Amy Poppinga

SDSU’s media outlets will have new management next year.

Nathan Hofer will be station manager for KSDJ, while Brandon Van Westen will lead The Collegian as editor-in-chief.

Hofer, a junior psychology major, has been DJ-ing for KSDJ during the past two years. In this time, he also helped create a couple of announcements for underwriting sponsorships.

The Freeman, S.D., native plans to keep the radio’s format basically the same next year.

“We get events out there, I like the music style and the format works well,” he said. “I think people want to see the same format.”

Still, Hofer wants to improve the station by playing more “underground” music and songs from lesser-known bands. He would also like to start a short talk show, and he invites any DJs, professors or even President David Chicoine to talk to him about hosting their own talk show.

Hofer has an optimistic outlook for next year even though he said that something will inevitably happen.

“I think things will run pretty smoothly,” he said. “It’ll be a good transition from Carl.”

Carl Deardoff, the outgoing station manager and a senior broadcast journalism major, also had a positive outlook for next fall, during which KSDJ will celebrate 15 years of existence.

“Nathan will bring in a breath of fresh air. He has a lot of good ideas, and he knows what music he wants to play,” said Deardoff. “Look for a bright future for the campus station.”

The new editor-in-chief is Brandon Van Westen, a senior journalism major from Sioux Falls.

Van Westen started working for the paper as an ad designer in November 2005. In May 2006, he began as the managing visual editor, and this May, he will begin his position as editor-in-chief.

Van Westen plans to provide more online content next year, including content not offered in the paper product. He wants to do some minor design tweaking, as well, to keep improving the visual aspect of the paper.

“My main goal is to ensure the quality of The Collegian as it has been the past two years and to produce quality news for both the students and faculty,” he said.

The outgoing editor-in-chief, Jenna Mann, has high expectations for the paper next year. She said that Van Westen has worked at the paper even longer than she has, and he has seen the paper at its best and worst. Through these experiences, Van Westen has developed a vision, she said.

“Not only does he have a vision for what he wants, he also has a plan for how he’s going to get there,” Mann, a junior broadcast journalism and political science major, said. “There will be a very noticeable change next year, in a good way.”

Van Westen also said the outlook for next year is “immensely positive.”

“We have an excellent senior staff that has done the work and put in the time. They are experienced in everything they do,” he said. “It should be a good year content-wise.”

#1.882524:1469770025.jpg:hofer,nathan_JN.jpg:Nathan Hofer, new KSDJ station manager:#1.882523:411607625.jpg:van westen,brandon_JN.jpg:Brandon Van Westen, new Collegian editor-in-chief: