5/24/2007

South Dakota Newspaper Association To Present Two Eagle Awards

Each year the SDNA award recognizes an individual or group demonstrating outstanding efforts to protect the public’s right to know. Receiving the award this year are South Dakota state Senator Jason Gant (R-Sioux Falls) and the 2006-07 staff of the Collegian, the independently run student newspaper at South Dakota State University.

This marks the first time SDNA has given two Eagle Awards in the same year.

Tim Waltner, publisher of the Freeman Courier and chairman of the SDNA First Amendment Committee, will present the awards during SDNA’s annual convention June 2 in Pierre.

"While the public’s access to government continues to be threatened by intent, oversight and apathy, there are individuals who have boldly challenged those forces," Waltner said.

"This year we are pleased to honor, not one but, two examples of outstanding commitment to the ideals of open government. Senator Gant and the staff of the Collegian are shining examples of the power just one person or a small group of people can have in protecting and preserving the Constitutional rights of all citizens," Waltner said.

Gant is being recognized for his work in the legislature to promote open government issues. In 2006 he sponsored legislation that directed the attorney general to conduct a study of what records held by state and local governments are open and accessible to the public or confidential. That study is to be completed this summer.

In 2006 when members of the legislative Government Audit and Operations Committee wanted to go behind close doors to discuss a juvenile corrections report from the attorney general's office, Gant refused to go along and walked out of the committee meeting.

When the South Dakota Board of Regents announced in September 2006 that news media would not be allowed to cover various on-campus meetings with SDSU presidential candidates, Collegian Editor Jeremy Fugleberg and his staff went to work to challenge the regents. The student journalists rallied campus and public support for their efforts and went to court to stop the regents from barring Collegian reporters from covering the on-campus meetings. Circuit Court Judge Rodney Steele agreed with the Collegian and issued an order derailing the regents’ news media exclusion.

Past recipients of the SDNA Eagle Award include members of the 2001 state Supreme Court, former Mitchell School Board Member Rodney Hall, Attorney General Long, former Yankton County Commissioner Brian Hunhoff and former Codington County States Attorney Vince Foley.

South Dakota Newspaper Association, based in Brookings, represents the state ’s 138 weekly and daily newspapers.

By: David Bordewyk/SDNA