In 2001, Detroit opened its polls with a big question on the ballot. Twenty-one people were running for mayor. Dennis Archer was stepping aside after two terms, and Detroit was about to pick somebody new.

But that wasn’t the focus for long. Because the day was Tuesday, Sept. 11, and the twin towers came down that morning. So, WDET had to turn east and stay home at the same time: cover the deadliest attack in the country’s history, and cover a city that was still, that same afternoon, quietly choosing who would lead it.

Jerome Vaughn helped run that coverage. It won an award, though the award isn’t the part he remembers. He remembers that the voting didn’t stop — that was the story underneath the story. “Democracy goes on,” Vaughn said.

He joined WDET in January 1992, when he walked into this building as an intern and — apart from one year away at Michigan Radio — never left. He’s run the WDET newsroom since 2007, through stories that defined Detroit: Rosa Parks; Aretha Franklin; Kwame Kilpatrick; a bankruptcy, and a city working to rebuild. Through it all, he was in the room, or he led someone who was.

He also spent those years mentoring generations of Detroit journalists who credit him with their entry into media, and created the Detroit Evening Report so that Detroiters of color would hear about their own city in their own voices

On his last day at WDET, he joined Robyn Vincent on The Metro to look at how the city changed over his three decades in journalism, and what he learned along the way.

Hear the full conversation using the media player above.

Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand. Never miss an episode — subscribe to The Metro on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or NPR, or wherever you get your podcasts. Have thoughts? Email the show at metro@wdet.org.

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Saying farewell to WDET legend Jerome Vaughn after 34 years at the station before he retires by playing some of his favorites (which means a lot of Beatles), plus a moody Monday mix of songs from Macie Stewart, Martin Lundfall, Nightbus, new music from brother-sister duo Sam and Louise Sullivan and a lot more.

Check the playlist below and listen to the episode for two weeks after it airs using the player above.

In The Groove with Ryan Patrick Hooper playlist for August 17, 2026

• “Garter Snake (Audiotree Live Session)” — Macie Stewart
• “Like Swimwear (part two) [feat. Anna Butterss, Jay Bellerose & Josh Johnson]” — Jeff Parker & ETA IVtet
• “All I Need” — Radiohead
• “Everything in its Right Place” — Kamaal Williams
• “Lazarus” — David Bowie
• “New York is Killing Me” — Gil Scott-Heron & Makaya McCraven
• “Clap Hands (2023 Remaster)” — Tom Waits
• “Morning Sunrise” — Swish Jaguar
• “Gil Scott Heron – (Angola, Louisiana remix)” — Martin Lundfall
• “Angles Mortz” — Nightbus
• “Down on Love” — Sam and Louise Sullivan
• “I Made It” — Annie & the Caldwells
• “Coltrane” — Cymande
• “Billy Jack” — Curtis Mayfield
• “Live It Down” — Tyler Ballgame
• “Second Hand News” — Fleetwood Mac
• “18” — Suki Waterhouse
• “Lost Boys” — Phoebe Bridgers
• “Get Away From Me (I Think I’ll Love You Soon)” — Julia Jacklin
• “Kick Stones (The Boys)” — Westside Cowboy
• “Easy” — Gotts Street Park & Celeste
• “Watching The Detectives (Live at Good Afternoon (Broadcast) / September 27th, 1977)” — Elvis Costello

— In The Groove with Jerome Vaughn —

• “I Want to Hold Your Hand” — The Beatles
• “Strawberry Fields Forever” — The Beatles
• “Let’s Work” — Prince
• “You Haven’t Done Nothin'” — Stevie Wonder
• “For What It’s Worth” — Buffalo Springfield
• “Hello, Goodbye” — The Beatles

Listen to In the Groove with host Ryan Patrick Hooper weekdays from noon-3 p.m. ET on 101.9 WDET or stream on-demand at wdet.org.

Jerome Vaughn will tell you it all started with a Panasonic ball-and-chain radio gifted to him by his mother. He was hooked on the voices and foley art that created clear pictures in his mind, all through sound alone.

 ”I was one of those kids who slept with a radio on my nightstand. And even now, I’m one of those people, if I’m driving around late at night, I’m flipping around on the AM radio to see what station I can get from how far away.”

Now, Jerome looks back on a celebrated career in radio news on the brink of retirement. He’s spent 34 years at WDET, where he got to tell the real stories of his hometown. During his time at the station, he’s been an intern, an underwriter, a producer, a reporter, senior news editor, assistant news director…

And he’s spent over 20 years as WDET’s news director.

“WDET is really a special place,” said Jerome. “And Detroit is my favorite place on the face of the Earth.”

Detroit born and raised, Jerome has always held his hometown close. He recalls how media once depicted only the worst of Detroit—sometimes fabricating things altogether to push the narrative of it being a dangerous place, beyond redemption. He worked to set the record straight.

While he covered insightful stories about the metro Detroit region, he worked to make sure that people of color had a voice in news. As a part of that mission, he founded WDET’s Detroit Evening Report Program that tells news for and by people of color.

His dedication to ethical, accurate reporting has earned him many recognitions over the years, including awards from the Michigan Association of Broadcasters, Michigan Associated Press, and Society of Professional Journalists. In 2018, he was inducted into the Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame.

Jerome is also a passionate mentor for WDET interns and beyond. He’s helped kickstart many careers in broadcast, and is always ready to help more young journalists build the skills and networks needed to enter the field.

“I knew that I wasn’t gonna be here, working at WDET in my 90s. I want to make sure that there’s quality public radio being created, you know, so that I can enjoy it after I’ve retired,” Jerome said with a wry smile.

“Jerome’s impact on WDET is deep and lasting. Futhermore, the whole Detroit journalism industry owes a lot to this man, who lives and breathes news. WDET will do its best to continue along the path Jerome helped set while missing his wisdom and humor,” said General Manager Mary Zatina.

Jerome’s final broadcast on WDET will be Monday, Aug. 17 for All Things Considered – Detroit, from 3-7 p.m.

A lasting legacy

At a retirement celebration on Aug. 14, Jerome was surprised with the creation of a permanent internship in his name, honoring his decades of mentorship and the many WDET interns he has helped launch into their careers. The Jerome Vaughn Internship was made possible through gifts from generous WDET donors and members of the newsroom.

After more than seven years of reporting and anchoring the news at WDET, Russ McNamara has resigned from the station.

Since joining WDET, McNamara has helped keep Detroiters informed through thousands of newscasts, breaking news updates, and in-depth reporting on the issues shaping our region. As a Senior News Editor, he helped ensure our team of journalists’ work met WDET standards. McNamara also served as anchor for All Things Considered – Detroit.  

His work helped tell the stories of Detroit and Southeast Michigan during a period of tremendous change, from major civic events and elections to the challenges of the pandemic and constantly shifting national and local politics. We are grateful for his dedication and the many contributions he made during his time at WDET. 

We thank Russ for his years of service and wish him success in the next chapter of his career. 

Jerome Vaughn to anchor All Things Considered – Detroit  

Beginning immediately, we’re pleased to announce WDET News Director, Jerome Vaughn, is taking over as the new host of our NPR afternoon drive time magazine.