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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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.
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Members of the McKinley Tenants Association spoke out this week at the Ypsilanti City Council meeting. They are trying to bring attention to what they call mismanagement by McKinley Inc., which owns more than half of the county’s workforce housing. WEMU’s Josh Hakala reports.
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Eastern Michigan University is helping some incarcerated people earn a degree while behind bars. It's an effort to reduce recidivism and help participants become productive members of society once released. WEMU's Josh Hakala and Concentrate Media's Rylee Barnsdale talk about EMU's College in Prison program with its director, Meghan Lechner.
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Less than a week after voting to accept the resignation of Ann Arbor Schools Superintendent Jeanice Swift, a member of the school board is resigning. WEMU's Josh Hakala reports.
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The second reading of an ordinance will receive a vote at tonight’s Ypsilanti City Council meeting. It would put additional smoking restrictions in the city. WEMU’s Josh Hakala reports.
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Ann Arbor City Council voted to approve the city’s 2023 Transportation Asset Management Plan at last night’s meeting. WEMU’s Josh Hakala reports.
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A park in Southeast Ann Arbor that is expected to receive a makeover for the city’s 200th birthday will likely get a new name at tonight’s city council meeting. WEMU’s Josh Hakala reports.