ABC News’ Chief Washington correspondent Jonathan Karl arrived in South Dakota Sunday morning to meet with political science majors, contribute to journalism classes and be the fifth speaker in former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle’s ongoing series to bring leaders from across the nation to Brookings, South Dakota.

At Sunday’s Daschle Dialogues event, moderator Chuck Raasch announced that the Thomas A. Daschle Congressional Research Study will make two $5,000 donations—one to support independent watchdog journalism at South Dakota Newswatch and another to support scholarships for students involved in student media like the Collegian. 

We’re grateful for Daschle’s continued investment in SDSU and his commitment to supply SDSU with a stream of influential people we normally would not see here in “flyover country.” Daschle served our state for many years in the United States Senate where he was both a majority and minority leader. As a senator from a rural state, Daschle punched above his weight, and now he’s helping SDSU do the same. 

We’d also like to thank Karl for taking the time to engage with students and the Brookings community. Karl did not charge SDSU or the Daschle Study for his appearance, which allowed for the Daschle Study to make the donation in Karl’s honor. Thanks to this donation, the Collegian will generate new interest among upcoming students in journalism, PR, advertising and beyond. Journalism is what makes democracy and freedom work, and this donation will help ensure that the fundament of our society doesn’t vanish on this campus.  

To Karl, Daschle and all of the private donors who supported this event, thank you for your commitment to journalism and the next generation of journalists. 

The Collegian staff looks forward to the next Daschle Dialogues event!

The Collegian Editorial Board meets weekly and agrees on the issue of the editorial. The editorial represents the opinion of The Collegian.