Back in the saddle

After a three-and-a-half-year hiatus, Akerly returned to the Lansing airwaves Monday, on radio this time, as morning host of “WILS Morning Wake Up with Dave Akerly.”

The show, which airs weekday mornings 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. on 1320-AM, gives Akerly a chance to stretch out and explore topics in detail.

“On television, you are limited to sound bytes and short clips,” he said. “This show is a chance to do a talk show and do long-form interviews. You can have a real conversation.”

While Akerly is a broadcasting veteran, hosting a three-hour radio show will be a new challenge.

“I’ll be learning a lot of new things every day,” he said.

The show will be driven largely by guest interviews, but also will try to engage directly with listeners.

“We’re hoping to take listener calls, and also to interact on social media,” Akerly said. “I’m excited to rejoin the daily lives of Lansing listeners.”

Akerly looks forward to discussing local issues, as well as broader national issues and how they affect our communities.

“We want it to be a Lansing-centric show,” he said. “We’re too important of a metro area to not have a radio show dedicated to the area.”

Akerly’s new show fills the gap left when Tony Conley left the station last month. The five-year host of the “Tony Conley Morning Show” accepted an account executive position with M3 Group at the end of January.

Scott Holliday, WILS operations manager, said bringing in Akerly was an easy decision.

“It was a tremendous opportunity to bring in a guy with 20 years of broadcasting experience in the Lansing area,” he said.

Holliday believes that Akerly’s experience and connections will help him create a show that appeals to Lansing’s business and political leaders.

“I think Lansing’s movers and shakers will tune in,” Holliday said. “People involved in Lansing business and politics will be interested in the topics Akerly brings to the table.”

While Akerly is looking forward to digging into the issues facing mid-Michigan, he also wants to create something listeners will enjoy.

“I want to have some fun in the process,” Akerly says. “If I can be entertained while I’m being informed, that’s where I want to be as a listener.

"WILS Morning Wake Up with Dave Akerly"

6-9 a.m. Monday-Friday WILS 1320 AM 1320wils.com