Title: Reporter / Report for America Corps Member
Contact: 605-531-7382 / molly.wetsch@sdnewswatch.org
Languages spoken: English, some Spanish
Topic expertise: Indigenous people, rural communities, business, education
Biography: Molly Wetsch was born and raised in South Dakota. Wetsch previously served as an editorial intern for Forbes in New York City, working on the contributor network and specializing in consumer technology. At Forbes, she also wrote breaking news and contributed to the Forbes "50 Over 50 list." Wetsch began her career in journalism at Lincoln High School in Sioux Falls, where she wrote a monthly column and covered local business news as an intern and contributing writer for SiouxFalls.Business. She is a graduate of Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland, where she received a degree in global business. There, she served as deputy editor of the University Times, the university’s newspaper, and deputy editor of the Trinity Business Review. Report for America is a national service program that responds to challenges faced by local news by placing journalists in newsrooms across the country. As a Report for America corps member, Wetsch travels the state covering rural and indigenous communities. Her family comes from rural South Dakota and the Cheyenne River Reservation, so she understands the issues that are unique to both communities.
Archive of work: South Dakota News Watch; Muck Rack; SiouxFalls.Business; Forbes
Molly Wetsch
Total 51 Posts
Documentary about SD boarding school premieres in New York City
"Nine Little Indians" premiere mixes Hollywood and South Dakota to tell nine sisters' story about abuse in Native boarding schools. "If you don't have hope, then you just stay where you are, and you don't move forward. So that hope brings you to a place where you need to be."
Iconic movies shot in South Dakota
From 'Dances With Wolves' to 'National Treasure,' these notable movies were filmed in South Dakota.
'Nine Little Indians' tells story from South Dakota's Native boarding schools
How a film about nine sisters abused at a Native American boarding school illustrates the broad scope of South Dakota's history with the system: "It is huge, to have the courage and to get to a point where they want to share their story."
New SD law congests local elections; races to watch
Local contests reflect a year of high political involvement and loaded ballots thanks to new South Dakota election law. "Local elections, in particular, you tend to think of when something goes wrong. And so that's when you need to go and do something about it."
Indian rodeo: Documenting 1 of South Dakota's oldest traditions
How a lifelong statehouse lobbyist also captures the nuances of rural and reservation rodeos. “I fear I'm documenting the end of something.”
Emily's Hope substance use curriculum coming to South Dakota schools
How the nonprofit's comprehensive K-12 plan has already helped 30,000 students – and hopes to reach all of South Dakota's young people soon.
Hearing held in Mitchell baseball defamation lawsuit
A judge did not rule on three motions Tuesday related to a former Mitchell baseball player's civil lawsuit against the American Legion and two local news organizations.