An open government task force appointed by the governor and the attorney general agreed at its fi rst meeting Aug. 22 in Pierre to look closer at state laws pertaining to government meetings and records and discuss possible changes to those laws.

Thi r ty-one people represent ing government, news media, law enforcement, courts and business identified a list of issues related to the state’s open meetings and records laws and agreed to form two subcommittees to tackle the list.

The task force plans to meet again Sept. 12 in Pierre.

The task force appointed by Gov. Dennis Daugaard and Attorney General Marty Jackley is similar to groups formed by former Attorney General Larry Long a decade ago. The work of those groups led to several changes in South Dakota’s open government laws, including the creation of the Open Meetings Commission.

“We think good government is transparent and open,” Daugaard told the task force in opening comments Aug. 22.

Daugaard urged the task force to look at the various open government laws implemented in recent years and determine if any changes are needed. In particular, he cited the state’s open records reform law of 2009, which created a “presumption of openness” for public access to government records and fi les.

Jackley noted that there is a “delicate balance” between the need to protect the privacy of certain information kept by

government and the need for transparency in government. He noted the number of cases that have been brought before the Open Meetings Commission since its start in 2004.

News media representatives on the task force made several suggestions for the entire group to consider, including possible changes to provisions in the open meetings laws that allow for executive sessions and

changes in the open records laws that allow for certain types of information to be kept confi dential.

The group also heard a presentation by Deputy Attorney General Diane Best about the history of various open government laws implemented in the past 10 years.

Besides the Sept. 12 meeting, the group also tentatively plans to meet Oct. 10.

Volume 26 – Number 2 An information publication of the South Dakota Newspaper Association, Brookings, SD July/August 2012

Reprinted with permission from the July 26, 2012, edition of the Yankton Daily Press & Dakotan, Yankton, S.D.

by Randy Dockendorfrandy.dockendorf@yankton.net

Tim Waltner didn’t grow up with a burning passion to enter journalism. In fact, he was just looking for a job when he asked for work at the Freeman Courier weekly newspaper in 1972.

“I had left Freeman in 1970 as a long-haired hippie, and I returned two years later looking for a job,” Waltner said. “(Courier publisher) Glenn Gering was a Goldwater Republican, but he had published letters that I had sent to the paper (while previously living in Freeman), and I had a sense of his fairness.”

Forty years later, Waltner not only owns the Courier but has become one of the most nationally — and even internationally — recognized journalists in the country.

Waltner has been named the winner of the 37th annual Eugene Cervi Award, established by the International Society of Weekly Newspaper Editors (ISWNE). The award recognizes a newspaper editor who has consistently acted in the conviction that “good journalism begets good government.”

The award isn’t presented for a single brave accomplishment, but rather for a career of outstanding public service through community journalism. The award also

recognizes consistently aggressive reporting of government at the grassroots level and interpretation of local affairs.

The First Amendment means allowing

for unpopular speech and writing, Waltner said. “People ask me, ‘Would you sell an

International group recognizes Waltner with highest honor

The news on the postal front did not get any better for newspapers this summer.

In August the direct mail company Valassis got the green light from the Postal Regulatory Commission for its contract with the Postal Service that will give it deep postage discounts if it develops a weekend insert package in competition with newspapers.

The PRC voted 4 -1 against the newspaper industry’s united opposition to the contract, which both the National Newspaper Association and the Newspaper Association of America labeled harmful to the marketplace.

NAA immediately appealed the PRC decision in federal court. NNA supported the appeal.

Also this summer, the U.S. House of Representatives failed to move on postal reform legislation, ensuring that no action will be taken before the November election. The Senate had approved comprehensive postal reform legislation last spring.

Failure to get reform legislation done in Congress leaves the fi nancial future of the Postal Service in limbo. In August, for the fi rst time ever the Postal Service defaulted on a required $5 billion pre-payment for future retiree health benefi ts. It’s expected to miss the next payment as well.

Task force tackles open government issues

Gov. Dennis Daugaard welcomed participants at the fi rst meeting of the open

government task force in Pierre. State Chamber CEO David Owen (left), state

Sen. Al Novstrup and Daugaard administration communications director Tony

Venhuizen are on the task force.

