Blake Haas

Blake Haas is a central Illinois broadcaster, farmer, and investor and has spent many years in various positions at WJBC. A Clinton native, Haas grew up in central Illinois listening to WJBC as a kid with the likes of many Hall of Fame broadcasters blessing the airwaves in central Illinois with problems and solutions and the sponsor wheel.

While pursuing an associate’s degree at Lincoln College (Go Lynx’s!), Haas found his passion for broadcasting, where the station tapped him to be the team’s play-by-play voice. While a mediocre basketball player at heart, Haas found his love around the round ball and knew broadcasting was not only a dream but a passion.

Growing up in Clinton, Haas always heard about Illinois State University (Go ‘Birds!), where he would visit Redbird Arena to watch Men’s basketball games as a kid. After obtaining his degree, Haas soon transferred to ISU to obtain a bachelor’s degree in Communication, where he helped the ISU’s radio station, 103.3 WZND, win the Broadcast Education Signature Station Award for the best college radio station in the world. In addition, Haas achieved 5 Silver Dome Awards, 4 Society of Professional Journalist awards, and many others along the way.

His passion for broadcasting significantly grew during his senior year, when he decided to pursue a Master’s Degree in Communication while learning the ropes at WJBC, where he now serves as the Afternoon Host.

In his free time, Haas loves to put his head in the books studying the ins and outs of Wall Street and watching over his farm in Macon County. Want to get in touch with him? Email him at [email protected].

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…