Conversations with COJO

Student host Alex Olson interviews Jason Hove, SDSU's Assistant Athletic Director for Communications, about his path from college journalist to athletic communications professional, how sports information has changed, and how digital tools and AI are shaping the field.

Student host Lydia Hill talks with Dr. Kevin Kessler, director of athletic bands and assistant professor of music, about his leadership of The Pride of the Dakotas Marching Band and his impact on music education at South Dakota State University.

In this episode student host Claire Booth talks to Anna Peters, director of news and multimedia content at KELOLAND Media Group. She discusses the challenges of rural reporting, building trust with sources, the role of social media and ethics, and tips on how to get internships, craft strong stories, and grow in broadcasting.

Student Host Emily Attrill interviews photojournalist and COJO alum, Tyler Teal, about his path from Sioux Falls and college internships to working at KARE-11 in Minneapolis. He discusses mentorship, the learning curve of shooting and editing, and offers practical advice for aspiring journalists.

Student Host Amina Aidarkhanova wraps up her conversation with Dean David Earnest, dean of the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences at South Dakota State University.

Student Host Amina Aidarkhanova talks with Dean David Earnest, dean of the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences at South Dakota State University. In this episode, they discuss leadership in higher education, the role of the humanities and social sciences today, and how programs like COJO prepare students for a rapidly changing world.

Student Host Ryann Davis talks with COJO alum Wren Murphy. Wren is a reporter at the Madison Daily Leader in Madison, South Dakota.  They graduated from SDSU in 2021 with a Bachelor of Arts in journalism with minors in Spanish and English.  Wren has worked at the Mobridge Tribune, The Beacon in Beulah, North Dakota, as well as the Collegian when they were a students.

Our first episode of the new year features student host Emily DeCock talking with Dr. Jamie Folsom.  She is an Assistant Professor of American Indian and Indigenous Studies in the School of American & Global Studies at SDSU. Dr. Folsom is an experienced journalist, who also teaching journalism courses for COJO.

Student host Kyla Andvik talks with COJO student Sydney Meissner. Sydney was crowned Miss SDSU 2026 earlier this fall. She is a Communication Studies major with double minors in Spanish and theater from Rapid City, SD.

Student host Jordan Roemeling talks with Tom Nieman, an SDSU alum whose career began in broadcast journalism and expanded into sports reporting, play-by-play announcing and sales. Today, he serves as a Development Director at the SDSU Foundation for the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences.