Traffic and weather on the eights. If you’ve spent more than twenty minutes driving down I-75 or navigating the Lodge, those six words are basically hardwired into your brain. It’s the rhythm of the city. For nearly a century, WWJ news radio 950 am detroit has been the background noise of the morning commute, the frantic source of info during a blizzard, and the place where locals turn when the power goes out. Honestly, in an era of TikTok news and instant Twitter (X) alerts, a signal coming from a tower in Oak Park might seem like a relic. But it isn't. It's the heartbeat of Southeast Michigan.
The station doesn’t just play the news; it lives it. It’s one of the few remaining "all-news" formats in the country that hasn’t pivoted to cheap syndicated talk shows during the day. That matters.
The 24-Hour Grind of News Radio 950 AM Detroit
Most people think radio is easy. You sit in a booth, you talk, you go home. That’s not how it works at 950. The newsroom at the Entercom (now Audacy) facility in Southfield is a chaotic, high-pressure environment where editors are constantly scanning police scanners, social feeds, and wires. It’s a relentless cycle.
The "all-news" format is expensive. It requires a massive staff of anchors, reporters, and producers. While other stations around the country have fired their local newsrooms to play national podcasts, WWJ has stayed remarkably local. You’ll hear names like Jackie Paige, Jonathan Carlson, and Tom Jordan—people who actually live here. They know how to pronounce "Lahser" and "Gratiot." That local authenticity is why the station consistently sits at or near the top of the Nielsen ratings for the Detroit market.
Why the 950 AM Signal Still Hits Different
AM radio has its quirks. It crackles under power lines and gets fuzzy under overpasses. Yet, the 50,000-watt clear-channel signal of WWJ is a beast. During the day, it covers almost the entire lower peninsula of Michigan and bleeds deep into Ohio and Ontario.
There’s a specific technical reason why 950 AM stays relevant: latency. When you’re watching a "live" stream of a Detroit Lions game or a local press conference on your phone, there’s often a 30 to 60-second delay. In a fast-moving emergency—like the historic 2014 floods or the 2021 tornadoes—that minute matters. Radio is instantaneous. It is the only medium that works when the cell towers are overloaded or the fiber lines are cut.
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Business, Stocks, and the Motor City
You can’t talk about news radio 950 am detroit without mentioning the "Business Time" reports. Detroit is a town built on industry. We care about the price of steel, the latest UAW negotiations, and the fluctuating stock prices of Ford, GM, and Stellantis.
Long-time listeners remember the legendary Murray Feldman, whose voice was synonymous with Detroit business for decades. That legacy continues with a focus on how national economic shifts actually affect the guy working the line at the Jefferson North Assembly Plant. They don’t just report the Dow Jones; they report the impact on your 401k and your commute to the office in Troy or downtown.
It's sorta fascinating how they manage to condense complex tax code changes or automotive mergers into 60-second bursts. It’s an art form. It’s news for people who have places to be.
The Traffic and Weather Obsession
Let’s be real. Nobody listens to the radio for the music anymore—not when Spotify exists. We listen because we want to know if the Southfield Freeway is a parking lot.
The "Traffic and Weather on the 8s" is more than a slogan. It’s a utility. WWJ uses a mix of MDOT cameras, tipsters (the "mobile traffic unit"), and proprietary weather data to keep the city moving. If there’s a jackknifed semi on I-94, 950 AM is usually the first to know.
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- Real-time updates: They provide a granular look at local surface streets, not just the big interstates.
- Weather nuances: They understand that "snow in Detroit" might mean three inches in Wyandotte but eight inches in Clarkston.
- The "Double L" factor: Local legends like Richie Bakalyan have spent years guiding us through the "Mixing Bowl" and the "Malfunction Junction."
A History That Basically Invented the Medium
There is a long-standing debate in the broadcasting world about who was first. KDKA in Pittsburgh usually gets the credit for being the first commercially licensed station, but WWJ (originally 8MK) started broadcasting on August 20, 1920. It was founded by The Detroit News.
This station literally invented the idea of a "newsroom." In the early days, they were reading the newspaper over the air. Now, they are a digital powerhouse with a massive streaming presence on the Audacy app. But even with all the tech, the core mission hasn't changed. They are the "station of record" for the region. When the "Big Three" have news, they go to WWJ. When a mayor is in trouble, the 950 microphones are the ones shoved in their face first.
Dealing with the "AM Radio is Dying" Narrative
You might have heard that some car manufacturers (like Tesla or Ford, briefly) tried to remove AM radio from their dashboards. The pushback from stations like WWJ was immense. Why? Because of the Emergency Alert System (EAS).
AM radio waves travel further and penetrate buildings better than FM or 5G signals. If there is a national crisis, the 950 AM signal is part of the backbone of the country's communication strategy. It’s not just about news; it’s about public safety. FEMA actually invests in these stations to ensure they can stay on the air even during a total grid collapse.
The Sound of the Neighborhoods
What makes news radio 950 am detroit stand out from a generic national news feed is its commitment to the neighborhoods. They cover the North End, the East Side, and the suburbs with equal weight.
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They do these "24 Seconds on..." segments that highlight local charities and small businesses. It feels like Detroit. It sounds like the guy at the Coney Island complaining about the potholes or the woman at the church bazaar. It isn’t polished, corporate-speak news. It’s gritty. It’s the sound of a city that has seen the highest highs and the lowest lows and just keeps on grinding.
How to Actually Use the Station Today
If you’re new to the area or just trying to stay informed, you don't need an old-school transistor radio, though they are great for power outages.
- The App: Use the Audacy app to stream crystal-clear audio if you’re outside the signal range or in a "dead zone" building.
- Smart Speakers: Just say "Play WWJ Newsradio 950" to your Alexa or Google Home while you're getting ready in the morning.
- The Podcasts: They have specific feeds for business and "Detroit 24/7" that allow you to skip the traffic reports if you’re already at work.
Moving Forward With Michigan's News Leader
Staying informed in Detroit doesn't have to be a chore. Instead of doom-scrolling through nameless social media accounts, lean into the expertise of a newsroom that has been doing this for over a century.
Actionable Steps for the Informed Detroiter:
- Program your "1" preset: Make sure 950 AM is the first button on your car's radio dial for immediate access during emergencies.
- Follow their digital desk: The WWJ website often carries long-form versions of the 30-second clips you hear on air, providing deeper context on Michigan legislation.
- Use the tip line: If you see something—a fire, a major accident, or a community event—call the newsroom. They thrive on listener input and it’s how the city stays connected.
- Check the "Business Time": Listen at :20 and :50 past the hour for the most relevant local economic updates that actually impact your wallet.
The world changes fast. Platforms come and go. But as long as there are people driving on the Lodge in a snowstorm, there will be a need for news radio 950 am detroit. It is the ultimate survival tool for the modern Michigander.