SDNEWSWATCH - Key Persons
Potential conflict of interest: Pfankuch serves on the board of the Oyate Prevention Coalition in Rapid City, which works to prevent substance abuse among Native American youth. He will recuse himself from reporting on the organization.
Biography: Pfankuch (pronounced FAN-cook) is Wisconsin native and former editor of the Rapid City Journal. He has worked for more than 30 years as a reporter and editor at newspapers in Wisconsin, Florida and South Dakota, including as reporter or editor at the Eau Claire Leader-Telegram and Capital Times in Wisconsin, and at the Florida Times-Union and Sarasota Herald-Tribune in Florida. He also is a syndicated writing coach who has presented at newspaper conferences across the country. Pfankuch has won more than four dozen state, regional and national journalism awards, including, while at News Watch, agricultural writer of the year from the North American Agricultural Journalists association in 2020, 2021 and 2023 as well as first-place reporting awards in the Great Plains Journalism Awards sponsored by the Tulsa Press Club and South Dakota NewsMedia Association. Pfankuch lives in Black Hawk.
Demographic expertise: South Dakota and its people. Walker has traveled the entire state extensively throughout his journalism career and understands the uniqueness of all regions, including rural areas, small towns, cities and reservations
Job Titles:
- Director
- Co - Owner and Managing Partner of Christiansen Land and Cattle Ltd. in Kimball
Christine Hamilton is the co-owner and managing partner of Christiansen Land and Cattle Ltd. in Kimball, which was named 2024 Top Producer of the Year by BASF, Case IH, and Rabo AgriFinance. The company is consistently in the forefront of innovation, embracing new technologies and participating in research and development opportunities within the agriculture industry. She has also served on the board of the Federal Reserve Bank, Ninth District, and is a co-founder of SAB Biotherapeutics Inc. SAB is public company based in Sioux Falls that has developed human polyclonal antibodies for the treatment of human diseases. In 2016, Hamilton was inducted into the South Dakota Hall of Fame. She is also the co-founder and chair of the Matson Halverson Christiansen Hamilton Foundation, whose mission is to improve the quality of life and create opportunities for growth and development, primarily in rural South Dakota.
Debra Jensen is a fourth-generation South Dakotan, living in Black Hawk where she attended a four-room rural school through the 8 th grade. Jensen graduated from Stevens High School in Rapid City and attended South Dakota School of Mines and Black Hills State. She is also a 2018 Goldman Sachs 10K Small Business Alumni. In 1976, she began her career at KEVN-TV in Rapid City. Jensen was named sports director in 1978 for KULR-TV in Billings, Montana. In 1980, Jensen joined the news team at KKLS Radio in Rapid City. While there she also produced and anchored a weekly call-in talk show. Jensen joined KOTA-TV and Radio in 1989 as an anchor and investigative reporter. In 2002, Jensen, her husband, Jack, and historian Wayne Paananen produced a two-hour documentary on the closing of Homestake Gold Mine in Lead. In late 2002, the Jensens purchased Black Hills Bagels in Rapid City, which they operated for 21 years. They sold the business to a local family in 2024. Jensen has been on many boards through the years, including South Dakota Retailers Association, Rapid City Chamber of Commerce, Visit Rapid City and Mount Rushmore Road Group.
Languages spoken: English
Biography: Emily DeCock is a student at South Dakota State University in Brookings majoring in journalism. In fall 2025 she will start her third and final year at SDSU, where she will serve as editor-in-chief of Collegian Media, SDSU's student-run independent news source. Emily received the 2025 Jeffrey B. Nelson Investigative Journalism Endowed Internship and Chuck Raasch and Sandy Johnson Scholarship, which covers her tuition expenses, from the SDSU Foundation. Emily grew up in Lamberton, Minnesota. Though no journalism courses were offered at her high school, she always had a love for writing. During her second year at SDSU, she declared journalism as her major and became an editor of the Collegian. She has had amazing experiences since. She has interviewed South Dakota Gov. Larry Rhoden, reported on state and federal policies affecting students and covered numerous Students' Association senate meetings through her position. These opportunities grew her love and understanding of the university and field of journalism. Emily believes strong student media is vital to creating inspired young journalists. As editor-in-chief, she hopes to continue the culture of exceptional student journalism at SDSU.
