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 20 Posts
Fact brief: Did Gov. Larry Rhoden increase fees to obtain a concealed carry permit?
State laws regarding concealed carry have been revised in recent years.
Fact brief: Are all polling places for SD's runoff election the same as the primary?
Republicans vote Tuesday, July 28, between Gov. Larry Rhoden and Toby Doeden, the two top vote-getters in the June 2 primary election.
Fact brief: Was Denny Sanford South Dakota’s only billionaire?
The philanthropist and businessman gave over $4 billion away over his lifetime. Sanford died at 90 on July 18.
Fact brief: Is it illegal for the South Dakota state government to run a deficit?
South Dakota ended fiscal year 2026 with a $69 million surplus. The state budget was $7.5 billion.
Fact brief: Does a ruling bar SD from adding differing health warnings to pesticide labels?
A Missouri farmer sued Monsanto after developing cancer, arguing the product label should have included the pesticide’s alleged cancer risk.
Fact brief: Are lieutenant governor picks always announced after the nominee is selected?
A well-sourced explanation that offers a clear "yes" or "no" answer to questions, confusions and unsupported claims circulating online.
How nonprofits are teaming up to fight hunger in South Dakota
113,000 South Dakotans in 2023 were considered food insecure, and South Dakota Healthy Nutrition Collaborative aims to fix that.