SD Newspapers - April/May 2019 by South Dakota Newspaper Association

Volume 33 – Number 1

An information publication of the South Dakota Newspaper Association, Brookings, SD

April/May 2019

Meet in Medora for golf, Hunhoff music, shop talk and more receives This summer newspaper folk from the Dakotas will golf in the picturesque Badlands and watch an acclaimed musical review in a natural outdoor amphitheater, and in between they’ll talk a lot of shop. It’s all at the NDNA-SDNA joint convention to be held May 30 to June 1 in the tourist town of Medora, N.D., at the doorstep to beautiful Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Registration for the event is now open at the North Dakota Newspaper Association website (ndna.com). You can also find hotel and convention agenda information on the website. A scramble at Bully Pulpit Golf Course kicks things off Thursday morning. That evening there will be a social at the North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame, with entertainment by Medora performers. Friday starts with work, including four concurrent sessions and hundreds of awards presentations. It ends with the iconic Pitchfork Steak Fondue on a terrace overlooking the Badlands, and a performance of the Medora Musical, a patriotic variety show that runs seven days a week all summer. Friday morning sessions include a panel on the “trending” membership model of newspaper readersh8p and a panel discussion about news media coverage of race issues in the Dakotas. Cecile Wehrman, president of Journal Publishing of Crosby and Tioga, and Aaron Becher, a vice president for Forum Communications, will describe their forays

national honor for FOI work

into readership models in a session called, “Members or subscribers, and what is the difference.” Concurrently, a discussion about coverage of race issues in the news media will feature panelists Native Sun News Publisher Tim Giago, N.D. Commissioner of Indian Affairs Scott Davis and journalist Jodi Rave Spotted Bear, a founder-director of the Indigenous Media Freedom Alliance. In the afternoon, journalism professor Teri Finneman of the University of Kansas will discuss podcasts and how newspapers can use them to drive readership and revenue. Finneman will also do one-on-one

session to help newspapers improve their social media use. Also Friday afternoon several vendors will participate in a panel describing technology options now available to newspapers. Because there is no traditional banquet program, special awards, including General Excellence, Sweepstakes and Best of the Dakotas, will be on the Saturday breakfast program. The convention will conclude Saturday morning with a “Hot Topics’ program in which four speakers will each discuss one current newspaper issue.

Longtime South Dakota newspaper journalist Brian Hunhoff of Yankton last month was named to the National Freedom of Information Coalition’s Open Government Hall of Fame for 2019. Hunhoff joined three other individuals from across the United States who were honored as “Heroes of the 50 States” by the NFOIC. The four inductees have backgrounds in journalism, local government, law and academia. Hunhoff was the longtime publisher of the Yankton County Observer. He was president of SDNA in 1997. He received the SDNA’s “Eagle Award” in 2005 for his open government work as a Yankton County commissioner. Last year he was inducted into the South Dakota Newspaper Hall of Fame. Hunhoff, currently the Yankton County Register of Deeds, serves on the SDNA First Amendment Committee. Known statewide for differencemaking opposition to illegal or (Continuted to page 2)

1890: Now that was a convention Debbie Hemmer President / SDNA Grant County Review, Milbank Members of SDNA will soon be heading to Medora, N.D., for the joint convention with NDNA. With a pitchfork supper and a production of the Medora Musical on the schedule, this year’s convention is reminiscent of elaborate press conventions that were staged in the 1880s and 1890s. I have run across several accounts of past conventions written by Henry Volkmar and printed in the Grant County Review. Volkmar was president of the association from 1899-1900. He attended conventions when the organization was known as the Dakota Press Association before the territory was divided into two states and also attended many South Dakota Press

