Title: Freelance Reporter
Contact: michael.klinski@sdnewswatch.org
Languages spoken: English and some French
Demographic expertise: South Dakota
Topic expertise: child care 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 20 years of journalism experience to News Watch. He produces interactive graphics, visual elements and biweekly fact briefs. 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. One of his hobbies is playing cricket in Sioux Falls. He has four children: twins Ian and Hayden, Emma and Ethan.
Professional memberships: South Dakota American Advertising Federation
Archive of work: South Dakota News Watch
Michael Klinski
Total 88 Posts
Fact brief: Were aircraft from Ellsworth involved with attacks on Iran?
The B1-B Lancer can travel faster than the speed of sound and can carry a large payload.
Fact brief: Do the SDSU men have the most Summit League basketball titles?
The Jackrabbits have had a successful run in the Summit League tournament, but is it the best in the conference's history?
Fact brief: Has South Dakota ever voted for a Democrat for president?
South Dakota's electoral votes have been a lock for Republicans for decades, but has the state ever gone for a Democrat?
Fact brief: Can some minors legally marry in South Dakota?
The South Dakota Legislature is currently debating a law that would increase the restrictions on teen marriage.
Fact brief: Does South Dakota have the smallest state capital city?
Pierre's population is 14,000. Is that the smallest in the country?
Fact brief: Is Smithfield Foods one of the largest meat processing plants?
City and state officials announced Monday that Smithfield Foods will build a new plant in northwestern Sioux Falls, freeing up prime land near downtown.
Fact brief: Is a former South Dakotan leading the Nancy Guthrie investigation?
The FBI is offering a $50,000 award for information that leads to the whereabouts of Guthrie, who has been missing since Feb. 1. She is the mother of NBC “Today” show host Savannah Guthrie.