Small Town Wausau to Big Dream Milwaukee

The first time Jacob Stahl watched the Oprah Winfrey Show, he knew he wanted to pursue a career in reporting.  

Stahl was born in Iowa City, IA but grew up in Wausau, WI, a smaller town in central Wisconsin.  

Growing up in Wausau, the city is one of the best places on earth, from rural areas, and backroads, to the small downtown, there’s nothing like home, according to Stahl.  

He attended the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point before transferring to the University of Wisconsin- Milwaukee to pursue his Journalism, Advertising, and Media Studies major.  

The biggest lightbulb moment for Stahl when realizing he wanted to pursue reporting was when he became inspired by a hometown reporter, from Channel 9. They first time they met was at the Marathon Public library where she told him he could be anything he wanted, so he became like her.  

As he grew older, he became friends with more reporters from Wausau’s local news stations, the same ones he watched growing up.  

“These days, it feels full circle – I hear from moms and dads back home in the Valley and down here in Milwaukee who are counting on me, too.” said Stahl. 

“I am grateful for my life now, but there were some hard days growing up – sometimes people hate things they cannot or do not want to understand, and I understand that,” said Stahl. “It’s easy to place people in the box’s society creates for us – it’s harder, though, to get to know a person beyond their package labels.” 

Stahl’s Inspiration for Writing

Along with inspiration from local reporters, another one of Stahl’s major inspirations was being raised around work. His neighbors spent 16-hour days working on farms, factories and in fields from sunup to sundown.  

“Jay has had such a positive impact on our hometown community through bringing awareness to different issues and helping those who are struggling,” said Alexis Pickard, former classmate of Stahl. 

One of Stahl’s main reasons why he became a journalist was to report and tell the stories of those who lost jobs because of factory closures, shuttered farms and their drive to continue working. Stahl says his part is easy, writing drafts, making phone calls and listening closely.  

“When you grow up watching work, you want to tell the stories of those who do it,” said Stahl.

With growing up in Wausau, Stahl became very active in the Wisconsin Valley community. He has partnered with just about anybody who is willing to seriously consider helping families like his own and those in the community.  

Wausau Community Work

In 2019, Stahl was named Wausau Person of the Year by the Wausau Daily Hearld, his hometowns primary newspaper for his community work and involvement. 

“At the age of 21, Jay has given so much dedication to the Wausau community, and has provided such a positive impact on our hometown and everyone he speaks to,” said Pickard.  

His community work has been important to work with others, even if they disagree with him or simply do not understand the message being projected. Stahl has worked with the Wausau Police Department in the aftermath of George Floyd’s tragic death in Minneapolis in order to provide safeguards and a safe community for Wausau families, as well as his strong advocacy for the passage of Pride Month in Marathon County.  

One of Stahl’s biggest struggles while pursuing his major in JAMS was getting over what other people think about him.  

“At the end of the day, we’re all just regular people who want to get home to the ones we love,” said Stahl.  

According to Stahl, it can be hard to let the opinions of others go about the choices people make in their own lives but practicing not being bothered by other peoples’ opinions has led him to get over slumps of unhappiness.  

Life After College

Living up to Stahl’s high school superlative, his dream job is to have a reality show of his own. He was voted ‘Most Likely to Have a Reality Show’ in Wausau East’s 2017 yearbook. He would also like to have a talk show as well.  

“E! News, call me! But seriously, my dream job is to be somebody who helps somebody,” said Stahl.  

On March 14, 2021, Stahl won two Milwaukee Press Club Excellence in Journalism Awards for his coverage in 2020.  

“The possibilities in his future career in reporting is truly endless,” said Pickard. “I know he will put his heart and mind to whatever community or job life takes him to.”