Conversations with COJO

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.

Student host Jordan Roemeling talks with Jeremy Waltner. Waltner is a second-generation publisher/editor of the Freeman Courier, a South Dakota Weekly newspaper, following his father, Tim Waltner. He also runs a photography/design studio called Waltner Media.

Student host Kayla Walsh visits with Alison Simon. Alison graduated in 2021 with a degree in Agricultural Education, Communication and Leadership. She has worked as a reporter for the Collegian, the Mobridge Tribune, and the Brookings Register.  She was also the state president for the Future Farmers of America.

This week, student host Emily DeCock talks with COJO alum Greta Goede.  Greta graduated cin May of 2024 with a bachelor's degree in journalism. She was the Editor-in-chief of The Collegian and interned with South Dakota News Watch while in college.  Greta currently works as a reporter at KMTV in Omaha, Nebraska.

COJO student Annie Witt talks with Tyler Merriam.  Tyler is the "Voice of the Jackrabbits" for SDSU athletics and the Jackrabbit Sports Network.  He also hosts weekly radio sports shows. Tyler grew up in Pierre, S.D. and graduated from SDSU with a Bachelor of Science degree in journalism. 

In the first episode of the fall 2025 semester, student Brayden Byers talks to COJO alum Josh Munce.  Josh has worked in television news, advertising and live sports, and is currently the Sports Operations Manager for Midco Sports.  His work has earned him two regional Emmy awards, and he will be recognized as a Distinguished Alum in COJO this fall.

Student host Taylor Tennant talks with Landon Dierks, who is an SDSU journalism alumni and sports editor for the Mitchell Republic.