Simplified: South Dakota Public Broadcasting is facing a more than $2 million shortfall in its budget as a direct result of the federal defunding of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. That’s going to mean no more “In the Moment with Lori Walsh” no more “South Dakota Focus with Jackie Hendry” and a total of 21 jobs lost unless South Dakotans act fast in supporting locally produced local journalism. 

Why it matters

  • SDPB is the only public media outlet in the state of South Dakota. Its free, local news coverage and comprehensive coverage of the state legislature is available statewide, making it one of the most widely accessible open government resources in the state. 
  • The announcement of the cuts this week comes about a month after Congress – including South Dakota’s delegation – voted to rescind federal funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. 
  • SDPB has worked to increase focus on providing local news over national news for more than a decade, Executive Director Julie Overgaard said Thursday. But these cuts will result in significantly less local journalism for the state of South Dakota unless the organization can fundraise to fill the $2.3 million gap over the next two months. 
“If we want to be in the local news business,” Overgaard said, ‘if we want to be in the local journalism business, than it is going to be on us as citizens of South Dakota to pay for it.” 

How can I help

Donate to SDPB. There's an ongoing campaign with a goal to raise $2 million to "protect public broadcasting in South Dakota for generations to come." Learn more here.

"Every dollar we raise is going to enable us to blunt these cuts before the end of October," Overgaard said.

Call S.D.’s congressional delegation. Overgaard wasn’t optimistic about the responses from  Sens. John Thune and Mike Rounds or Rep. Dusty Johnson, saying they are “not going to be our champions on the Hill."

  • You can reach Thune’s office at 605-334-9596 (Sioux Falls) or 202-224-2321 (D.C.)
  • You can reach Rounds’ office at: 605-336-0486 (Sioux Falls) or 202-224-5842 (D.C.)
  • You can reach Johnson’s office at: 605-275-2868 (Sioux Falls) or 202-225-2801 (D.C.

Reach out to your state lawmakers. The State of South Dakota is part of the funding puzzle for SDPB, and you can let your state legislators know your thoughts.