Brookings—Nine notable South Dakota journalists are featured in an oral history project aimed at capturing and preserving the state’s journalism history. The journalists selected were Dale Blegen, Tim Giago, Noel Hamiel, Verlyn Hofer, Roger Kasa, Maricarrol Kueter, Richard Lee, Jack Marsh and Wayne Lyford. 

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The project is a collaboration between the South Dakota Newspaper Association and South Dakota State University’s History of Journalism class, under the direction
of Dr. Teri Finneman.   

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“This project is a win-win,” said SDNA General Manager David Bordewyk. “The stories and experiences of these newspaper journalists are preserved. And the journalism students learn about those rich histories while gaining hands-on experience capturing and compiling them.” 

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The journalism history class the past two years has worked in groups and examined the lives of the nine journalists and memories from their careers.  

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SDSU student Renae Dykstra conducted her oral history on Lyford. “I have learned a lot from Dr. Finneman, particularly how to be a better journalist and what it means to be a journalist,” Dykstra said. “She has taught me lots of great skills that will be needed in this field along with a solid understanding of the history of journalism and how that has shaped present-day journalism.” 

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Finneman began researching and collecting oral histories of North Dakota’s journalists in 2014, and she extended the project into her senior-level class at SDSU.  

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"This project allows us to hear the story behind the stories. Journalists have a unique viewpoint for witnessing history and recording history," Finneman said. "Capturing and preserving their personal oral histories gives important insight into regional media history and the people behind the headlines." 

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Materials collected from the oral histories will be archived at the South Dakota 
Newspaper Association and the SDSU Journalism Department. Transcripts and videos were made of each of the oral histories.

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You can learn more about the journalists' Interviews here and more About the project here. For more information or media inquires, contact Bordewyk at (800) 658-3697 or Finneman at (605) 688-6515

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