Job Titles:
- Emeritus Director
- Co - Founder and past Co - Chair
- Retired Journalists
Jack Marsh (co-founder and past co-chair) of Sioux Falls, a lifelong journalist and retired media and foundation executive, is a 2020 inductee in the South Dakota Hall of Fame, recognized as a champion of excellence, truth, ethics and human rights. He was raised in Western New York, holds a B.A. from Baldwin Wallace University and has been honored for distinguished service and lifetime achievement by his alma mater, Native American Journalists Association, South Dakota Newspaper Association and University of South Dakota. Marsh worked as a reporter, editor and publisher at five newspapers in three states (1971 to 1998). South Dakota native Al Neuharth recruited Marsh for various leadership roles at the Freedom Forum (1998 to 2014), a national nonpartisan foundation that fosters First Amendment freedoms for all. Marsh sits on numerous nonprofit boards, chairs the Sioux Falls Board of Ethics and is past chair of Face It TOGETHER and the Elimination of Prejudice Foundation.
Retired journalists Jack Marsh and Randell Beck recognized that fewer newsroom resources made it harder to produce statewide coverage of important issues.
Janelle Toman of Pierre worked for 20 years with the media, state policymakers and the public to provide information about South Dakota's system of public higher education as director of communications for the Board of Regents. Raised on a farm near Wessington, she pursued her undergraduate degree in journalism at South Dakota State University, leading to work as state and city editor at the Mitchell Republic and state news editor for United Press International. Toman later managed communications and policy work for the state departments of labor and education before accepting Gov. George S. Mickelson's offer to become his press secretary. She was the first to serve as a press secretary to two South Dakota governors: Mickelson and Walter D. Miller. She holds graduate degrees from Golden Gate University and the University of South Dakota. She chairs the Oahe Foundation, a non-profit 501(c)(3) foundation helping individuals, organizations, and businesses fulfill their philanthropic aspirations. She serves on the Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation board and as a public member of the South Dakota Board of Physical Therapy.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Officers Team
- Secretary, of Madison
Jon Hunter, secretary, of Madison is publisher emeritus of the Madison Daily Leader, having served as publisher from 1990 to 2021. He also served as president and board member of the South Dakota Newspaper Association. In his service to South Dakota, he was chairman and member of the South Dakota Investment Council, and served on the South Dakota Historical Society Foundation. At Dakota State University, Hunter taught finance to undergraduates and was vice president of the Dakota State University Foundation. He was also president of the Lake Area Improvement Corp. and president of the Karl E. Mundt Historical and Educational Foundation.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Officers Team
- Vice Chair, Editor and Publisher of the True Dakotan
Kristi Hine, vice chair, editor and publisher of the True Dakotan weekly newspaper in Wessington Springs, joined the South Dakota News Watch board in 2024. She previously worked 15 years in marketing and public relations in San Diego, Las Vegas and her hometown of Phoenix. Since purchasing the True Dakotan in 2015, Hine has updated and modernized the look and design of the publication while broadening its digital product offerings. It is the official paper of record for Jerauld County, the Wessington Springs School District, and the cities of Alpena, Lane and Wessington Springs. Hine was the 137th president of the South Dakota NewsMedia Association in 2023-2024 and remains on that board until 2025.
Marci Burdick retired in 2018 after a 48-year career in broadcasting. She worked continuously in broadcasting since age 14, beginning with an after-school job in radio in her hometown of Rapid City. Burdick moved to TV at age 18 as a weathercaster and reporter, later rising to positions as news director, general manager and corporate officer. Burdick spent most of her career with Schurz Communications. She was news director at KYTV (Springfield, Missouri, 1988-2000), president/GM at WAGT (Augusta, Georgia, 2000-2002) and senior vice president of the company's electronic division (cable, TV and radio) in 2002. During her tenure, she doubled the company's size through acquisition, and led the $452 million sale in 2016 when the company divested its radio and TV divisions. She won numerous broadcasting awards as a reporter and news manager, including two national Edward R. Murrow Awards, the national Iris Award, the national Silver Gavel Award, a regional Emmy Award and several dozen other regional and state awards. Burdick served as SDNW's chair in 2023-2024. In 2025, the National Association of Broadcasters honored Burdick with the Chuck Sherman Television Leadership Award.
Job Titles:
- Investigative Reporter
- Member of the Mitchell Area Inclusion Coalition
Potential conflict of interest: Luther is a member of the Mitchell Area Inclusion Coalition, which works to welcome all new residents to Mitchell. Luther's family runs independent grocery stores. She will recuse herself from reporting on the industry and organization.
