Steve Chrypinski

The Washington Post’s The Fix politics blog has named three public radio reporters in Michigan as “outstanding politics reporters to follow” in the state. They include Michigan Radio’s Zoe Clark, Rick Pluta of the Michigan Public Radio Network, and Abigail Censky from WKAR.

The speculation about Governor Whitmer as a potential vice presidential candidate has been put to rest, but Michigan is still in the national political spotlight for the November election.  Tuesday August 18, Jenn White, host of NPR’s national 1A program, will be taking over Michigan Radio’s Stateside show to talk with Michigan listeners about the state’s battleground status in the presidential election.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Michigan Radio’s presentation of the Moth Mainstage in Detroit has been rescheduled from October 23, 2020 to the same date in 2021. The October 23, 2021 show will take place at the Music Hall Center for Performing Arts in downtown Detroit.

For Michigan Radio, increasing diversity is an existential pursuit.

Diverse stories and perspectives have the power to expand thinking and challenge assumptions - both of which are central to our mission, especially in an increasingly polarized world. When paired with an equally thoughtful and inclusive approach to community outreach, this type of content also has the potential to diversify and expand our audiences, which is essential to the station’s long-term sustainability.

Michigan Radio was recognized with two awards from the Public Media Journalists Association (PMJA). The station won first place in the documentary category for Life on the Inside and second place in the interview category for “Jackson corrections officer talks about mental health toll of working in a prison.”

Beginning on Saturday, July 4, Michigan Radio will be introducing a revised weekend and weekday evening on-air schedule. This includes the addition of a new show to the line-up and revised times for several other programs. 

Weekend changes/Revised times

Michigan Radio is changing its style guide, and as of today will capitalize the word “Black” when referring to a person or group’s race, culture or ethnicity.

Michigan Radio relies on the AP Style Guide and NPR usage for guidance on most usage questions, but because language is dynamic and rules change as language and societies change, we are including this change among the short list of stylistic rules we have that differ from the AP and NPR styles.

American Public Media announced Tuesday that they are ending production of Live from Here with Chris Thile.

“As a result of COVID-19, the current economic climate has pushed us to make some challenging decisions,” said Chandra Kavati, Vice President of Distribution and Underwriting at American Public Media.

WAMU 88.5 announced today that Jenn White has been selected as the new host of the nationally syndicated NPR show 1A. No stranger to public media, White comes to 1A from WBEZ Chicago, where she hosts the station's midday talk program Reset with Jenn White. She also hosted WBEZ’s critically acclaimed podcasts Making Oprah and Making Obama. Her first day on 1A is July 6.

 Michigan Radio and Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts will present a live performance of The Moth Mainstage in Detroit, Friday, October 23 at 7:30 p.m. The show has been rescheduled from its previous date of June 5, 2020.  Additional info is forthcoming.  

Moth Mainstage features a line-up of writers, performers, and other unique national and Michigan storytellers, each with a ten-minute story to tell live without notes.

Win a pair of tickets to Drum TAO 2020 coming to Cobb Great Hall at Wharton Center in East Lansing on March 13, 2020.  Michigan Radio is giving away 3 pair of tickets to the show.  

Win a pair of tickets to the upcoming Cottage and Lakefront Living Show!  The Show will be at the Suburban Collection Showpace in Novi, February 27-March 1, 2020 and at DeVos Place in Grand Rapids from March 27-29, 2020.  Michigan Radio is giving away 5 pair of tickets to each show.  

Whether you own a cottage, are looking to purchase, or rent, or your primary home is on the water, this show is for you. Shop and compare designers, furnishings, builders, realtors, boats and more, all in one place. 

Issues & Ale:  Michigan’s Presidential Primary 
Mon, March 9, 2020   6:30-8:00 PM 
Lansing Brewing Co.
518 E Shiawassee St, Lansing, MI 48912

Michigan is considered one of the key swing states that could decide the 2020 presidential election. The race for president rolls into Michigan with the state’s presidential primary on Tuesday, March 10. 

Win a pair of tickets to the Grand Rapids Boat Show coming to DeVos Place, February 19 -23, 2020! 

In its 75th year, the Grand Rapids Boat Show is launching into an era where we will be showing our broadest array of power boats ever…5 acres of them, especially for the Great Lakes! The array of Motor Yachts, Cruisers, Runabouts, Fishing Boats, and Ski and Wakeboard Inboards is exceptional. Pontoon Boats continue to excel in new designs, features and cruising abilities. 

Show Dates & Hours:

Who taught you black history? In some schools, black history is only taught during February, and is often treated like an elective rather than part of the standard curriculum.  

