Category: Newsroom & On-Air Staff

Rick Pluta has been covering Michigan’s Capitol, government, and politics since 1987. His journalism background includes stints with UPI, The Elizabeth (NJ) Daily Journal, The (Pontiac, MI) Oakland Press, and WJR. He is also a lifelong public radio listener. Continue reading “Rick Pluta | Reporter / Producer / Co-Host, It’s Just Politics”

Tracy Samilton covers energy and transportation, including the auto industry and the business response to climate change for Michigan Radio. She began her career at Michigan Radio as an intern, where she was promptly “bitten by the radio bug,” and never recovered.
Continue reading “Tracy Samilton | Energy and Transportation Reporter / Producer”

Tyler Scott is the weekend afternoon host at Michigan Radio, though you can often hear him filling in at other times during the week. Tyler started in radio at age 18, as a board operator at WMLM 1520AM in Alma, Michigan, where he later became host of The Morning Show. He studied political science and graduated from the University of Michigan with a bachelor’s degree in 2016. Continue reading “Tyler Scott | Weekend afternoon host”

Christina began her career in radio at Michigan Radio while a student at the University of Michigan. She was a producer and researcher for The Todd Mundt Show, and then hosted Weekend Edition. Continue reading “Christina Shockley | Host, All Things Considered”

Lindsey Smith is Michigan Radio’s Morning News Editor. She previously served as Michigan Radio’s investigative reporter and West Michigan Reporter.

Lindsey’s work has been repeatedly recognized by the Michigan Association of Broadcasters and Michigan Associated Press. She co-wrote and co-hosted the 2018 Peabody award winning podcast, Believed, about how former gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar got away with sexual abuse for decades. Continue reading “Lindsey Smith | Morning News Editor”

Lauren Talley is Michigan Radio’s Morning Edition producer. She produces and edits studio interviews and feature stories, and helps manage the “Mornings in Michigan” series. Lauren also serves as the lead substitute host for Morning Edition.
Continue reading “Lauren Talley | Producer, Morning Edition”

Doug Tribou joined the Michigan Radio staff as the host of Morning Edition in June 2016. Doug first moved to Michigan in 2015 when he was awarded a Knight-Wallace journalism fellowship at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. Continue reading “Doug Tribou | Host, Morning Edition”

April Van Buren is a producer for Stateside. She produces interviews for air as well as web and social media content for the show.

Before landing at Michigan Radio, April worked as a producer for Current State at WKAR and a reporting intern and producer at WBEZ in Chicago.
Continue reading “April Van Buren | Producer”

Kate Wells has been a reporter at Michigan Radio since 2012. Her reporting at the station runs the gamut, from the wrongful conviction of a 14-year-old boy in a quadruple homicide, to refugees building new lives in this state, to how swing voters helped Donald Trump turn Michigan red. For the past couple years, she’s been covering the Larry Nassar case. Continue reading “Kate Wells | Reporter”

Jodi is Michigan Radio’s Digital Director, leading and developing the station’s overall digital strategy. She works with the news, programming, marketing, and membership teams to present the work Michigan Radio does in an engaging way. She spends a lot of time thinking of new ways to connect listeners to the station across a variety of digital platforms.
Continue reading “Jodi Westrick | Digital Director”