Tim Waltner (left) and son, Jeremy, team up to produce one of the nation’s top weekly newspapers, the Freeman Courier.

Tim Waltner received the prestigious Cervi Award from ISWNE. (Randy Dockendorf/P&D)

Continued to page 3.

Postal news: from bad to worse

2 • July / August 2012 South Dakota Newspapers

(USPS Permit #003537)

© Copyright 2012

By South Dakota Newspaper Association

David C. Bordewyk ....... Publisher/Editor Sandy DeBeer .............. Pagination

Published bi-monthly by South Dakota Newspa-per Association, 1125 32nd Ave., Brookings, SD 57006, and at additional offi ceTelephone: 800-658-3697Periodicals Class Postage paid at Brookings, SD 57006

Subscription price: $15 per year.

SDNA Offi cers

PresidentCharley Najacht / Custer County Chronicle

First Vice PresidentSteve Baker / Capital Journal, Pierre

Second Vice PresidentPaul Buum / Alcester Union & Hudsonite

Third Vice PresidentJohn Suhr / Reporter & Farmer, Webster

At-large DirectorRandell Beck / Argus Leader Media, Sioux Falls

At-large DirectorJanet Kittelson / Miller Press

Past PresidentLucy Halverson / Lyman County Herald, Presho

SDNA Staff

David C. Bordewyk / General ManagerCherie Jensen / Assistant ManagerJohn Brooks / Advertising Sales ManagerSandy DeBeer Advertising AssistantDarla McCullough / Advertising AssistantPat Leary / Tearsheeting

SOUTH DAKOTA NEWSPAPERS is the offi cial trade publication for the South Dakota Newspaper Association, representing daily and weekly newspapers in the state.

Postmaster: Send change of address to South Dakota Newspaper Association, 1125 32nd Ave., Brookings, SD 57006

Presidential PerspectivesCharley NajachtPresident / SDNACuster County Chronicle

UPDATE AND DONATIONS

The South Dakota Newspaper Foundation is devoted to the promotion and betterment of journalism and newspapers in South Dakota and elsewhere.

Please consider a contribution to the South Dakota Newspaper Foundation this year.

Contact SDNA General Manager David Bordewyk for more information.

Donations to the South Dakota Newspaper Foundation are tax deductible. Consider a contribution in honor of or in memory of an associate or friend. All donations are greatly appreciated. Send to: South Dakota Newspaper Foundation, 1125 32nd Ave., Brookings, SD 57006.

So much has happened since I wrote my last column, I hardly know where to start. I’ll try to bring you up to date.

Your SDNA board met July 7-8 in beautiful Custer State Park’s newest Reunion Cabin. We gathered outside on the patio above Grace Coolidge Creek for our meetings and shared our space with an entertaining red squirrel that darted along the railing from time to time.

We tackled a myriad of issues in our meeting which started Saturday mid-afternoon and concluded late Sunday morning. We enjoyed dinner in the newly-remodeled dining area of the historic State Game Lodge.

First of all, you should know that your association is on solid fi nancial ground. No organization can survive and thrive unless it is in great fi nancial shape. We couldn’t operate with the excellent full-time staff we have or offer the programs we do without the fi nancial means to do so.

Our members help make this happen with their annual dues and participation in such programs as the statewide classifi ed and 2X2 advertising networks. All this helps keep us in the black. Thanks to all who participate in these programs.

We discussed 2013 legislative issues that

could pop up and decided to hold regional meetings again with legislators prior to the session opening in January. Public notices are always a concern of ours and I know it is on all of your minds as well.

As always, we will be vigilant in protecting public notice publications because we realize how important this is to all of our newspapers, especially the smaller ones.

We talked about the results of our association’s member services survey from this spring and one of the immediate outcomes of those results will be member regional meeting this fall. Members said they want the opportunity to meet with one another and gain ideas and support. SDNA regional meetings will be an excellent opportunity to do just that.