Biography: Luther has lived in South Dakota for more than three decades. She has worked in radio, TV, print and digital newsrooms, including the Argus Leader and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. She also served as editor and training director for Investigative Reporters and Editors, an educational nonprofit for journalists. Most recently, Luther was an investigative producer for InvestigateTV, the national investigation team for Gray Television stations. Luther has won multiple state, regional and national journalism awards and lives in Mitchell.
Languages spoken: Portuguese and English
Biography: Melissa Avelino dos Santos is an international student from Rio Branco, Acre, Brazil, entering her junior year at Augustana University in Sioux Falls. She received a Scripps Howard Fund Internship and is pursuing a double major in journalism, focusing on data journalism and data science, with minors in mathematics and science writing. At Augustana, Melissa has developed a passion for reporting and data-driven storytelling. As a staff journalist for the university yearbook, she has collaborated with a diverse team to cover campus events and craft compelling narratives. Her experience has sparked a growing interest in multimedia journalism and using data to uncover and explain stories that matter. Melissa brings a global perspective to her work, informed by her background and her role as a volunteer ambassador for the Augustana Cultural Exchange (ACE) program. There, she helped mentor new international students, strengthening her intercultural communication and deepening her belief in journalism's role in fostering understanding. With a blend of technical skills and storytelling passion, Melissa aspires to become a versatile advertising and data storyteller - one who doesn't just report facts but engages audiences through thoughtful, culturally informed narratives.
Nancy Turbak Berry of Watertown is an attorney, former South Dakota state legislator (2007-2010) and longtime advocate of open government. In the South Dakota Senate she championed efforts to promote public access to information about state and local government. Turbak Berry received the Eagle Award from the South Dakota Newspaper Association, honoring her efforts on behalf of government transparency. She was the 1996 Trial Lawyer of the Year in South Dakota, is past president of the South Dakota Trial Lawyers Association and has taught as an adjunct professor at the University of South Dakota School of Law. Turbak Berry's education began in a one-room schoolhouse in Kranzburg. She graduated from Watertown High School and obtained her undergraduate degree from Harvard University. She received her law degree from the University of California. Turbak Berry founded Turbak Law Office in Watertown.
Job Titles:
- Chairman
- Member of the Officers Team
Nick Kotzea, chair, of Sioux Falls is a native of Milbank. He graduated from the University of South Dakota with degrees in journalism and law. Kotzea serves as chief operating officer and general counsel for the University of South Dakota Foundation, an independent, nonprofit corporation focused on higher-education fundraising and management of an endowment valued at more than $300 million. A member of the foundation's executive leadership team, Kotzea focuses his time on operations, governance and legal concerns, and works closely with the foundation's board of directors, serving as its secretary-treasurer. He previously served as Sanford Health's director of legislative affairs and as legal counsel to the South Dakota Department of Revenue.
Job Titles:
- Emeritus Director
- Co - Founder and past Co - Chair
Randell Beck (co-founder and past co-chair) of Sioux Falls is a retired editor and publisher of Argus Leader Media in Sioux Falls (2001-2013). He previously held editing and reporting roles at newspapers in Delaware, California, Missouri and Tennessee.
Tim L. Waltner of Freeman is the former publisher of the Freeman Courier. He became editor in 1973 and owner/publisher in 1984. In 2016 he passed that title to his son, Jeremy, although he remained active as a writer, editor and photographer before retiring in 2020. He remains a columnist for the weekly. Waltner served as a board member of the South Dakota Newspaper Association (president in 1991 and 1993) and the International Society of Weekly Newspaper Editors (president in 2000). He was chair and a charter member of the SDNA First Amendment Committee for 20 years, and remains a member. In 2012 he received the Eugene Cervi award, established by ISWNE in 1976 to honor the memory of Eugene Cervi of the Rocky Mountain Journal in Denver for a career of outstanding public service through community journalism. In 2016 Waltner was inducted into the South Dakota Newspaper Hall of Fame. He is a part-time staff member at Heritage Hall Museum and Archives in Freeman.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Officers Team
- Treasurer, of Sioux Falls
Travis Rhoades, treasurer, of Sioux Falls and his wife, Kristen, operate multiple Scooter's Coffee franchises in and around the Sioux Falls area. A graduate of the University of South Dakota, Rhoades has a long history of journalism experience, both with editorial and advertising. At a young age he worked at his family's weekly newspapers in eastern Nebraska and western Iowa. He carried that experience to USD and worked four years on The Volante, which led to a job at the Argus Leader upon graduation. In 2010, he and a business partner started Web Concentrate, a small web development firm, which was sold in 2021. He and his wife opened their first Scooter's in 2013. They have two sons, Caleb and Calvin.