The Post SD
NOTE: This is an archived version of the original site. These are the last headlines with blurps found from archived The Post SD website. Some of the headlines are intriguing, others are silly, but most make you wish that you could read the complete story.
The Post SD is a story co-op that aims to bring you the neighborhood stories you want to read. Based in Sioux Falls, SD, The Post SD shares stories from throughout South Dakota.
The Post SD also aims to train the future journalists in high-quality and creative journalism. If you are interested in contributing, read more here. Contributors can become members through regular contributions. Take a second to meet our co-op members.
We know you’ve got questions about The Post. If you can’t find your answer below, email us at news@thepostsd.com.
Archived Columns
Weekend Happenings
Posted by Megan Brandsrud on July 1, 2011
Happy Friday, readers! As we approach the Fourth of July weekend, it's time to plan for some exciting events happening across the state. But before we dive into the list of events, let's talk about something for the golf enthusiasts out there. Weekend Happenings is thrilled to be sponsored by GolfersProShop.com, which is currently hosting a holiday sale you won't want to miss. This sale features women's left handed golf clubs and sets - like these from Tour Edge, Calloway, Srixon, Cleveland, and others. These golf clubs are designed with the latest advancements in golf technology, making them a popular choice among both amateur and professional golfers. These brands are known for their exceptional feel, accuracy, and distance control, which can significantly improve your game. Whether you're looking for drivers, irons, or putters, they offer a range of options to suit different playing styles. Ladies, don't miss the opportunity to upgrade your left handed golf gear with these clubs during the holiday sale. And, if you have an event you would like included in Weekend Happenings, feel free to email us.
4th Fun Facts (INFOGRAPHIC)
Posted by Amy Colgan on June 30, 2011
Happy 4th of July! Before we celebrate our nation’s Independence Day with family, friends and fun in the sun, take a minute to check out some 4th Fun Facts brought to you by a first-time Post contributor, Marc Wagner. Enjoy!
Photo series: Independence Day
Posted by Joe OSullivan on June 26, 2011
Howdy, Postistas. Let’s face it: we’re a week away fom July 4. So I — filling in today for photo editor Travis Entenman — decided to show ya’ll a few shots I took from last July 4 during Watertown’s parade. These were just the little that caught my interest — you won’t see fireworks here. Anywho, enjoy!
Weekend Happenings
Posted by Megan Brandsrud on June 24, 2011
Hello, readers, and happy Friday! No plans for the weekend? We can change that. Every Friday, we provide you with a list of some of the best events happening around the state for that weekend. If you have an event you would like included in Weekend Happenings, please email news@thepostsd.com.
Turning Your Salesforce Into a Workflow Powerhouse
Posted by Mattew Tates on June 23, 2011
Salesforce is not a group of aggressive door-to-door salesmen. It happens to be the world’s #1 CRM platform for businesses and organizations, helping them stay on the cutting edge of cloud, mobile, social, and data science technologies. We are pleased to announce a local IT company that now has a team of Salesforce experts who will not only help businesses implement Salesforce, but also create unique Salesforce development apps that can improve every aspect of a business: across sales, marketing, customer service, social communities, analytics, etc. South Dakota may not boast to having a huge population, but the Lincoln County near Sioux Falls is the ninth fastest-growing county (by percentage) in the United States and new businesses are springing up. We now can compete with larger cities with our own progressive software company offering consulting services from experienced Salesforce systems analysts, architects, and software developers. Check em' out.
East Rivah – Where pigs grow organs
Posted by Scott Meyer on June 21, 2011
It was a week for fathers, artists, branding and pigs. Yes pigs. Those with a fear of death, it’s a comfort perhaps to know that pigs can now grow human organs. Party mythology may make conservatives irrelevant and crop insurance may harm them. Hawking rocks with Brian, new developments emerged in the Grasslands proposal, the Ethanol Tax Credit is on the chopping block and the US is becoming a feudal estate. But at least South Dakota is #2 in freedom!
Enjoy your week…and remember, EAST RIVAH 4 LIFE!
Singer mixes J. Cash with B. Ladies
Posted by Joe OSullivan on June 23, 2011
If I had a million dollars, I’d kill a man just to watch him die . . . Singer mixes Johnny Cash with the Barenaked Ladies? That’s what the press release says; we’ll see how that goes. Or perhaps you’ll see how that goes. The gentleman in question, Sioux Falls-based Toby Kane, is playing July 1 at noon behind Old Courthouse Museum. [...]
Huron has a Rap Star
Posted by Joe OSullivan on June 21, 2011
A photo of Haiti Boy White Boy from their website. (I have an inkling as to who is who.)There. I said it. Huron has a rap star. Or, more like a rap posse, a la Wu-Tang Clan. Well, not a fully-blown star, since the Haiti Boy White Boy’s “Huron Anthem” has fewer than 1,000 YouTube hits. But it’s time to change that, isn’t it? Oh, [...]
