I am honored and humbled by the invitation to write a semimonthly column for this newspaper.
By way of introduction, I’m a South Dakota native who grew up on the family farm my grandparents (my family’s first generation born in the U.S.) built in Turner County more than 100 years ago. My formal education began in a rural one-room school two miles from my home and concluded when I earned my Associate of Arts degree from Freeman Junior College in 1970. I’ve lived most of my life in the Freeman community. I’m married to an Ohio girl (Mary Bixel), whom I met in college in 1968. We have two grown children and five grandchildren.
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I was unexpectedly introduced to community journalism in 1973 when the publisher of the weekly Freeman Courier asked me to temporarily fill in when his editor resigned. When “filling in” became permanent, I discovered that I enjoyed reporting and recording community news. After a two-year interruption working in the graphic arts department of an Ohio commercial printing company, I returned to Freeman in 1977. Community journalism became my calling; I purchased the Courier in 1986. I retired in 2020, passing the reins to our son, Jeremy, who continues to publish the paper.
Journalism fit well with my natural curiosity, a deep appreciation for the First Amendment and a strong belief in the value of community. Writing, photography and graphic design satisfied my creative itch. And journalism spoke to my desire for work that is stimulating, rewarding and serves the greater good.
Following my retirement as a community journalist, I became a part-time staff member at Heritage Hall Museum & Archives in Freeman. Another unexpected development, it’s proven to be another “good fit.” Serving as education/communication coordinator enables me to use many of the same skills I did as a journalist – storytelling.
I’ve gained a deeper appreciation for the men and women who chronicle the news of their local communities in weekly installments. The cliché that “journalism is the first draft of history” is absolutely true. Doing research for museum projects often takes me into newspaper archives that document and confirm our community’s history. The photos and details in news and feature stories on those pages are invaluable; without that record, our history would be incomplete and compromised.
Journalism has also reinforced my belief in the importance of a free and independent press. Providing information that citizens want and need is essential to a well-functioning democracy.
I’m troubled by the growing decline of trust in the news media. Recent surveys show that only about 25 percent of United States citizens trust their news sources. It reflects a changing online media landscape, demonization by elected officials and political groups, and people tending to seek out sources that reinforce their beliefs rather than factual reporting.
The good news is that local news fares better than national news on that front.
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The South Dakota NewsMedia Association (SDNA), representing more than 100 print and digital outlets, conducts periodic surveys on South Dakotans’ news consumption. Their 2024 survey found more than half the respondents trust their local newspapers and television stations the most.
Seven out of ten South Dakotans say local newspapers providing information to their community is very important to them.
While I’m retired from active journalism, I continue my affiliation with news media organizations. I’m a member of the SDNA, which advocates for newspapers across the state.
I’m also a member of the International Society of Weekly Newspaper Editors, founded at Southern Illinois University Carbondale in 1955. ISWNE encourages community journalists to improve their editorial voices, reporting and community engagement, and advocate for press freedom around the world. Although most members live in North America, ISWNE includes journalists from as far as Australia.
And I’m a member of the board of directors for South Dakota News Watch, an independent, nonprofit news-reporting organization established in 2016. Since 2018, SDNW reporters have been sharing stories that help South Dakotans be informed and engaged citizens.
In the weeks and months ahead, I look forward to sharing stories, observations, insights, perspectives and opinions that draw on my interests — history, news, travel, people and the stories that inform and enrich our shared experiences.