Michael Klinski
Title: investigative reporter
Contact: michael.klinski@sdnewswatch.org
Languages spoken: English and some French
Demographic expertise: South Dakota
Topic expertise: childcare issues, South Dakota history/current events/politics, criminal justice and crime, college and high school sports and its cultural impact in South Dakota, data journalism, graphics, charts, maps
Demographic expertise: South Asian community (India, Pakistan, Nepal) through local cricket club, Sioux Falls immigrant and LGBTQ+ communities, Indigenous issues in western South Dakota
Biography: Klinski brings a lifelong knowledge of South Dakota (both East River and West River) and 17 years of journalism experience to News Watch. He runs the site's social media channels and website and produces all of the interactive graphics and visual elements. Klinski was born in England on a military base and moved to Ellsworth Air Force Base when he was 2. His family moved to Black Hawk near Rapid City when he was 4, and he graduated from Rapid City Stevens High School. He earned a degree in journalism at the University of South Dakota, where he was the editor of The Volante student newspaper. After a brief stint with the Fargo Forum, he moved to Sioux Falls to work at the Argus Leader in 2005. He stayed there for 17 years, working as a reporter, copy editor, page designer, social media coordinator, breaking news editor, content coach, graphic designer and digital news editor. While at the Argus Leader, he was employee of the year (2014), editorial writer of the year in South Dakota (2015) and won various statewide editing and reporting awards. In 2022, he took a voluntary buyout and started working in marketing at SDN Communications, a regional business internet provider. One of his hobbies is playing cricket in Sioux Falls. He and his wife, Marsa, have four teens: twins Ian and Hayden, Emma and Ethan.
Social platform: LinkedIn
Professional memberships: South Dakota American Advertising Federation
Archive of work: most South Dakota News Watch graphics
Michael Klinski
Total 22 Posts
Fact brief: Is gasoline more expensive in western South Dakota vs. the eastern part of the state?
A fact brief that refutes or confirms a claim with supporting information and additional evidence and context.
Fact brief: Has it been 50 years since Rapid City passed a school bond?
A fact brief that refutes or confirms a claim with supporting information and additional evidence and context.
Fact brief: Does the Sturgis rally tally offer a statewide view of motorcycle fatalities during the event?
A fact brief that refutes or confirms a claim with supporting information and additional evidence and context.
Fact brief: Is it illegal not to have headlights on in South Dakota during poor visibility?
A fact brief that refutes or confirms a claim with supporting information and additional evidence and context.
Fact brief: Did South Dakota’s congressional delegation vote to defund public broadcasting?
A fact brief that refutes or confirms a claim with supporting information and additional evidence and context.
Fact brief: Is chislic recognized as a state symbol in South Dakota?
A fact brief that refutes or confirms a claim with supporting information and additional evidence and context.
Fact brief: Does Sioux Falls' civilian population have the third-highest rate of sex offenders in the nation?
A fact brief that refutes or confirms a claim with supporting information and additional evidence and context.