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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The three major power outages that took place in Ann Arbor earlier this year came with a significant price tag. As a result, the City Council passed a resolution to put pressure on DTE to improve service. WEMU’s Josh Hakala reports. -
Starting today, the Guaranteed Income pilot program in Ann Arbor is now accepting applications for participants. WEMU’s Josh Hakala reports.
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An Ann Arbor area teacher has received statewide recognition as the 2023 Adapted Physical Education Teacher of the Year. WEMU’s Josh Hakala reports.
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Ann Arbor Public Schools will have to wait a little longer for an interim superintendent. WEMU’s Josh Hakala reports.
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Ypsilanti native Deshawn Leeth has spent most of his young life in and out of the juvenile justice system, and, by age 18, he was sent to prison. After his release, Leeth discovered there were very few resources to help him readjust to society, which led to create the nonprofit mentorship organization, "Underdawg Nation". Leeth talks about his experiences while incarcerated and his work with underserved youth with WEMU's Josh Hakala and Concentrate Media's Rylee Barnsdale.
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Washtenaw County’s criminal legal system is full of racial disparities. That’s according to a report by the Washtenaw Equity Partnership. As WEMU's Josh Hakala tells us, the report also has suggestions on how to fix it.
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Eastern Michigan University and the union representing the school’s full-and-part-time lecturers have agreed on a new contract. WEMU’s Josh Hakala reports.
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Thousands of amateur astronomers will gather in Brighton this weekend for the 27th edition of Astronomy at the Beach. WEMU’s Josh Hakala talks with Saline-based amateur astronomer Brian Ottum on what’s happening in the skies, what NASA is bringing to the star party, and how they are preparing people for next year’s total solar eclipse.
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As part of the city’s goal to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030, Ann Arbor’s A2ZERO Green Fair returns Friday. As WEMU's Josh Hakala reports, this year, there is a focus on transportation.
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Last night’s Ann Arbor Public Schools Board of Education meeting addressed two main issues: taking steps to choosing an interim superintendent and replacing a board vacancy. WEMU’s Josh Hakala reports.