The Story of Sunny Radio
Posted by Sawyer Vanden Heuvel on June 7, 2011
There’s a new radio station in the Sioux Empire area. Last week I had the opportunity to sit down with John and Heidi Small, owners of Sunny Radio (92.1 FM) in Brandon, SD. Watch what they had to say about this locally-owned 80s radio station. [...]
Oldest known tornado photo from Howard
Posted by Joe OSullivan on May 24, 2011
It might also be the meanest photo of a tornado. The photo ran as part of a slideshow on historic tornadoes over at Slate. The photo itself comes courtesy of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Hat tip to Jeremy Fugleberg the tip-off. [...]
The Rapture: an alternate history
Posted by Bryan Aukerman on May 23, 2011
At 6 p.m. Pacific Daylight time, a shocking milestone passed over the globe like a gargantuan, selective lint-roller. Witnesses claim it started with a large rumble at about 5:50 p.m. and escalated until the clock struck 6, at which time the rumble became a deafening roar. But it wasn’t the hailstones of fire, the clouds of flesh-eating bats, or the [...]
Little Mosque on the Prairie: Good for laughs, bad for paranoia
Posted by Amy Spaulding Zimbelman on May 10, 2011
I’m not a big TV watcher. So when a friend started recommending a Canadian sitcom to me, I almost cut her off to tell her that, well, I’m not a big TV watcher. Until I heard the name: “Little Mosque on the Prairie.” “For real? There’s a show out there called ‘Little Mosque on the Prairie?!’ How could I have missed [...]
Love Wins
Posted by Bryan Aukerman on April 21, 2011
Love Wins. This seems to be a pretty agreeable phrase unless you’re horribly pessimistic or were recently dumped. Another group that disagrees with this statement is the majority of conservative Christians, and let’s be honest, we are in South Dakota so surely you know a person who falls under this category (if that person isn’t you yourself). [...]
The Shroud of Turin encounter
Posted by Sawyer Vanden Heuvel on March 16, 2011
Ash Wednesday marks the start of Lent season in the Christian Church—the preparation of the Christian believer for “Holy Week”. Last Wednesday, Augustana students were able to use their own investigating skills about one of the most recognizable human figures in history: Jesus Christ. The story of Easter and the crucifixion is one that shapes the [...]
Brookings Woman Goes on Financial Diet
Posted by Katie Huff on January 25, 2011
As the holiday season passed, I found our bank accounts diminished and our stomachs and pantry growing larger and it did not feel good. As well as a time for reflection and family, the holiday season is rife with opportunities to be gluttonous and extravagant, which (upon slight self examination) I have found is something I need no excuse to do. When the [...]
The Socie Awards
Posted by Sawyer Vanden Heuvel on January 21, 2011
We are all familiar with the annual Academy Awards, The Golden Globes and The Emmys, but the first ever “Socie (pronounced so-shee) Awards” were held last night in order to recognize South Dakota’s own social network users.
Week in Review-Round 5
Posted by Megan Brandsrud on January 7, 2011
After taking a hiatus for the holidays, we were back with our first Week in Review of 2011 this morning.In case you couldn’t tune in live, here is the video footage. If you ever want to participate in the chat, join in at 11 every Friday morning so you can tell us what you liked that week on The Post.
About The Post SD
What is The Post?
It looks like a blog, but kinda of reads like a magazine. What is a “story co-op”?
The Post is considered a story co-op, which means a team of contributors creates and publishes the site’s content. Like traditional publications, our stories are assigned and edited and we do pay attention to ledes, nut graphs, inverted pyramids and other story building elements found in basic journalism. However, we tell stories and take more of a feature approach to our articles vs. hard news writing. We use narratives and different points of perspective to tell stories about people behind the headlines. Our makeup comes from different elements of blogs, magazines and newspapers, but The Post is a story co-op.
Is The Post only online?
Yes, but we are all over the Internet. By subscribing to our RSS feed, The Post will be delivered to your email box for each new post. Our stories are published on The PostSD, but you can also find us on Facebook, Twitter, Posterous,Vimeo, YouTube and Flickr.
Why does The Post exist?
The Post exists to be a home for journalism in South Dakota. Many of our contributors are students or recent graduates and use The Post as a way to build their portfolio. We are also a place for former journalists and casual writers to publish work they believe others will enjoy.
Is The Post a content mill just trying to make money? And why is there ads and a spot to donate on the ad?