We also discussed the work to seek an

increase in the rates for publication of public notices through the state’s administrative rules process.

The board discussed circulation categories for the annual Better Newspapers Contest and decided to appoint a committee to address this situation. Presently there is a disproportionate number of newspapers in the largest and second largest circulation categories.

Appointed to this committee are Doug Card, Britton; Korrie Wenzel, Mitchell; LeeAnne Dufek, Castlewood; and Bill Krikac, Clark.

The Monday after our board meeting, June 9, Dave, Cherie and I met with other members of the 2013 convention committee at the Ramkota Hotel in Rapid City, the locaton of next year’s first-ever joint convention with North Dakota. Shannon Brinker, publisher of the Rapid City Journal, and Tim Huether, publisher of the Bennett County Booster in Martin, are the other two members who graciously agreed to serve.

North Dakota Newspaper Association Executive Director Roger Bailey also joined us for the planning meeting. Roger said North Dakota plans to charter a bus to pick up its members along the way to Rapid City. Early arrival time will be Thursday night,

April 25, when we will have some kind of meal. Members will be transported to The Journey Museum for wine tasting and tours that evening also.

We are extremely fortunate to have booked well-known publishing trainer Kevin Slimp and postal guru Max Heath for the convention programs, which will also include roundtable discussions and breakouts for each state’s annual Better Newspaper Contest awards.

Friday will be a memorable evening of dining and awards at Mt. Rushmore National Memorial. It’s early in the season, but we will see if we can get the lights turned on the Famous Faces for a short time.

Make plans now to at tend your association’s joint convention with North Dakota late next April. The home team will surely not want to be outnumbered by our newspaper friends from the north.

Recently, I had the opportunity to meet with publishers in Martin (Tim Huether), Armour (Mary Neugebauer) and Huron (Mark Davis). I hope to see more of you along the road.

Until then, “Happy trails to you, until we meet again!”

Board tackles full agenda at summer meeting

John Suhr, who along with his wife, LeAnn, publish the Reporter & Farmer at Webster, was elected this spring to the SDNA Board of Directors as third vice president. Besides running the newspaper, John is an accomplished runner, having completed various marathons around the country. He will run a marathon in Berlin, Germany, this fall.

As a new board member to your association and for those who do not know me, I am not afraid to speak my mind and the way I feel or represent others in the association.

I’m a graduate of SDSU journalism with a degree in technical writing. For those wondering what that might be, my background was pharmacy and computers before transferring into journalism, so I had all the science and technical credits. I always liked to take pictures and after two-and-half years in pharmacy I wanted out in four years.

Following graduation from “Moo U” (SDSU) in 1985, the marriage to my lovely wife and business partner, I went to work for a pair of weeklies in Southeastern Minnesota near my home

town of LaCrosse, Wisc.In 1992, my wife, LeAnn, said she

would like to move back to South Dakota.

With the discussion of moving back to South Dakota was the possibility of buying a newspaper. In May or June of 1992, we saw a blind ad for a newspaper that was for sale. We sent off a letter expressing our interest in more information.

In September 1993, I began work for the Reporter & Farmer as advertising manager, on the agreement of owning and running the paper. In 1995, LeAnn joined the paper as bookkeeper and other tasks that go along with weekly publishing. In 1998, Larry Ingalls sought early retirement and the bank fi nanced us on an adventure.

This adventure takes us to where we are today: in Webster. We moved down the block to a larger facility a few years ago.

If you are ever passing through our community, stop on in at 516 Main St, drop an e-mail at suhrs@reporterand farmer.com or call my cell at 380-0588. I look forward to meeting many of you, as well as hearing from you during my term on the board.

SDNA Board Profi le:John Suhr, Reporter & Farmer

John Suhr

ad to the KKK’? And I say, ‘Yes!’” he said.

In addition, the First Amendment isn’t a luxury strictly for journalists, Waltner said. All too often, everyday citizens don’t realize the First Amendment’s importance in their daily lives.

“It’s central to how we function as a society and as individuals. We mustn’t take it for granted,” he said. “It’s the constant stabilizing force of a free society.”

