Conversations with COJO

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. 

Student host Jordan Roemeling talks with COJO graduate alum Stefanie Fauth. Stefanie is a Senior Communications Specialist at Dominium, Inc. and also an actor and filmmaker.  Her graduate project was a documentary film entitled "Women in Film in Minnesota," which will be featured during the COJO Cinema event at the South Dakota Art Museum on April 14.

Student host Annie Witt talks with Steve Jurrens, who is the News Director at KXLG Radio 99.1 in Watertown, South Dakota.

Student host Natalie Dean talks to Jeanine Basinger.  Basinger is the Corwin-Fuller Professor of Film Studies at Wesleyan University, where she is also the founder and curator of the Wesleyan Cinema Archives and chair of the Film Studies Department. She has a bachelor’s and a master’s degree from SDSU, and has authored several books on film history.

Student hosts Coryn Wolff and Tessa Henderson talk to COJO graduate student Finn Kane.  Finn is a teaching assistant in the Basic Media Writing course and it is working on a documentary for his graduate professional project.

This is the last episode of the fall semester, however look for new episodes in January.