Collecting skills with Campus News, class and choir

College is the time when students find their passion through classes, clubs, and more. Getting involved on campus is the best way to see where you thrive.

Christopher Hovden (‘25) is a prime example of this. His dedication to his broadcast journalism classes, Campus News, music, and his internship keeps his calendar busy during the semester.

He realized just how much of an impact he’s made on his skills when he earned this year’s Bob Fransen Leadership Scholarship from the National Academy of Television, Arts & Sciences Upper Midwest Chapter for $1,500. This scholarship represents Bob Fransen’s work as a journalist, and recognized Christopher’s photojournalism work for Campus News.

“I finished an overnight shift at 8:30 a.m. and got the call at 9 a.m.,” he laughs. “I talked to his son Scott Fransen and was very honored to be recognized.”

Christopher first dove into broadcasting at Pelican Rapids High School. With YouTube and cable access channels, students broadcast everything happening at the high school. Christopher started producing, writing, and filming all during his freshman year. He quickly realized he wanted to pursue this professionally.

“I only missed three events in all four years,” he says.

At MSUM, Christopher has worked in Campus News as a co-anchor, reporter, photographer, writer, and producer. With experience both in front of and behind the camera, he loves it all.

“It’s hard to choose my favorite role,” he says. “I genuinely enjoy every aspect so much.”

BS in Broadcast Journalism

His work on Campus News has allowed him to meet others and get new perspectives on stories their team works on. Whether it’s covering the internet outage or getting the public excited for the last year's Powwow, he wants to hear what people have to say.

“I love talking to people and hearing their stories,” he says.

Inside the classroom, Christopher feels that the hands-on experience he gets from his degree sets him apart from other majors. The level of student input professors allow in the classroom makes students feel that the work they perform mirrors work being done by professionals in the field.

“We have the freedom in this degree to create stories and take ownership of the work we do,” he says. “I feel like a young professional.”

Christopher recently produced a documentary for his broadcast documentary class, taught by adjunct professor and WDAY reporter, Kevin Wallevand. Titled “The Pioneer Barber”, this story covers the history of Felix Battles, a slave who fought in the Civil War, and came to Moorhead, Minn. to become a barber. Felix Battles is currently memorialized as a statue on MSUM campus to represent unrecognized civil war veterans. Christopher worked as a producer and brought together footage to tell Felix’s story.

“I love making the vision come together,” he says. “Telling stories through visuals makes people feel like they are really there.”

When Christopher isn’t interviewing, anchoring, or producing, he’s likely singing. He is a part of MSUM’s University Choir, Concert Choir, Dragon Scales Vocal Jazz, and a campus barbershop quartet he started called C4. His love for music started when he joined his middle school and church choirs. Ever since, he’s made it a part of his life and loves the community it gives him.

Christopher currently balances these activities with a producing internship at WDAY and plans to continue serving the community upon his graduation in spring of 2025.