Association conventions. His at the cottage of Arthur Mellette accounts of the conventions who would later become the reveal events that featured first governor of South musical entertainment, Dakota. Unfortunately, tours and lavish meals. Mellette was called The main attendees away at the last at the conventions moment and was were newspaper not present, but editors, their wives Charles Williams and guests. They greeted the editors were heartily and presided over welcomed during the meal that was the occasions, and served. Williams many cities sought was a lawyer to host the event who had served each year. in the Wisconsin The editors state senate before gathered in Watertown he relocated to during the third week of Watertown. The next July in 1885. The first day evening the group was was devoted to business serenaded by a brass band meetings, but at four o’clock and enjoyed an elaborate meal the editors were transported at the Rink. Henry Volkmar out to Lake Kampeska in The next morning the carriages. They were guests editors boarded a train

bound for Minneapolis, MN, where they stayed at the West Hotel and toured the manufacturing district at St. Anthony Falls and also visited Minnehaha Falls. The following day they were guests on the City of St. Louis steamer on Lake Minnetonka. One of the highlights in Minneapolis was “the unexpected and highly enjoyable pleasure of a visit with the old war-horse, Gen. Sherman,” wrote Volkmar. The final day included a carriage ride for all along the bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River and a meal at the Ryan Hotel in St. Paul, MN, where they were wined and dined and entertained by the Northwestern Band to close out the convention. Two years later the convention was in Volkmar’s own back yard as the Big Stone City council invited the association to meet on the shores of Big Stone Lake. Not wanting to be upstaged by Big Stone City, the mayor of Milbank also invited the association for an evening of activities. The sessions took place at Simpson Park, a (Continuted to page 4)

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South Dakota Newspapers

Journalist’s shield law highlights session David Bordewyk SDNA Executive Director There is always a collective sigh of relief when the South Dakota Legislature adjourns. For legislators, state government officials, journalists covering the session and yes, even for lobbyists, the end of the session is welcomed if for no other reason than a chance to decompress and return to one’s normal routines. SDNA enjoyed a successful legislative session this year, highlighted by the passage the journalist’s shield law and the government confidential settlements ban law. Also, we saw minimal activity on the public notices front, with no wholesale attacks on the laws governing the publication of public notices in

Published bi-monthly by South Dakota Newspaper Association, 1125 32nd Ave., Brookings, SD 57006, and at additional office Telephone: 800-658-3697 Periodicals Class Postage paid at Brookings, SD 57006 Subscription price: $15 per year. SDNA Officers President Debbie Hemmer / Grant County Review, Milbank First Vice President Letitia Lister / Black Hills Pioneer, Spearfish Second Vice President Beau Ravellette / Pioneer Review, Philip Third Vice President Robert Slocum / Timber Lake Topic At-large Director Cory Myers / Argus Leader, Sioux Falls At-large Director LeeAnne Dufek / Hamlin County Republic, Castlewood Past President Kelli Bultena / Lennox Independent & Tea Weekly SDNA Staff David C. Bordewyk / Executive Director Nicole Herrig / Business Manager & Network Coordinator John Brooks / Advertising Sales Director Sandy DeBeer / Advertising Placement Coordinator Julie Sperlich / Advertising Assistant

newspapers. There was a rewrite of several open meetings laws, which we supported. The rewrite should help make the open meetings laws easier for compliance. I want to thank Gov. Kristi Noem for her support of the journalist’s shield law and confidential settlements bills. She began the legislative session by urging lawmakers in her State of the State speech to pass a journalist’s shield law bill. She and her team supported that bill throughout the entire process. Also, Noem’s vocal support for the ban on government confidential settlements legislation was critical to its passage. Thank you to the many legislators who supported these bills. The journalist’s shield law bill passed in the House with 47 yes votes and 20 no votes and in the Senate with 33 yes votes and 1 no vote. The confidential settlements ban bill passed with 23 yes votes and 10 no votes in the Senate and 54 yes votes and 9 no votes in the House. Rep. Jon Hansen of Dell Rapids and Sen. Lee Schoenbeck of Watertown sponsored the journalist’s shield law bill. Sen. Art Rusch of Vermillion and Rep. David Johnson of Rapid City sponsored

