Following the success of The Weekly Dakotaian, a lot of other newspapers began entering the South Dakota market. Some of the prominent contemporary newspapers were
- The Dakota Union: 1864
- The Press: 1870
- The Independent: 1875
- The Advocate: 1876
- The Dakota Pantograph:1877
- The Times: 1878
- The Exponent: 1879
These are some of the early prominent newspapers in South Dakota. As of 2020, there are more than 100 newspapers & news websites that are in circulation in South Dakota. This article will look at some of the top South Dakota newspapers & news websites and discuss them.
If you are looking for exclusive information on US Newspapers, you can read the article written by our US Media expert.
Keloland News
Keloland News is an online news portal owned and operated by the KELO-TV television station in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. While the TV channel airs 26 hours of local newscasts each week, the website covers all facets of news & updates from Sioux Falls, northwest Iowa and southwest Minnesota.
There are dedicated sections on the website for local, national & international news, weather updates, sports news, community news, jobs, image & video gallery, and more. Readers can also access live TV from the website.
Apart from a strong presence on the web, Keloland News also has an active presence on Facebook & Twitter. These social media handles are regularly updated with the latest news & updates.
Sioux City Journal
Sioux City Journal is a daily newspaper in Sioux City serving the residents of northwestern Iowa and portions of Nebraska and South Dakota. Established in 1864, the paper is currently the oldest newspaper to be in continuous circulation in South Dakota.
The paper was launched as a weekly newspaper in 1864 by Samuel Tait Davis. He later sold the newspaper to George and Henry Perkins who later converted the paper to a daily newspaper.
As of 2020, the paper also hosts an online news website covering latest news & updates including breaking news from Sioux City, Iowa, South Dakota and Nebraska. Sioux City Journal also has an active presence on Facebook & Twitter.
Sioux City Journal Android App
Argus Leader
Argus Leader is a daily newspaper in South Dakota owned by Gannet. Established in 1881 as The Argus, the paper has today grown to become South Dakota’s largest newspaper in circulation. As of 2017, the paper had a daily circulation of 32,981 copies.
Apart from the daily printed edition, Argus Leader also hosts an online news website. There are dedicated sections on the website for news, sports, life, opinion, obituaries, and more. While most contents on the website are available to the users for free, access to e-edition is restricted to paid subscribers.
Argus Leader also has an active presence on Facebook & Twitter.
Rapid City Journal
Rapid City Journal is a daily newspaper in South Dakota serving Mount Rushmore, the Black Hills, and the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. The paper was first established in 1878 as the Black Hills Journal by Joseph P. Gossage. On February 2, 1886, the form was renamed to the Rapid City Daily Journal and was converted to a daily publication.
As of 2020, the paper is owned by Lee Enterprises, and they publish an online news website & an e-edition of the newspaper. The news portal has dedicated sections for news, obituaries, sports, opinion, entertainment, and more.
While readers can access the online news portal for free, access to e-edition is restricted to paid subscribers.
Rapid City Journal Android App
The American News
The American News is a daily newspaper in South Dakota owned by Gannet. The paper was first established as a weekly newspaper, and it first hit the newsstands in 1885. Over the years, the paper has grown to become the primary source of news & updates in the North-eastern South Dakota.
Capital Journal
Capital Journal is a daily newspaper in South Dakota owned by Wick Communications. The paper first hit the newsstands in 1818, and today it caters to the residents of the capital city of Pierre and its surrounding region, including Fort Pierre.
Apart from the daily printed edition, the paper also publishes an e-edition that can only be accessed by paid subscribers.
Mitchell Daily Republic
The Mitchell Daily Republic is a daily newspaper in South Dakota serving Davis County. Founded in the year 1934, the paper currently has a circulation of 9,859 copies. Other than the printed edition of the paper, Mitchell Daily Republic also publishes an e-edition that can be accessed by paid subscribers from the paper’s website.
