Title: Reporter
Contact: 605-736-4396 / emily.decock@sdnewswatch.org
Language spoken: English
Demographic expertise: South Dakota and rural areas
Topic expertise: Higher education, civic programs and local government
Biography: Emily DeCock grew up in southwest Minnesota and graduated in 2026 from South Dakota State University in Brookings, where she lives. She interned for News Watch in 2025 after receiving the SDSU Foundation's Jeffrey B. Nelson Investigative Journalism Endowed Internship, and the Chuck Raasch and Sandy Johnson Scholarship. As an intern, DeCock wrote investigative and data-centered news stories. Many focused on how federal funding and policy changes affected South Dakota programs and residents. In 2025-2026, she was the editor-in-chief of Collegian Media at SDSU and heavily involved in expanding Collegian Media’s platforms, helping to establish a weekly newscast and newsletter. DeCock has reported on higher education, criminal investigations, local government and more. In her full-time position at News Watch, DeCock reports stories and leads social media efforts.
Professional memberships: Investigative Reporters and Editors
Archive of work: South Dakota News Watch; Collegian Media
Emily DeCock
Total 43 Posts
South Dakota Poll: Showing our math
Key findings, approach and raw numbers from the fall 2026 South Dakota Poll.
Fact brief: Do all pollsters target specific people to get the answers they want?
Some political polls have garnered conflicting results. The latest findings of the South Dakota Poll, sponsored by News Watch and the Chiesman Center for Democracy at USD, are out. All the details will be published Friday.
Poll: Voters split on Thune and Trump job performance
Latest South Dakota Poll also found a majority are opposed to data centers being built in the state and believe artificial intelligence has negative effects.
South Dakota Poll: Secretary of State race anyone's game; other executive offices
Secretary of state race is contentious with three candidates vying for office. Other executive offices, including attorney general, treasurer, auditor, school and public lands and public utilities commission outlined.
Poll: 1/3 of voters undecided on Medicaid, unclaimed property
South Dakota Poll shows support for non-citizen voting and unclaimed property ballot issues but higher opposition for changes to Medicaid and the threshold to amend the constitution.
Poll: Sen. Rounds leads challenger Bengs 56-37%
Race includes second-time Senate hopeful Independent Brian Bengs challenging incumbent Republican U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds, who's seeking his third term.
Poll: Jackley leads Gronli 60-32% for US House
Republican Marty Jackley is South Dakota's attorney general. Democrat Nicki Gronli was formerly the state's director for the Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development program.