The Dakota Scout is changing how it delivers its journalism online.
The Sioux Falls-based newspaper, launched in September 2022 as a journalist-owned, locally operated and printed news organization, is moving its website and digital publishing operation from Substack to Beehiiv.
The change will occur the evening of Monday, Aug. 24. It’s the first platform shift for The Scout since its launch four years ago, and it comes as the newspaper has grown beyond the capabilities of the platform it used to establish its digital operation.
For readers, the change should be largely seamless.
The Scout’s website will move to a redesigned Beehiiv-powered version of TheDakotaScout.com, while readers who receive Scout stories by email will continue receiving them in their inbox. Paid subscribers will retain full access to the newspaper’s journalism, and free subscribers will continue receiving headlines and story excerpts.
Existing subscribers — both free and paid — will be migrated automatically, and paid subscribers will not need to re-enter payment information.
“Substack has been a wonderful partner since The Scout’s first issue, but the newsroom has reached the point where a new platform can better serve the newspaper and our growing subscriber base,” said Joe Sneve, who co-founded The Scout with fellow journalist Jonathan Ellis.
Sneve said the move to Beehiiv will give The Scout greater control over its digital operation while opening new opportunities for the newspaper to improve the experience for readers and build its audience.
“Growing pains are a good problem, and we’ve been planning this transition for months so moving our website will be as seamless as possible for our faithful readers,” Sneve said.
The move also reflects how The Scout has evolved since its first issue four years ago.
While the newspaper continues to publish a weekly print edition, much of its journalism is now produced and published online between editions. Digital readers have access to dozens of additional stories each week that don’t appear in the printed newspaper, including breaking news, government and politics coverage, investigations and other reporting from across Sioux Falls and South Dakota.
That online operation has become an increasingly important part of The Scout’s journalism and its relationship with subscribers.
The Beehiiv platform will allow The Scout to exercise greater control over the presentation of its journalism, its website, reader data and digital tools as the company continues to expand its online operation.
Substack helped The Scout launch its digital presence in 2022, but the platform has evolved significantly since then. Sneve said some of those changes have made it less suited to the needs of a growing, community-focused news organization.
“The Scout has outgrown Substack,” Sneve said.
The move means The Scout will no longer publish through the Substack app. Readers will instead access the newspaper’s journalism directly through TheDakotaScout.com or through its email newsletters.
The newspaper’s founders say the move to Beehiiv is ultimately less about changing technology than creating more room for the journalism and business to grow.
The first Scout story on the new platform will be published at 7 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 25.
Readers should check their spam or junk folders that morning if they don’t see an email from The Scout. Moving the message to the primary inbox — or replying to it — can help ensure future emails are delivered there.
Readers who already subscribe do not need to do anything to maintain their subscriptions.
There could be some minor issues as accounts are migrated and the new system comes online. Readers who have trouble accessing their accounts or logging into The Scout’s new website can call 605-271-4586 or 605-413-3177, or a phone call can be requested by emailing info@thedakotascout.com.
For readers who haven’t yet subscribed to the newspaper that covers the people, institutions and decisions shaping Sioux Falls and South Dakota, the platform change also provides an opportunity to take advantage of the full scope of The Scout’s digital journalism.
Subscriptions are $7 a month or $77 a year and provide full access to The Scout’s online reporting, including dozens of stories published each week that aren’t included in the weekly newspaper.
I’m for one OK with this move, as a person who uses a screen reader it’s extremely difficult to use Substack as a provider. I hope the new content is much more accessible to people who are blind.
I sincerely wish you all the best with the migration to your new platform. Congratulations on the growth.