Hunhoff

Rep. Hansen

Rep. Johnson

Sen. Rusch

Sen. Schoenbeck

the confidential settlements ban bill. Thank you to all four legislators for their work and support. They are to be commended. Sen. Reynold Nesiba sponsored a bill to make public certain information related

to money lending license applications in our state. Specifically, the names and addresses of officers and trustees listed on the applications will be public. Thank you, Sen. Nesiba, for working to see this bill become law. One bill involving public notices in newspapers that did involve our work was brought by state Treasurer Josh Haeder to revise laws related to unclaimed property. We were thankful to Treasurer Haeder and his team for their willingness and cooperation to work with us on the bill to ensure the publication requirements related to unclaimed property were maintained, with some modifications. Now we look ahead. What can we work on for next year? As I wrote in a Sunshine Week column in March, there is much to be done when it comes to improving our state’s open records and open meetings laws. We will forge ahead. Finally, in the coming months we will be focusing on rolling out a more robust and dynamic statewide public notices website. It will involve the cooperation and participation of all newspapers across the state. Look for more information in the coming weeks.

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unnecessary closed public meetings, Hunhoff has produced a comprehensive, compelling and far-reaching body of work to promote open government at the local and state levels. In 2017 Hunhoff wrote "In a Minutes Notice" – a 19-part series about the wealth of open government information found in meeting minutes and legal notices. It received first place in “Best Public Notice Journalism" from the National Newspaper Association, and second in "Best Use of Public Records" from the Minnesota chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. In 2005 SDNA honored Hunhoff with its Eagle Award because of his work as a county commissioner to aggressively advocate for transparency and openness in government. He focused on reducing the number of executive sessions called during

commission meetings. The national inductees were honored during the Hall of Fame luncheon at NFOIC’s 2019 Freedom of Information Summit in April in Dallas. This year’s summit marks the 30th anniversary of NFOIC. The other inductees included a Georgia newspaper journalist, a Texas First Amendment attorney and a California open government advocate. The Open Government Hall of Fame recognizes long-term contributions of individuals to open government in their respective states. Specifically, induction recognizes the “long and steady effort to preserve and protect the free flow of information about state and local government that is vital to the public in a democracy.”

Brian Hunhoff

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April/May 2019 • 3

South Dakota Newspapers

Protecting our free press shines light for all By Kristi Noem Governor, South Dakota

“Either write things worth reading, or do things worth writing,” is a quote often attributed to Benjamin Franklin. That’s often how I feel like my relationship goes with the press. I hope to be doing things worth writing about, and I hope they are writing things worth reading. One of South Dakota’s greatest resources is the hometown newspaper. Local newspapers, television stations, and other media sources like these play an instrumental role in keeping communities strong and informed. And honest reporting can be a valuable tool in upholding the integrity of government entities. I’ve seen that first-hand. Factbased reporting helped shine a light on federal VA abuses against our veterans. It has helped us see inside institutions like the Indian Health Service. Tough, investigative reporting can lead to muchneeded policy reforms. Even so, local reporters can be forced to testify for investigating important stories, causing them to choose between maintaining the confidentiality of their sources and the possibility of jail. Reporters should never have to choose between revealing a confidential source and jailtime. That’s why, in my State of the State address, I asked for a reporter shield law that protects journalists from revealing privileged sources and information to reach my desk by the end of session. I’m pleased to report that a good bill recently passed both the House and Senate, and I signed it into law. This new law will help ensure that investigative reporters can do their jobs without fear of consequences or legal action. This is a necessary step toward protecting the constitutional right to a free and independent press. I am thankful that the South Dakota Newspaper Association (SDNA) supported this concept and worked with a majority of legislators to get this across the finish line. As David Bordewyk, the executive director of SDNA, said: “The journalist’s shield law will help to ensure a free and robust press in South Dakota can do its work effectively without fear of being compelled to divulge confidential sources or to release unpublished newsgathering material. These protections are important to protecting a free flow of information in our state.” I couldn’t agree more. I’m committed to making my administration the most transparent in our state’s history. As we grow our economy and strengthen family structures, we must be diligent in keeping government transparency as a cornerstone. Let’s throw open up state government to more daylight and let genuine accountability be a guiding principle as we work to make South Dakota stronger for the next generation.

