Reporting North Dakota: The Walsh County Press
Reporting North Dakota is a podcast series within The Backstory from the North Dakota News Cooperative highlighting the journalists, newsrooms and reporting that help keep communities across the state informed. Through conversations with editors and reporters, the series offers a behind-the-scenes look at how local journalism works and the role it plays in communities across North Dakota.
The editor of the Walsh County Press reflects on the challenges and responsibilities of covering the rural community she calls home.
In this episode of The Backstory, North Dakota News Cooperative CEO Sabrina Halvorson speaks with Allison Olimb, editor of the Walsh County Press in Park River.
Listen here:
Olimb discusses how she first became interested in journalism, the influence of mentors who helped shape her career, and what it means to report on the people and issues in a small rural community where the stories you cover involve neighbors, friends and local leaders.
One of the most difficult parts of community journalism, Olimb says, is maintaining fairness while reporting on sensitive issues that directly affect the people around you.
Editor, Walsh County Press
“I've had stories before where I've had people from both sides of the topic come up to me and say, you did a good job on this… the one side is thinking you're taking their side, and the other side is thinking you took their side, so I kind of feel like I did okay. But it's always in the back of your head like, I'm going to screw this up and they're going to be talking about me at the bar.”
The conversation also highlights the realities of running a small-town newsroom, where limited staff means editors often juggle multiple roles — reporter, editor and community liaison — while trying to make sure important stories are still covered.
Despite the challenges, Olimb says local newspapers remain essential gathering places for community conversations and shared information. Even when coverage can be uncomfortable, providing accurate and fair reporting helps ensure residents stay informed about the issues shaping their towns.
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The North Dakota News Cooperative is a nonprofit news organization providing reliable and independent reporting on issues and events that impact the lives of North Dakotans. The organization increases the public’s access to quality journalism and advances news literacy across the state. For more information about NDNC or to make a charitable contribution, please visit newscoopnd.org. Send comments, suggestions or tips to michael@newscoopnd.org. Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/NDNewsCoop.