Unfortunately, the First Amendment has come under attack throughout the nation’s history, particularly in recent years with fears about national security, Waltner said.

“There are attempts to weaken the First Amendment by governments and society itself,” he said. “It was weakened after Sept. 11 with the attacks on Muslims. Religion is an important freedom, and Muslims have a right to worship. The Patriot Act has also weakened our basic civil rights.”

Waltner’s passion for the First Amendment isn’t limited to his newspaper. He is the only person to have served twice as president of the South Dakota Newspaper Association (SDNA). He has been a longtime member of the SDNA legislative committee and served for more than 10 years as chairman of the SDNA First Amendment Committee. He has also been a tireless advocate for openness of public meetings and records.

As editor and later as publisher, Waltner brought an emphasis on reporting local government.

“Prior to 1973, nobody was covering city council or school board. We had editorials that were written locally, but often it was a reprint from a magazine or elsewhere,” he said. “

“The letters from readers, if there were any, were often scattered throughout the paper with no rhyme or reason. We started making a lot of changes along the way.”

As a Mennonite, Waltner opposes violence and doesn’t believe in military service. He left Freeman in 1970 to serve two years of alternative service in Cincinnati as a conscientious objector during the Vietnam War.

Waltner worked at a center for children in the inner city. “There were drugs, prostitutes, fi ghts and racial tension,” he said.

The experience also gave him a different

world view that he wouldn’t have experienced had he never left Freeman.

Waltner and his wife, Mary, had lived in both South Dakota and Ohio over the years. Two life-changing developments occurred during the summer of 1976, with the birth of fi rstborn child Jeremy and the diagnosis of Tim’s mother with breast cancer.

“We were in Ohio at the time, and we both valued our parents knowing their grandchildren,” Tim said. “We wanted an easy day’s drive for both sets of grandparents (in South Dakota and Ohio).”

Tim was considering a job offer at a public relations company in Mankato, Minn. He contacted Courier publisher Gering for his advice and received a surprising response.

“Glenn said, ‘If ever there was a time to consider coming back to Freeman, this is the time,’” Waltner said.

The Waltners returned to Freeman, and Tim became the Courier editor in 1977. The one stipulation — that Waltner sign his editorials because of their liberal stance.

“In 1984, Glenn was approached by someone with an offer to buy the Courier,” Waltner said. “Glenn said, ‘When it’s time to sell the Courier, the person I offer it to fi rst is Tim Waltner. I was overwhelmed. Was this really what we wanted to do, and where we wanted to be? But we put down our roots.”

Growing up in the community, then leaving and returning, totally changed

Waltner’s perception of Freeman.“I know, being from the community, it

gave me an insight that helps me know who to talk to and to be sensitive to nuances of a situation,” he said. “I understand the context and the sense of history and continuity. I know how things mesh and come together. I am also realizing what a community newspaper is supposed to do.”

Waltner also acknowledges it can be diffi cult publishing a weekly newspaper in a small town of 1,300 residents, continually running into the persons who are the subject of your coverage and editorials.

“We strive to be fair with how we report things and be fair in dealing with controversy,” he said. “And you need to be involved in community life instead of just writing about it from an offi ce. You have to be part of the community and its organizations, projects and programs.”

Jeremy Waltner serves as the Courier’s news editor and represents the next generation. The Waltners divided up the news coverage and collaborate on editorials. They have written “point, counterpoint” when they disagree, or one of them will write a column on a subject for which they are passionate.

“Jeremy and I work well together and have a good working relationship,” Tim said. “We tend to agree philosophically. It might be better if we don’t agree, it would be more lively.”

Tim Waltner considers the editorial page,

including letters to the editor, as extremely important.

“We try to lead the community discourse,” he said. “I don’t buy the argument that you don’t have time to write editorials. It’s a matter of how you choose to use your time.”

The Courier has used online and social media in reaching readers at a faster pace, particularly for breaking news. But Tim doesn’t see it as a substitute for old-fashioned, hard hitting journalism.