Journalist’s shield law signed by Noem News media representatives joined Gov. Kristi Noem March 11 at the state capitol to re-enact the signing of a bill that creates newsgathering protections for journalists in South Dakota. The previous week, Noem signed House Bill 1074, which protects newspaper and broadcast journalists from legal challenges seeking to obtain their confidential sources or release unpublished notes and newsgathering material. South Dakota joins 39 other states and the District of Columbia that have a journalist’s shield law. The bill was sponsored by Rep. Jon Hansen of Dell Rapids and Sen. Lee Schoenbeck of Watertown.

The bill was supported by South Dakota Newspaper Association, the South Dakota Broadcasters Association and Noem. The governor in a speech to legislators in January called on them to pass the legislation. “We appreciate Gov. Noem, Rep. Hansen, Sen. Schoenbeck and many other legislators who supported this important bill to protect and support an independent press in South Dakota,” SDNA Executive Director David Bordewyk said. "This new law recognizes the importance of investigative and public affairs reporting that is necessary for a free flow of information.” In a release issued by the governor’s

office, Gov. Noem said: “Fact-based reporting can be a valuable tool in upholding the integrity of government entities, and investigative reporting can lead to much-needed policy reforms. Even so, local reporters can be forced to testify for investigating important stories, causing them to choose between maintaining the confidentiality of their sources and the possibility of jail. This Reporter Shield Law will help ensure that investigative reporters can do their jobs without fear of improper legal action. This is a necessary step toward protecting the constitutional right to a free and independent press.”

Joining Gov. Kristi Noem on March 12 to re-enact the signing of the journalist’s shield law legislation were, from left: Tom Hart of the governor’s staff, Pierre Capital Journal Publisher John Clark, SDNA Executive Director David Bordewyk, S.D. Broadcasters Association President Steve Willard and SDNA lobbyist Justin Smith.

PUBLIC NOTICES Public Notice Advertising • Protects Your Right to Know

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South Dakota Newspapers

Civility in Lawmaking Former Gov. Dennis Daugaard received the Craig Tieszen Award for Civility in Lawmaking during Newspaper Day at the Legislature on Jan. 24. Presenting the award were the late Rapid City lawmaker’s widow, Deb Tieszen, and Rapid City Journal editor Chris Huber. The Journal created the award in 2018 to honor the legacy of Tieszen, a widely respected state representative who died tragically in a November 2017 kayaking accident. Daugaard told the Journal that legislative term limits and the rise of social media have had corrosive effects on civility in government and politics.

Golden age of conventions popular attraction on the shores of the lake. The first day the evening meal was at the St. Charles Hotel in Big Stone City, and the second evening musical entertainment was provided by members of the Methodist Church. The main event of the convention was a day on the steamer F. P. Underwood which ferried the editors on a 60-mile round trip on the lake. A picnic dinner was provided on the steamer, and as Volkmar reported, “The party amused itself all day long in various ways – singing, dancing, visiting and listening to stories from Col. Plummer and Major Edwards.” The convention wound up in Milbank. A train specially ordered for the event carried the editors to Milbank where the G.A.R. band greeted them, playing their instruments as the cars pulled into the depot. A long line of carriages was waiting to transport the visitors on a tour of Milbank. The citizens of the city decorated Main Street with flags, bunting, evergreens and banners. The final destination was the opera house where a large feast was laid out for the editors and musical entertainment was provided. The editors were so impressed with Big Stone Lake and the reception at Milbank that they voted to make Big Stone Lake a permanent meeting ground for the association. Owners of a new summer resort on the lake had offered land to the association on which they could erect a building. Obviously, the permanent home for the association at Big Stone Lake did not materialize, but another call for this to happen came in 1888. An excursion to Yellowstone Park was planned during the first week of September in 1888. The Aberdeen News editor protested the trip stating, “A majority of the members of the fraternity are precluded on account of the expense and the length of time, in taking part in any way with the regular yearly business transactions of the association for pleasant as the trip to the national park is sure to be, it is not presumed nor thought that any great number of the editors of the territory can find it possible to attend.” The editor asked, “Why should not the Dakota Press Association establish its permanent annual meeting place at or near Big Stone City on the Dakota side?” I’m sure many present day members may be asking themselves why we are meeting way out in Medora just like some protested the trip to Yellowstone. At least we can be thankful that modern day conveniences makes it a rather easy trip

