Title: Reporter / Report for America Corps Member
Contact: 605-531-7382 / molly.wetsch@sdnewswatch.org
Languages spoken: English, some Spanish
Topic expertise: Indigenous people, rural communities, business, education
Biography: Molly Wetsch was born and raised in South Dakota. Wetsch previously served as an editorial intern for Forbes in New York City, working on the contributor network and specializing in consumer technology. At Forbes, she also wrote breaking news and contributed to the Forbes "50 Over 50 list." Wetsch began her career in journalism at Lincoln High School in Sioux Falls, where she wrote a monthly column and covered local business news as an intern and contributing writer for SiouxFalls.Business. She is a graduate of Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland, where she received a degree in global business. There, she served as deputy editor of the University Times, the university’s newspaper, and deputy editor of the Trinity Business Review. Report for America is a national service program that responds to challenges faced by local news by placing journalists in newsrooms across the country. As a Report for America corps member, Wetsch travels the state covering rural and indigenous communities. Her family comes from rural South Dakota and the Cheyenne River Reservation, so she understands the issues that are unique to both communities.
Archive of work: South Dakota News Watch; Muck Rack; SiouxFalls.Business; Forbes
Molly Wetsch
Total 36 Posts
Student interest in SD energy programs on the rise
"The only thing I could envision myself doing in the future:" Three students in Lake Area Technical College's energy programs speak to News Watch about why they chose to join the rapidly growing sector.
Tribal nations in SD are betting on tourism on reservations
The South Dakota Native Tourism Alliance hopes to bring visitors to tribal lands to build sovereignty, despite ongoing challenges: "How do we make sure that we build demand and supply at the same time?”
ICE's year in SD, from small towns to Operation: Prairie Thunder
Data shows that most recent ICE arrestees in South Dakota are citizens of Mexico and Central America, with the majority coming from Mexico and Honduras, and 98% are male.
Biotech: SD revs up for the future in a young, growing industry
State is 1 of 2 without an incentive program to create jobs in pharmaceuticals, agriculture, the military and other industries.
Hispanic population thrives in one small SD town
Rural towns like Plankinton, population 768, are growing their community services to fill needs.
Financial literacy aims to boost tribal sovereignty on Pine Ridge
With the 3rd-highest poverty rate in the country – behind only 2 other South Dakota counties – an organization based in Oglala Lakota County seeks to improve tribal sovereignty by teaching youth about finances.
Hemp industry grows amid federal legality battle
South Dakota is No. 1 in hemp fiber production. But as its farmers and processors grow the industry, federal legislation threatens some sectors of it. 'We just want to know, where are we at?"