Researcher Will Host South Dakota News Discussions
Eda Uzunlar will discuss news consumption in Rapid City and Sioux Falls this October.
Updated on Sept. 19, 2026 in Philanthropy
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Fulbright scholar Eda Uzunlar will hold community discussions in Rapid City and Sioux Falls throughout October 2026. Her research focuses on preventing the growth of news deserts across the state.
Why it matters
The events aim to address findings from Northwestern University that identify seven South Dakota counties as news deserts. The research seeks to identify strategies for sustaining local media ecosystems.
Northwestern University researchers identified seven South Dakota counties as news deserts, while the South Dakota NewsMedia Association now represents 107 member organizations.
The players
Eda Uzunlar
She is a Fulbright scholar conducting academic research on news consumption and regional media trends.
South Dakota NewsMedia Association
This trade organization represents 107 member media outlets and recently established a nonprofit foundation to support journalism.
Northwestern University
This academic institution performs national research that identifies and tracks the development of news deserts.
The details
Eda Uzunlar will use the community forums to analyze South Dakota as the first state in her broader research project. The South Dakota NewsMedia Association will also introduce a newly formed 501(c)(3) nonprofit foundation during these events to provide grants for state media outlets.
Timeline
October 1, 2026: Community discussion in Rapid City at 6 p.m.
October 8, 2026: Community discussion in Sioux Falls at 6 p.m.
Market Landscape
The effort mirrors the broader trend of philanthropic intervention in the media industry to counter the growth of news deserts. This initiative positions local media outlets to leverage new nonprofit grants against the ongoing decline of traditional advertising revenue.
Residents can participate in these discussions to provide feedback on how they access local information in their communities. These events also highlight the potential for new funding sources that may preserve or expand the news coverage available to local subscribers.
The takeaway
Understanding the specific barriers to news access is the first step in creating sustainable models for community journalism. Engaging in these discussions helps stakeholders identify the most effective ways to support media outlets in underserved areas.
Further reading
Learn more about efforts to support local reporting by visiting the Philanthropy section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Dakotanewsnow.
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