Mitchell Daily Republic Online
KEVN
KEVN is a TV station in South Dakota owned by Grey Television station. Though the channel airs 9.5hrs of locally produced newscasts each week, they also publish an online news portal covering local news & updates from Mitchell area.
Tri State Livestock News
Tri State Livestock News is a weekly newspaper in South Dakota established in 1963. As the name suggests, both the paper and its online news website are focussed on covering agricultural news, market results, rodeo standings, as well as cattle health, and more.
Other than a robust online presence, Tri State Livestock News also has an active presence on Social media.
Tri State Livestock News Online
Tri-State Neighbor
Tri-State Neighbor is a weekly agricultural newspaper covering South Dakota, southwestern Minnesota, northwestern Iowa and northeastern Nebraska. Apart from the printed edition of the newspaper, they also host an online news website with dedicated sections for news, markets, crop, classifieds, and more.
Tri-State Neighbor also publishes an e-edition of the newspaper that can only be accessed by paid subscribers from their website.
Black Hills Pioneer
Black Hills Pioneer is a daily newspaper in South Dakota owned by the Seaton Publishing Company. The paper was established in the year 1876, and it is currently the official newspaper for Lawrence County, Meade County, and Butte County, including the towns of Spearfish, Lead, Deadwood, Whitewood, Sturgis, Vale, Newell, and Belle Fourche.
The Brookings Register
The Brookings Register is a daily newspaper in South Dakota owned by News Media Corporation. The history of the paper dates back to 1882 when it first hit the newsstands as the Brookings County Sentinel. Making it one of the oldest newspapers in the state.
Apart from the daily printed edition, the paper also publishes an e-edition that can only be accessed by paid subscribers.
Yankton Daily Press & Dakotan
Yankton Daily Press & Dakotan, as the name suggests, is a daily newspaper in South Dakota. Both the paper and its online edition primarily caters to the residents of Yankton county with latest news & updates.
Apart from the daily printed edition, the paper also hosts an online news website with dedicated sections for news, sports, obituaries, art & entertainment, and more.
Yankton Daily Press & Dakotan Online
The Volante
The Volante is an independent student-run newspaper in South Dakota published by the students of the University of South Dakota. Established in 1887, the paper covers news & updates from the university and is circulated inside the campus.
The paper also publishes an online news website and an e-edition. Which the readers can access for free.
Watertown Public Opinion
Watertown Public Opinion is a daily newspaper in Watertown, South Dakota. Established in 1887, the paper currently serves eastern South Dakota and western Minnesota. Apart from the daily printed edition, the paper also hosts an online news website with dedicated sections for news, sports, business, events, and more. Paid subscribers can also access the e-edition of the paper from the official website.
Watertown Public Opinion Online
Watertown Public Opinion ePaper
Watertown Public Opinion Android App
Watertown Public Opinion iOS App
Farm Forum
Farm Forum is a weekly publication in South Dakota serving the people involved in the agricultural industry. Both the printed edition of the paper & its online website is focussed on covering news & updates about the agricultural industry in South Dakota, North Dakota, Minnesota, and Nebraska.
Aberdeen Farm Forum Android App
Dakota Free Press
Dakota Free Press is a privately owned and operated news blog run by Cory Allen Heidelberger. The web portal is focussed on discussing state-wide and local issues.
Daily Leader
Daily Leader is a local newspaper in South Dakota serving the residents of Madison, Lake County and the Interlake’s area. Established in 1880, the paper currently covers local news and information. Apart from the daily printed edition, the paper also hosts an online news website with dedicated sections for news, opinion: Obituaries, classifieds, and more.
Conclusion
The publications discussed in this article are the top newspapers & new websites in South Dakota. As of 2020, Argus Leader is the largest newspaper in terms of circulation and Capital-Journal the smallest paper.
Like the other newspapers in the state, South Dakota Newspapers too are struggling because of dwindling revenue from circulation and advertisements. The decline in revenue has led to many closures and mergers of South Dakota newspapers in the last decade.
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