Josh Hakala
General Assignment ReporterJosh Hakala, a lifelong Michigander (East Lansing & Edwardsburg), comes to WEMU after more than two decades of working in a variety of fields within broadcasting and digital media. Most recently, he worked at Michigan Radio as a producer and a fill-in host. Prior to that, he worked for Advance Digital where he managed newspaper websites from across the country, including MLive.com. While his resume is filled with sports broadcasting experience (Big Ten Network, 97.1FM The Ticket, 610AM WIP etc.), radio reporting (90.1FM WRTI) and odd jobs (an editor for the FIFA video game series for EA Sports), he brings a passion for news and storytelling to WEMU.
Josh is also a proud graduate of Lansing Community College where he got his radio start as the sports director and on-air music host at WLNZ. He also got his BA from Temple University where he majored in Broadcasting, Telecommunications & Mass Media. While he loved his five years in Philadelphia, he returned to his home state of Michigan in 2008 where he is happy to find people don't sing the The Fresh Prince of Bel Air theme song whenever you tell them where you live (West Philadelphia).
When he is not at WEMU, he runs TheCup.us, a media outlet that covers the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup, one of the oldest soccer tournaments in the world where amateur teams and the top professional teams all compete in a March Madness-style competition. He also does freelance play by play announcing for just about any sport (yes, even water polo), was inducted into the Greater Lansing Sports Hall of Fame (broadcaster) and still has a massive music collection as he clings to his CDs and vinyl records. He currently lives in Ann Arbor with his wife (the midwife) and three kids, two of which figured out a way to be born on the same day.
Contact Josh: jhakala3@emich.edu
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Small businesses are the lifeblood of any community, and Ypsilanti is no exception. WEMU's Josh Hakala and Concentrate Media's Rylee Barnsdale talk about what makes Ypsilanti's small business community unique with their guest, former city council member and current small business owner Brian Jones-Chance. -
Ypsilanti Community Schools is considering a plan to return students to one of their former school buildings. WEMU’s Josh Hakala reports. -
Washtenaw County voters in three different communities are being asked to fund improvements to their local school districts. WEMU’s Josh Hakala reports. -
As the area continues to grow, Scio Township is asking voters to approve two millages on Election Day to expand firefighting services. WEMU’s Josh Hakala reports. -
Voters in Chelsea are tasked with filling three open city council seats on Election Day next Tuesday. WEMU’s Josh Hakala reports. -
Next week on Election Day, voters in the village of Manchester will decide if they want to become a city. WEMU’s Josh Hakala reports. -
Getting an education as an adult can be challenging and costly. But for the last 25 years in Washtenaw County, the organization “Adult Transitions” has been helping adults get their GED, take English as a Second Language classes, and much more. WEMU's Josh Hakala and Concentrate Media's Rylee Barnsdale talk about this path to education with Bonnie Truhn, the program director of Adult Transitions. -
Prior to last night’s Monday Night Football game against the Detroit Lions, in which the Lions won 26-14, Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby made a significant donation to his alma mater. WEMU’s Josh Hakala reports. -
State Representative Carrie Rheingans introduced a rent control bill into the state Legislature last month. Now, the Democrat from Ann Arbor is facing a rent hike from her landlord. WEMU’s Josh Hakala reports. -
Ypsilanti Community Schools recently received a nearly $15 million federal grant, which they will use to enhance the district’s STEAM curriculum and its International Baccalaureate program. WEMU’s Josh Hakala reports
