Dale Blegen has strived to bring a strong editorial voice to his community and push for open government throughout his decades in journalism.

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Blegen’s path to a journalism career began while working as a barber in Brookings. The chairman of SDSU’s journalism department, George Phillips, was a frequent customer who encouraged Blegen to enroll at the university.

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Since college, Blegen has worked as a reporter at The Brookings Register, KSOO radio, the Owensboro (Ky.)Messenger & Inquirer, the Argus Leader and KESD-FM before purchasing the De Smet News in 1977.

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He completed a master’s degree in journalism in 1979, writing a thesis on his De Smet News predecessor, Aubrey Sherwood. In 1984 he purchased the Lake Preston Times. He was president of SDNA from 1990-91. Blegen has served on SDNA’s First Amendment Committee and was inducted into the South Dakota Newspaper Hall of Fame in 2011.

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