Award-winning ag reporter to keep covering South Dakota statehouse with The Dakota Scout
Sioux Falls-based newspaper announces hiring of former Argus Leader, KOTA journalist
South Dakota’s leading independent newspaper is widening its lens on the state Capitol with the addition of another award-winning journalist.
The Dakota Scout has announced the hiring of longtime South Dakotan and the North American Agricultural Journalists Association’s 2024 Journalist of the Year, Dominik Dausch.
“Dom is among the most talented young minds in South Dakota’s news media landscape, and we’re excited that he’s decided to stay here at home and help us keep building The Scout into the newspaper organization our family and friends from here to Rapid City deserve,” The Scout’s Joe Sneve said referencing Dausch’s roots in the Black Hills where he graduated from Rapid City Stevens High School.
Now living in Sioux Falls with nearly a decade of experience covering South Dakota under his belt, Dausch’s professional resume includes journalist roles at news organizations both East River and West River — KNBN NewsCenter1, KOTA Territory News, Farm Forum and USA Today.
Prior to his arrival at The Scout, the 29-year-old most recently covered agriculture, state government and politics and agriculture for the Argus Leader, racking up multiple local and national awards including the North American Agricultural Journalists Association’s 2024 Story of the Year honor.
Dausch’s hiring marks a reunion with Sneve and Jonathan Ellis, who who left the Argus Leader in summer 2022 before launching The Scout later that year.
Dausch is not the first Argus ex-pat to also join The Scout founders. Last year, the publication brought on Chad Garnes to fill a newly created operations and development executive position.
A Harrisburg resident, he oversees day-to-day operations of The Scout, sales and marketing. Garnes previously held similar leadership roles at media organizations in the South Dakota market, including Kelo TV and the Argus Leader.
Dausch’s duties with The Scout will include continued coverage of state government, politics and agriculture as well as locally relevant happenings in both the Sioux Falls metro area and the Black Hills.
Dausch lives in Sioux Falls with his girlfriend, Halle, and his dog, Boss.