“There is a concern in the industry more and more that people too quickly try to jump on the latest fad at the expense of what we’re reporting on,” he said. “We ourselves are attracted to bright, shiny objects. Is this what the community needs? The answer varies from community to community. You need to take the time to think how best to use your resources of time, money and talent.”

Waltner brought home an international issue for his readers. He and his wife were visiting Europe and incorporated a visit to Bosnia for a story on a Freeman native who was working with the Mennonite Central Committee to help refugees displaced by the war in 1999-2000.

“People were able to gain an understanding that they weren’t remotely thinking about. By us reporting it, it helped them,” he said. “I didn’t write the story better than anyone else. But now, I feel connected to the story and the people who were there working.”

Waltner seeks to accomplish the same thing in smaller ways right in his hometown.

“Today, people too often seek out things they are looking for (when they look for news) rather than trying to broaden their horizons,” he said. “Our goal is to prompt people to think in ways they haven’t thought about it before.”

Waltner believes that goal should be the purpose of journalism every single day.

“We seek to shine a mirror on the community, and a mirror doesn’t work if you also don’t shed light,” he said. “A newspaper needs to give a community a chance to see itself in a fair and objective way.”

July / August 2012 • 3South Dakota Newspapers

First Amendment Defender Continued from page 1.

About the ISWNE Eugene Cervi AwardThe Eugene Cervi Award was established by the International Society of

Weekly Newspaper Editors in 1976 to honor the memory of Eugene Cervi of

the Rocky Mountain Journal in Denver by recognizing a newspaper editor who

has consistently acted in the conviction that “good journalism begets good

government.”

The award is presented not for a single brave accomplishment, however

deserving, but for a career of outstanding public service through community

journalism and for adhering to the highest standards of the craft with the deep

reverence for the English language that was the hallmark of Gene Cervi’s writing.

The award also recognizes consistently aggressive reporting of government at

the grassroots level and interpretation of local affairs.

Following his death at 64 in 1970, the New York Times described Cervi as

“one of the most outspoken voices in American journalism.” Today, several

ISWNE members regard him as their “journalism conscience.”

--from ISWNE Grassroots Editor, Summer 2012.

Summer Board MeetingSDNA President Charley Najacht and

his wife, Norma, hosted the SDNA

Board for its summer meeting at the

state Game Lodge in Custer State Park

in July. Present were: Jan Kittelson of

Miller (left), Lucy Halverson of Presho,

Paul Buum of Alcester, Najacht, John

Suhr of Webster and Steve Baker of

Pierre. Unable to attend: Randell Beck

of Sioux Falls.

PUBLIC NOTICESPublic Notice Advertising • Protects Your Right to Know

4 • July / August 2012 South Dakota Newspapers

Reprinted with permission from the July 18, 2012, edition of the Watertown Public Opinion, Watertown, S.D.

by Mark RobyPublisher,

Watertown Public Opinion

As most of you know, we are celebrating 125 years as Watertown and the Glacial Lakes Region’s primary news and information source. Our fi rst newspaper was published March 25, 1887.

And for those history buffs out there, beside our four 125th special section tabs commemorating our anniversary (we’ve delivered two so far and will do two more: on Sept. 27 and Dec. 27), the Codington County Heritage Museum has a special exhibit dedicated to the 125 years of the Public Opinion through November – and I’d highly encourage you to check out hometown newspaper recorded each days’ events over the years. Those who have visited the exhibit have really enjoyed the fi ne work put together by museum director Christy Lickei and Mellette House and community historian Prudy Calvin.

Today, though, we want to report on current business facts associated with our company, as part of our ongoing weekly Business & Industry Update series. We know many of you, especially those with a business interest, have come to enjoy these weekly stories about the manufacturers and industries that call our communities “home.” We hope these facts about the P/O will also be of interest.

Each day we print a newspaper and online digital, editions filled with local news, national and world news, sports, news of your neighbors and much more, including what are the advertised specials that day for nearly all the upstanding businesses in our community and region. This effort is a 20 hours per day process, with Sunday being the exception. And what many may not realize are the numbers behind that effort, including:

•We printed 4,300 pages in 2011, which equals about 28 pages per day. That’s about 1.4 cents per page for our home delivery subscribers – quite a bargain given each page contains more than 2,500 words!