The Post is not owned by a major media giant nor is its mission coated in dollar signs. In fact, The Post is the creation of a people who want to tell stories about interesting things in South Dakota. We are not in this for the money, but it helps us produce better quality content and more of it. We accept monthly sponsorships from local businesses as well as donations to supplements costs. The sponsorships allow us to feature local business and the donations allow readers to support local journalism. For more information about sponsorships and donations, go here.
Is The Post a Sioux Falls publication?
Although headquartered in Sioux Falls, The Post is a publication for all of South Dakota. Our content comes from Sioux Falls, Brookings, Vermillion, Watertown, Mitchell, Rapid City, Pierre, Huron and everywhere in between. As an online publication, we reach readers across the globe and our contributors are scattered throughout the country. Our content is meant to celebrate the people and life in the Mount Rushmore state.
Who is The Post?
The Post is made up of two staff members and a team of contributors and is published by 9 Clouds. Find out more about us here.
I want to get involved with The Post. How?
We are looking for people to contribute stories, videos, photographs, illustrations, podcasts or anything else that goes on a Web site. If you would like to join The Post team please send an email to news@thepostsd.com and indicate your interests in contributing to The Post. If you are particularly interested in working on our music section, email Entertainment Editor Lucinda Albers at: llalbers@thepostsd.com.
I have a story idea; where can I send it?
Please send any stories ideas or news tips with details and contact information to news@thepostsd.com.
More on ThePostSD.com: A Unique Digital Voice for South Dakota
ThePostSD.com, a website rooted in the heart of South Dakota, was launched on September 1, 2009, by Heather Mangan with a vision to cover stories that often slipped through the cracks of traditional media. Based in Sioux Falls and published by 9 Clouds, Inc., a social media marketing and consulting firm, The Post quickly gained traction by offering a unique perspective on South Dakota's culture, people, and events. Over time, The Post became more than just another online publication; it emerged as a story co-op, where local contributors could share their narratives, ensuring that the voices of South Dakotans were heard.
A Focus on Human Interest and Community Engagement
From its inception, The Post was designed to tell the untold stories of South Dakota. Unlike many mainstream outlets that focus on hard news, The Post centered its content around human interest stories. Whether it was a local musician’s journey or the experiences of a retiree who had relocated to Spain, the publication brought personal stories to the forefront. This approach not only resonated with readers but also set The Post apart in the crowded media landscape.
The website was particularly popular among younger audiences, who found its content relatable and engaging. The editorial team, led by Joe O’Sullivan and Megan Brandsrud, with contributions from a diverse group of local writers, photographers, and videographers, ensured that the stories remained fresh and reflective of the community’s pulse. As a result, The Post became a vital platform for aspiring journalists and seasoned writers alike, providing them with an opportunity to showcase their work and build their portfolios.
An Innovative Digital Presence
The Post’s digital strategy was ahead of its time for a regional publication. Leveraging social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube, The Post effectively reached its target audience of 18- to 35-year-olds. This demographic, which is highly active on social media, found The Post’s content both accessible and shareable. The site’s ability to generate revenue through local business sponsorships, such as the partnership with Sunny 92.1 FM and Falls Food, was a testament to its growing influence and appeal.
The Post’s dedication to remaining an online-only platform was also a strategic decision that distinguished it from other local publications. While many newspapers and magazines were struggling to transition to digital formats, The Post embraced the internet’s potential from the start. This decision allowed the publication to reach a broader audience and maintain a level of agility that print publications often lack.
Cultural and Social Significance
ThePostSD.com played a significant role in shaping the media landscape in South Dakota. By offering stories that were both locally relevant and universally resonant, the website bridged the gap between traditional journalism and the emerging trends in digital storytelling. Its emphasis on community-driven content made it a pioneer in the concept of citizen journalism within the state.
Moreover, The Post’s focus on South Dakota’s unique culture and its efforts to highlight the state’s “cool” factor were instrumental in changing perceptions about the region. Through its stories, The Post showcased the diversity and richness of life in South Dakota, from its thriving local music scene to its vibrant small businesses.
Challenges and Legacy
Despite its success, ThePostSD.com faced challenges common to many digital-first publications. The website ceased regular updates in July 2011, and while there were discussions of a relaunch, it never fully materialized. The site remains an important chapter in South Dakota’s media history, remembered for its innovative approach and its commitment to giving a voice to the community.
The legacy of The Post lies in its contribution to local journalism and its impact on how stories from South Dakota are told. It demonstrated that even in a state with a small population, there is a wealth of stories worth telling, and there is an audience eager to hear them.
ThePostSD.com was more than just a website; it was a platform that celebrated the people and culture of South Dakota. Through its human interest stories, innovative digital presence, and commitment to community engagement, The Post left a lasting mark on the state’s media landscape.