WEMU Announces Two New Staffers in Newsroom

(L-R) Cathy Shafran and Josh Hakala

Eastern Michigan University’s WEMU-FM has announced the hiring of two new staff members.  Cathy Shafran has joined the station as News Anchor/Reporter.  Shafran brings nearly 40 years of broadcast experience to the station, having worked as an anchor/reporter at WMAX-AM (Grand Rapids) from 1978-1980 and at WJRT-TV (Flint) as a reporter from 1980-2011. Among her other experiences, Shafran has worked overseas in Jerusalem/Israel, has taught journalism at Oakland University and was a Business/Multimedia News Reporter at MLive.  Shafran will also serve as the new local host for All Things Considered.

Josh Hakala is WEMU’s new General Assignment Reporter, focusing on reporting on news and events in and around Washtenaw County. Hakala formerly worked at Michigan radio as a fill-in on-air host.  His expansive resume includes Creator/Senor Editor for TheCup.us; a freelance play-by-play broadcaster; Big Ten Network announcer; Producer/Update Anchor for WXYT-FM (Detroit).  Hakala holds a Bachelors in Broadcasting and Mass Media from Temple University.