•We use one and one-half truckloads of newsprint each month, which equals about 35 tons.

•Each day we use four rolls of newsprint, which weigh about 750 pounds each. That equals more than 36 miles per day of newsprint, which means we could circle the earth about every 2.2 years with the newsprint we print and deliver.

•Almost all of the paper we use has recycled newsprint content included, and all our color inks are based on soybeans.

•We have 128 independent carriers, made up of 20 motor route divers (who deliver bundles of papers to our carriers), 25 adult and 83 youth carriers.

•Our motor route drivers log 1,600 miles per day delivering newspapers to 52 area towns in northeast South Dakota and western Minnesota. In addition, the U.S. Postal Service delivers mail copies of our paper to 75 communities, mostly in our area.

•At a rate of 1,600 miles per day, at six days a week, in total 24,800 gallons of gasoline are used in the delivery process.

•Besides the newspaper, we also deliver to 24,000 addresses the area’s most

comprehensive free shopping guide, the Coteau Shopper.

•We also deliver more than 250 copies of our electronic “e-edition” newspaper each

day to readers who may or may not get our printed newspaper. Our e-edition is designed to be used on computers, laptops and tablets like the Apple iPad.

•Soon, within a matter of weeks, we will be showcasing our newest news and information product: P/O Mobile, an html5-designed product suitable for most smartphones (like the Apple iPhone) and tablets. With P/O Mobile, you will be able to keep in touch with the news of Watertown and the area no matter where you are.

•There is our comprehensive commercial printing operation, P/O Printing & Graphics, or, as we like to call it, P/O P&G. P&G will print any message or graphic on just about anything.

•And we are the publishers of Watertown NOW, our community’s comprehensive tourism and relocation guide, featured at the Redlin Art Center.

That is a synopsis of the current state of affairs here at the Watertown Public Opinion company. The 60 full-time and 20 part-time employees are working each and every day to satisfy the news and information needs of Watertown and the Glacial Lakes Region of northeast South Dakota and western Minnesota. And here’s to another 125 years of recording this date in history in the various products and services of the Watertown Public Opinion – in print, online or soon, on your mobile device.

The numbers behind the effortPublic Opinion celebrating 125 years of service

No matter what you are competing in, having the right equipment on your side is always an advantage. Just ask Dennis Daugaard, the winner in the 2010 election for South Dakota governor.

In his campaign, Dennis Daugaard advertised extensively in all South Dakota weekly and daily newspapers. He started his newspaper advertising campaign almost a full year before the November 2010 election. And it paid off for Dennis, who won by a 61.5% to 38.5% margin.

Dennis Daugaard’s successful use of paid newspaper advertising is consistent with research that shows:

• Newspapers are the medium most voters prefer for getting election information.• Newspaper readers are the most likely to vote.• Newspaper advertising is more believable than other media.• Almost 9 out of 10 South Dakotans read their local newspaper.

What’s the bottom line to be learned from Dennis Daugaard’s campaign? Very simply: Advertise in newspapers early and frequently with informative, issues-oriented ads that make a positive impression on voters.

Put the Power of Newspapers to work for your campaign today to influence South Dakota voters before they make their voting decisions.

For more information about the research noted above, or about how we can help you advertise in South Dakota newspapers and their online media products (at no additional cost), please call 1-800-658-3697 or email SDNA Advertising Sales ManagerJohn Brooks at advertising@sdna.com.

“Our campaign advertised ‘early and often’ in South Dakota newspapers, because the people who read newspapers vote in elections.

Newspaper ads let us reach voters with more detail than other paid ads. These ads paid off for our campaign in a big way.”

– Dennis Daugaard,South Dakota Governor

The Difference Between Winning and Losing Often Comes Down to Choosing the Right Equipment.

www.sdna.com

Publisher Mark Roby standing in front of a picture of Ken Way, former longtime

publisher of the Watertown Public Opinion.