Mollie Hollebeke’s life is never boring.
One day the Bradford native could find herself flying to Washington, D.C., to cover veterans who get to see memorials as part of the Honor Flight program and then the next day, going dog sledding.
“One of the things I love most about being a reporter is that it’s never ‘routine,’” she said.
Later this month, Hollebeke –– a multimedia journalist for WJMN-TV, a CBS affiliate in Marquette, Mich. –– and her fiance Jordan Janowiak will co-host “Visit Manistique.” The show is a 30-minute special part of a larger series “Explore the U.P. Shore,” scheduled to be aired at 7:30 p.m. June 27 on WJMN-TV.
“With projects like ‘Visit Manistique’ I was able to step out of my reporter shoes and into a more relaxed, yet interpersonal role as a guide for the gorgeous landscape of the (Upper Peninsula),” Hollebeke said.
The series features trails, lakes, history, shops and restaurants, she said. Outdoor enthusiasts would fall in love with the Upper Peninsula, something that the show encapsulates, Hollebeke said.
“I believe getting to explore a new place and interact with the people that make small towns in the U.P. so intricate has helped me grow not only professionally, but personally as well,” she said. “I truly love what I get to do every single day, but this experience was particularly special for me.”
Hollebeke said that the Upper Peninsula provides individuals with a rare opportunity in the states to view the Northern Lights. That area of the country also is surrounded by the Great Lakes, in addition to having some of the best spots for hiking, fishing, kayaking and paddleboarding, she said. The recreation opportunities are endless, she said.
“I’m a storyteller for a living,” Hollebeke said. “I interview people or cover events that are truly making a difference, maybe even saving someone’s life –– and my story is the way they hear about these things.”
In fact, she said good still exists in the world, and she is able to spread that wholesome news.
“The media is put in such a negative light these days, but my experience 100 percent (doesn’t support) that,” she said.
Her foray into broadcasting is something she never envisioned herself doing. In June 2016, she moved away from the rolling hills of Northern Pennsylvania to a forested region in Michigan. Back in the Pennsylvania Wilds she left her family and friends.
“Honestly, the way I became involved in broadcasting was a huge leap of faith,” Hollebeke said. “I saw the open position, and decided to give it a shot. Little did I know, that decision has led me to some of the best new friends, and a career that I love.”
Hollebeke graduated from Bradford Area High School in 2009 and received a broadcast communications degree from the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford in 2014. She served as an advertising representative for The Era.
To follow Hollebeke’s work, visit www.upmatters.com.
