The ever-changing landscape of South Dakota's traditional and new media industry evolved further in the past few months, with newspapers starting, changing hands and cutting back.
Here are some of the latest developments:
Forum buys Pierre and Madison newspapers
The Capital Journal in Pierre and Madison Daily Leader were part of Wick Communications' sale of its six Midwest newspapers to Forum Communications Co.
Forum, headquartered in Fargo, North Dakota, is a fifth-generation, family-owned media company with more than 30 newspapers, television stations and digital platforms across the region.
It also operates the Mitchell Republic newspaper and a printing plant in Sioux Falls as well as Sioux Falls Live, an online news and sports site.
And last year it bought what is now Midwest Sports+, which provides shows and live-streamed play-by-play of high school and college games, including University of Sioux Falls football and basketball.
Forum's South Dakota broadcast properties include KNBN-TV, the NBC affiliate in Rapid City, and two Sioux Falls stations, KWSD-TV (now KSFL-TV) and KCWS-TV.
“With the acquisition of these six news titles, Forum Communications will secure its place as the largest news-gathering organization in the Upper Midwest,” Bill Marcil Jr., president and CEO of Forum Communications, said in a news release announcing the purchase.
Brookings adds 2nd newspaper
Months after fears that Brookings was going to lose its only newspaper, the city that's home to South Dakota State University is now a two-paper town.
Josh Linehan, the former editor of The Brookings Register, and his wife, Nichole, have started publishing the Brookings Beacon, which is printed at the Forum plant in Sioux Falls. The Beacon offers digital and weekly print subscriptions.
“The community response has been genuinely overwhelming,” Josh Linehan said. “Brookings keeps growing and there’s a real hunger for both strong, local journalism and quality advertising space.”
The Register was one of four newspapers abruptly shuttered but quickly reopened last year after being purchased by Champion Media, a family-owned community newspaper company based in North Carolina. It also acquired the Huron Plainsman, Redfield Press and Moody County Enterprise at Flandreau.
Rapid City Post starts weekly print edition
The Rapid City Post, which started posting a digital version online in March, has begun publishing a weekly printed newspaper that's distributed at no cost around the region and by mail for a subscription.
The Post is owned and operated by The HomeSlice Media Group, which runs six Black Hills radio stations and the state’s largest podcast network.
"We're taking a lot of our audio content and turning it into print," said Chris Hornick, managing editor. "We've been generating content for decades. We're just new at print."
Lakota Times ceases print publication
Meanwhile, a newspaper that has served South Dakota's Pine Ridge Indian Reservation for more than 20 years ended its print publication but plans to continue creating content for its website, Facebook page and app.
The Lakota Times posted on Jan. 14 that it was going to cease publication entirely. But on Feb. 6, owner and publisher Connie Louise Smith said she has decided to try to keep operating by publishing on the paper's digital platforms. An annual subscription for all access is $65.
"People were calling. It made me feel good," she said. "We're taking a cut in pay until I can find out what type of revenue can come from online."
Carson Walker
The Times is the official/legal newspaper of the Oglala and Rosebud Sioux tribes, Oglala Lakota County Schools, Oglala Lakota County, Bennett County and the Lakota Nation Invitational.
Update: This story was updated Feb. 6, 2026, after the owner of the Lakota Times decided to continue posting content on its website, Facebook page and app.
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