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In its campaign to retain the state capital, Pierre hosted SDNA members on a cross-country tour from the Missouri River to the Black Hills in 1890. Publishers and their spouses then made rail connections, with their free passes, through Nebraska to Sioux City and back to their homes. The tour reputedly helped Pierre when an easy victory.

unlike the journey the editors undertook in 1890 when a trip to the Black Hills was planned. The convention started in Huron where the editors enjoyed an elaborate banquet and entertainment. Following the events at Huron the group traveled to Pierre by train where they were graciously entertained. After a day in Pierre the editors and guests were ferried across the Missouri River to Fort Pierre. The train tracks ended at Pierre and to continue the trip the editors had to travel by wagon. The wagon train featured 41 vehicles including 32 covered carriages and wagons. The Review editor rode in an old Army ambulance which he described as not much for looks but a very easy riding affair. There were nine baggage wagons containing the baggage, mattresses, bedding, tents, ice, provisions and other necessary items. The party numbered 55 editors, 35 ladies, 16 members of the Pierre Capital Band, 44 cooks, teamsters, canvass men, 10 managers and invited guests. “It was feared at Pierre that the ladies could not stand the arduous trip, but they came through bravely – somewhat tired, of course, but all right. It was a very hot and dusty trip, but we have been amply repaid for whatever of discomfort experienced by

a personal knowledge of the character of the country,” wrote Volkmar of the trip. Also among the items needed for the long trip were 26 small tents for four persons each, two large tents, bedding, including wire mattresses for the ladies, 8,000 pounds oats, 2,500 pounds ice, 1,200 cans meats, vegetables and fruits, 1,000 loaves bread, 500 pounds ham and bacon, 125 pounds sugar, 100 pounds pressed corned beef, 100 pounds butter, 50 pounds coffee, 200 dozen eggs, 200 boxes sardines, four boxes lemons, 20 gallons pickles, one box fresh pears, and enough cigars to go around liberally after each meal. The city of Pierre footed the bill for the excursion which amounted to $3,000. The wagon train arrived safely in the Black Hills and after a few days touring the area all returned to their respective homes via the train. The Review editor was gone two weeks for the excursion. That makes the two-day convention at Medora seem more reasonable. When Volkmar was president in 1900 the association opted for a much simpler annual meeting. It was an election year and many of the editors felt they could not be gone from home for an extended period of time, and Big Stone Lake was chosen for its relaxing atmosphere. Accommodations

were made at the Colombian Hotel in Ortonville on the Minnesota side of the lake. Boat rides were provided daily and the group traveled by steamer up to Foster Lodge one day for a meal. They were entertained by the Cafarelli orchestra on the trip. Other entertainment was provided at the hotel during the three-day event, but the affair was low-key and provided a welcome respite from the hard work the editors experienced putting out their newspapers. We are having a joint convention with our colleagues from North Dakota, so as president of SDNA this year it is mildly disappointing not to be able to host the convention in our state. It would have been nice to bring the convention back to northeast South Dakota and showcase some of the area’s attractions including Big Stone Lake. However, I’m sure my counterpart at NDNA will wine and dine us to great satisfaction. I hope many SDNA members make the trip to Medora and enjoy the opportunity afforded us to see what North Dakotans consider the jewel of their state. Maybe they will have a band on hand to greet us as we arrive, just like the days of old. One can always hope!