A major blow was dealt to local journalism in South Dakota on Wednesday, August 6, as four newspapers, the Huron Plainsman, Brookings Register, Redfield Press, and Moody County Enterprise, published their final editions.
The closures come after News Media Corporation (NMC), their parent company, abruptly shut down operations nationwide.
Benjamin Chase, managing editor of the Huron Plainsman, confirmed the news Wednesday to the Rapid City Journal, noting that all four South Dakota papers under the NMC banner ceased operations effective August 6.
“What I can say right now is that this does affect the Plainsman, as well as three other South Dakota papers… all are closed, effective today,” Chase said in a statement.
NMC, which owned 25 newspapers across five states, including South Dakota, Wyoming, Nebraska, Illinois, and Arizona, informed employees of its permanent closure through a letter from CEO J.J. Tompkins. The letter cited “financial challenges, a significant economic downturn, revenue losses, increasing expenses, and the failure of a recent attempt to sell the company” as reasons for the shutdown.
“We have reached a point where continuing business is no longer feasible,” Tompkins wrote. “It is with a heavy heart that I write to inform you that NMC will be closing its doors permanently, effective August 6, 2025.”
The news came suddenly for many staff members across the region. Employees received notice of their termination this morning, along with information on final paychecks, the immediate end of health care coverage, and limited HR support through August 27.
The Torrington Telegram in Wyoming also announced its closure today. Its publisher, Rob Mortimore, stated that 30 employees across nine publications in Wyoming and Nebraska were affected.
The closures mark a significant loss for the communities these papers served. The Huron Plainsman and Brookings Register had long been pillars of daily local news, while the Redfield Press and Moody County Enterprise operated as weeklies covering rural life and regional events.