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