47 million Americans now live with little or no local news access
In Plankinton, two journalists keep a 130-year-old paper alive by hand, even as seven South Dakota counties fall into news deserts.
By Aiko Soto ·
Seven South Dakota counties no longer have a professional local news outlet dedicated to their residents. Half of the state’s communities rely on a single outlet for their local coverage. New data indicates that 47 million Americans now live with limited or no access to local news.
Plankinton is an exception. Gayle Van Genderen and J.P. Studeny deliver nearly 800 copies of the South Dakota Mail every Wednesday morning. They begin the distribution process early in the day. Once the papers are out, they return to their office to write and design the next week’s edition. The workspace is the old VFW on Main Street, and the walls are covered in notes from readers.
The South Dakota Mail has operated for more than 130 years. It is one of the few news outlets still active in the area. The two journalists describe their process as old-fashioned. They create every grocery ad from scratch and do not use generative AI. Every story in the paper focuses on the local community. They say their readers have supported them through difficult periods in the journalism industry.
Studeny said, "When time runs out, that's pretty much it. I mean, if we don't have time, there's always next week." Van Genderen noted, "We're stewards of this ship, but that's all we are is stewards. Everyone supports us, our readers, and we're all working together. I don't see it as, you know, well, it's our paper. No, it belongs to everyone."
Lura Roti is a freelance agricultural journalist in South Dakota. She has observed how the loss of local outlets has changed communities in recent years. In the past, residents could call a local newspaper to share a story, even in larger cities. Small items, such as grandchildren visiting or neighbors sharing a meal, frequently appeared in the locals section. Roti said these minor stories keep communities engaged and document local history. Those connections to professional news outlets have been severed across the state.
Northwestern University’s Local News Initiative provided the research on access levels. The data was released this year. It counts 47 million residents as having limited or no local news access.
The South Dakota Mail will continue its weekly cycle. The next edition will be written, designed, and delivered in the coming weeks. The two journalists will return to the office to begin that process after this week's distribution is complete.
