Don Jorgensen

I was honored to be selected as South Dakota’s Broadcaster of the Year for 2010 by the South Dakota Broadcaster’s Association.

In addition, KELO News also was awarded the prestigious Edward R. Murrow Award for our coverage of the very first Honor Flight that brought World War II Veterans to Washington, D.C., to see the memorials.

While working the night shift has its challenges, it does offer a lot of fantastic opportunities to report on some of the areas biggest stories. In 2004, our ten o’clock newscast won a regional Emmy from the National Television Academy for its coverage of Tornado Tuesday, the night 67 twisters dropped from the skies over KELOLAND.

And our staff also won a regional Emmy for our live broadcast of the demolition of the old Zip Feed building in downtown Sioux Falls.

I first joined the KELOLAND News team in April, 1990, which now makes me one of the veterans of the newsroom. For nine years, I anchored Good Morning KELOLAND, helped launch After Nine, and took over duties of anchoring Midday in KELOLAND.

Before my television career, I made a living on the radio, broadcasting afternoon newscast on 1140 KSOO AM radio in Sioux Falls. 1988 was hired as assistant news director, but covered big stories, like President George Bush’s inauguration in Washington D. C. and the Sioux City plane crash.

Before KSOO, I lived in pheasant country, Winner, SD, where there are more birds than people. I was news and farm director for KWYR AM Country 1260 and its sister station, FM Magic 93.

I grew up in Parker, South Dakota, the youngest of seven boys. I graduated from high school in 1982 and later from Dakota Wesleyan University in 1986 with Bachelor of Arts degree in communications. Also, while at DWU I played four years of football and basketball.

I spend most of my free time with my family, riding motorcycle and playing softball.

I’m also one of the hosts of the Children’s Miracle Network broadcast, a non profit effort raising money to help children with life threatening illnesses.

I retired from the South Dakota Air National Guard after 22 years of service. 

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