People in South Dakota journalism got a big surprise from gubernatorial candidate Kristi Noem this fall when she said one of the transparency “pillars” of her campaign included enacting a shield law for reporters. 

It jacked up those same journalists this January when the new governor delivered her first State of the State address and said she wanted the reporter shield law legislation on her desk by the end of the session.

Reporter shield laws, common in other states, ensure that reporters aren’t compelled to turn over their notes or testify as to the identity of their sources. 

Anyone who has ever walked into the newsroom of The Brookings Register will never confuse it with the Washington Post or the New York Times. We’re scrambling to cover Brookings and the surrounding communities. We don’t have the time or the inclination to offer anonymity to our sources. 

That’s not to say that one day it couldn’t happen. Someone distraught over corruption they have witnessed could show up at our door, willing to tell their story if only we could assure them that we would never reveal the source of our information. 

With a reporter shield law, we could offer that assurance and the news would be reported. 

Last week, the reporter shield law, HB1074, was introduced in the Legislature. At the risk of jinxing the bill, I have to say that I think it has a pretty good chance of passage. 

First, it has the support of the governor. That can’t hurt. 

Second, given the current political climate, everyone in the Capitol likes to say that they’re against government corruption. 

As a way for government whistleblowers to come forward and know that their identity will be protected, HB1074 is a pretty decent anti-corruption bill. 

Think of the millions of dollars that might have been saved or the lives that may have been saved if someone with knowledge of the wrongdoing in EB-5 or Gear Up had felt safe enough to confide what they knew to a reporter, knowing that their identity was protected by law. 

Frankly, a reporter shield law was not something I expected to hear about from a Republican candidate for governor. But I’m glad I did. 

We should all tell our representatives and senators in Pierre to vote for HB1074. It’s a needed protection for reporters and their sources. 

It will help fight corruption. 

It’s just good government.

Billy McMacken is the publisher of The Brookings Register. Confidential sources can contact him at bmcmacken@brookingsregister.com.