Eli Newman (photo credit: Megan Schellong, WKAR)

WKAR Public Media (East Lansing) has announced the hiring of Eli Newman as Assistant News Director and Editor.  Newman joins the WKAR stations after a seven-year stint as a reporter at Detroit's WDET-FM where he covered breaking news, politics and community affairs.  As a reporter, Newman has reported on everything from how the Boston Cooler got its name to the investigation of the Detroit City Council for hostile workplace discrimination.

In an interview with WKAR's Megan Schellong, Newman discussed his interest in public radio: "For many years, I was really interested in writing. And I think wanting that kind of thing for yourself, it's not really clear how you can pursue that as a career... After college, I was able to land an internship with WDET and that's where I was able to really get that hands-on reporting, which is something that I didn't really ever see for myself.  I really love telling real authentic stories and being able to put people's voices and perspectives on a platform.  I am always hungry for a challenge. I'm really proud of the work that I've been able to do as a reporter in Detroit. But a lot of the things that we cover are really tied to, I think, the state as a whole and here at WKAR, there was an opportunity to get into the backseat of the State Capitol, I was really interested in getting a little bit closer to those hubs of power and being able to offer some of that government accountability expertise that I feel like I've been able to cultivate and bring it towards a different arena.

Newman added, "WKAR is such a great classical station. I came into public radio through music and through arts and culture reporting, and so being able to actually listen to a bit more and kind of it expand my musical palette a bit is something that I'm really looking forward to."