Last week, I had the privilege of joining fellow South Dakota publisher Molly McRoberts of the Potter County News and Dave Bordewyk, Executive Director of the South Dakota NewsMedia Association, for the News Media Alliance’s Support Journalism Fly-In in Washington, D.C. It was an invitation-only gathering that brought together more than 100 participants representing news, magazine and digital-only publishers from 34 states, all united by one message: local journalism matters.
We met with Senator John Thune, Senator Mike Rounds, and Representative Dusty Johnson on Capitol Hill to discuss some of the most pressing issues facing our industry, including AI and copyright abuse, along with postal delivery and rate problems. These conversations were both engaging and productive, and it was clear that our voices representing local, community news carried real weight.
Our message was simple: fair treatment of local journalism is not just a media issue, it’s a community issue. Artificial intelligence is scraping and republishing local reporting without credit or compensation, which undermines the ability of small-town papers like the True Dakotan to sustain our work. Rising postal rates and inconsistent delivery times further strain our mission, directly impacting how quickly our valued readers get their news and how effectively businesses can advertise.
Behind every story we print are local people, local issues and local solutions. When delivery is unreliable or when our content is taken without acknowledgment, the communities we serve are the ones who lose out.
Standing alongside journalists and media professionals from across the nation was an unforgettable experience. From weekly editors to large-market News Media Alliance members, we all came together with one united purpose, to remind lawmakers that a free and thriving press is the backbone of democracy — whether it’s on Main Street in small town South Dakota or Pennsylvania Avenue.
While in Washington, Molly, Dave, and I also took time to visit the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and the Lincoln Memorial, humbling reminders of the sacrifices made in service to our country. We toured the National Air and Space Museum, marveled at the history surrounding us, and enjoyed a taste of D.C.’s culinary tradition at The Monocle and Old Ebbitt Grill, wrapping up a busy day of advocacy with a stop at the centuries-old Round Robin Bar.
Trips like this serve as powerful reminders that local journalism is not isolated, it’s part of a national effort to inform, connect and strengthen communities. The policies shaped in Washington affect how we do our jobs right here at home, from how the True Dakotan reaches your mailbox to how our stories appear (sometimes without permission) online.
As publishers, we advocate not just for our industry, but for you, our readers, our neighbors and ourcommunities.Thankyou for continuing to support independent journalism through your subscriptions, your engagement and your belief that small-town stories matter.