Same Same Different host and creator Bryce Huffman will host three live events around the state that will explore the importance of black history in America --- how it's being taught and its impact on black identity.  

Win a pair of tickets to the Michigan International Auto Show, January 30 - February 2, 2020 at DeVos Place in Grand Rapids. 

This is a great annual opportunity to view your "next new car!" 

While Stateside takes a holiday break, tune in for these special shows. All of these programs air at 3 p.m., with a 10 p.m. repeat.

Monday, Dec. 23 - The Great Listen by Story Corps

Hosted by NPR's Audie Cornish, this show highlights the importance of documenting family history, and gives instructions on how you can record conversations over the holidays and preserve them for future generations.

Tuesday, Dec. 24 – Friday, Dec 27 
2019 Best of the Best from Third Coast:

Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism today announced that Michigan Radio is a winner of a 2020 Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Award for the station’s podcast series, Believed.  

Veteran public radio journalist April Baer is joining Michigan Radio to host the station’s popular Stateside talk show. She will take the helm of the show beginning Monday, January 6, 2020. 

April Baer is replacing Cynthia Canty, who has been the host of the award winning show for the past seven years and is retiring later this month. 

After nearly a decade, Bodies Revealed is returning to the GRPM. This exhibition features real, whole and partial body specimens that have been preserved through an innovative process, giving visitors the opportunity to view the complexity of their own organs and systems like never before. 

"Bodies  Revealed" will be at the GRPM November 16, 2019 through May 17, 2020. 

To learn more about "Bodies Revealed", click here.  

After nearly a decade, Bodies Revealed is returning to the GRPM. This exhibition features real, whole and partial body specimens that have been preserved through an innovative process, giving visitors the opportunity to view the complexity of their own organs and systems like never before.

Michigan Radio has been selected as a host newsroom by Report for America. As part of this initiative, Michigan Radio will hire a new reporter who will focus on coverage of mental health care in Michigan.

A recent study found nearly 670,000 Michiganders with mental illness and more than 500,000 with a substance use disorder are not receiving treatment, a circumstance compounded by a shortage of health professionals and treatment facilities in the state. Some mental health advocates consider this a statewide epidemic.

After nearly three years with NPR’s 1A, Joshua Johnson will be stepping down as the show’s host, effective December 20, to join MSNBC as an anchor.  Joshua served as the inaugural host of 1A and has been instrumental in its success as a national talk show, following in the footsteps of The Diane Rehm Show.

Grand Rapids International Wine, Beer and Food Festival
November 21-23, 2019
DeVos Place, Grand Rapids

Google News Initiative (GNI) announced that Michigan Radio has been named a 2019 recipient of their first North America Innovation Challenge, an international program that funds projects bringing new ideas into the news industry. 

The craft cocktail scene in Michigan is flourishing, with dozens of new distilleries and craft cocktail bars, as well as mixologists with a passion for creating drinks using these Michigan-made spirits. 

Join the hosts of Michigan Radio’s popular Cheers segment, Lester Graham and Tammy Coxen, as we celebrate Michigan’s craft cocktail movement and the publication of their new book, "Cheers to Michigan: A Celebration of Cocktail Culture and Craft Distillers" on Thursday, December 12 from 7:00-9:00 p.m. at The Circ Bar in Ann Arbor.  

Legendary singer-songwriter Bob Dylan and His Band visit Ann Arbor for a special one-night-only performance. You could win one of five pair of tickets we're giving away to his show on November 6th at Hill Auditorium.

Bob Dylan and His Band
Wednesday, Nov. 6, 8 pm
Hill Auditorium, Ann Arbor

Winners receive 2 tickets for this show.

Note: Entry deadline – Oct 31, 2019  

Contest rules click here.

Sold-Out
Wednesday, November 6, 6:30 - 8:00 pm

Harmony Hall
401 Stocking Ave NW
Grand Rapids, MI 49504

2019 was a big year in state politics, with a new Michigan governor and Attorney General taking office, a slew of Democratic presidential candidates beginning to campaign across the state, and Republicans rallying around the President. 

The entertainment news website Vulture has selected Michigan Radio’s Believed podcast as one of their “10 Influential True-Crime Podcasts That Changed Everything.” Their listing points out that true crime podcasts are “…the engine that boosted the medium into the stratosphere,” and that some of the best journalism being produced today has borrowed from the production and writing style of true-crime podcasts. Besides Believed, other well-known true-crime podcasts on Vulture’s list are In The Dark, Dirty John, My Favorite Murder and Serial.