Gettysburg editor elected to lead state's news media association
Molly McRoberts, editor of the Potter County News at Gettysburg, was elected the 138th president of the South Dakota NewsMedia Association (SDNA) during the organization’s annual meeting on April 26 in Huron. Outgoing SDNA President Kristi Hine presented McRoberts the SDNA “traveling gavel” following the meeting held during the SDNA convention, signaling the culmination of Hine’s year of service as president.
Historic beginnings in Huron
During the three-day event held in Huron, SD April 25-27, Hine welcomed attendees and pointed out that the location of 141st South Dakota NewsMedia Convention was held where the association draws its beginnings.
“I’m so grateful for this time to learn, connect and reenergize our minds and our passion for journalism. I can’t help but think about the very first association meeting in 1882 where South Dakota newspaper editors formed an organization called the Huron Land District Press Association,” she began. “What would the first members of our association think 140 years later if they stepped into this room with all of us today? While I’m sure they would be a little shell shocked at the advances in technology, I bet that the journalists of yesteryear and today would find a lot in common with one another. After all, 140 years later, the goal is the same: to serve our communities with quality journalism.”
A big year for SDNA
Hine also shared accomplishments made by the association over the past year.
“While the mission of SDNA has long been to serve the news organizations that serve their communities with quality journalism, last year the association, with membership support, changed its name from South Dakota Newspaper Association to South Dakota NewsMedia Association. This move was made to strategically adapt and move forward in the rapidly changing news media industry,” Hine explained. “Another big move was a change to SDNA’s bylaws, creating a General NewsMedia membership category for a new group of journalists that package their news in different ways than a traditional newspaper.”
Hine kicked off a day of educational and informative sessions by mediating a panel comprised of three new SDNA members within the new category: Carson Walker of South Dakota News Watch, Seth Tupper of South Dakota Searchlight and Scott Waltman of Aberdeen Insider.
Additional session topics included: AI and community journalism, enhancing skills of resilience in journalism, story and revenue ideas, an introduction to “Vote South Dakota” and a discussion from SDSU School of Journalism about educating journalists for tomorrow.
The convention also featured the “SDNA Better NewsMedia Awards” presentation and a luncheon and banquet with awards and honors (see adjacent stories).
McRoberts' roots in journalism runs deep
McRoberts was raised on a farm at Gettysburg. Her great-grandfather, Andrew Guppy (A.G.) Williams, was the first publisher of the PotterCountyNews,andshe has his first editorial page displayed in her newspaper office. McRoberts was a member of the high school newspaper staff and studied English and theatre at the University of South Dakota.
Over the years, McRoberts worked briefly as a radio disc jockey and moved to California’s Silicon Valley where she wrote technical manuals for a software development firm. She eventually returned to Gettysburg and went to work for the newspaper.
“I got my first front page byline in 1987. Since then, I have worked with a half dozen publishers and watched the office staff and production demands change from late hours standing at light tables to a click of the keyboard while posting online publications. I’ve had the opportunity to teach students about the role our newspaper plays in our community and to work with them on their school newspaper to tell stories from our high school.”
McRoberts continued: “It’s an exciting time to be part of the news industry. South Dakota NewsMedia Association members recognize that while the delivery and consumption of news continues to evolve, the key is that we remain focused on providing factual and accurate news reporting.”
“Our association members tell the stories important to our communities. South Dakota journalists report news and information we need to be better-informed citizens. While some readers may still want to save a clipping from the pages of our traditionally printed newspapers, others share it through their computers and mobile devices.
Also elected to the 2024-25 SDNA Board of Directors were: First Vice President Jason Ferguson, editor of the Custer County Chronicle; Second Vice President Carson Walker, CEO of South Dakota News Watch; Third Vice President Luke Hagen, editor of the Mitchell Republic; Director LeeAnne Dufek, publisher of Hamlin County Publishing at Castlewood; Director Jill Meier, publisher of the Brandon Valley Journal; and Immediate Past President Kristi Hine, publisher of the True Dakotan at Wessington Springs.
