DETROIT – “There’s truly nothing like reporting in your hometown.”
I’ve heard those words many times over the years. Now, I finally understand what they mean.
After more than a decade away, I’m thrilled to be back home in Metro Detroit.
I left as a wide-eyed high school grad, eager to chase my storytelling dreams in Chicago.
Since then, I’ve reported in new cities, joined incredible newsrooms and packed up more U-Hauls than I can count.
But now, life has come full circle—I’m back as a reporter for Local 4, the very station that first sparked my love for journalism.
My journey into journalism
My passion for storytelling began in Mrs. Kincannon’s journalism class at Eisenhower High School in Shelby Township. As a sophomore, I discovered I had a knack for writing -- and I was hooked.
Soon after, I became editor-in-chief of my school’s newspaper and was honored as the 2014 Michigan High School Journalist of the Year by the Michigan Interscholastic Press Association.
From there, I headed to Columbia College Chicago, where I joined the award-winning student newspaper as one of its youngest staffers. A career highlight? Interning at NBC Network and seeing one of my story pitches make it to NBC Nightly News.
After graduation, I took my first on-air job at the FOX affiliate in Champaign, Illinois. Fun fact: I worked alongside fellow Local 4 reporter Jacqueline Francis!
In 2020, I joined the NBC affiliate in Indianapolis, just as the pandemic began. For the first year, I worked entirely from my apartment, meeting my new coworkers via Zoom.
Despite the unusual start, I fell in love with Indy. It’s where I met my fiancé, deepened my storytelling skills, and learned the true meaning of being a “Hoosier.”
Now, I’m back in Detroit, and after just one day at Local 4, I know this is exactly where I’m meant to be.
Deep Detroit roots
My Detroit roots run deep.
My Ukrainian grandparents settled in Hamtramck as children. I’ve grown up hearing vivid memories from them about catching the train at Michigan Central Station and taking the streetcar to go dancing downtown.
My dad still shares stories about shopping with my grandma at the former Hudson’s Department store and driving through Belle Isle on Sundays.
My grandfather was a Hamtramck firefighter -- and he even played for the Detroit Lions in the 1940s! Local 4 actually featured him in 2014 as the oldest living Lions player at the time.
My mom grew up nearby in Warren and proudly graduated from Wayne State University.
All that to say: Detroit’s history, resilience, and heart have always been part of my story!
Life outside the newsroom
When I’m not reporting, you’ll find me exploring Detroit neighborhoods with my fiancé, Jeff, and our two dogs, Milo and Murphy.
Funny enough, we actually met while I was covering my very first story in Indianapolis -- about dating during the quarantine. We discovered that we lived in the same apartment complex and had a mutual friend. Five years later, we’re engaged and planning our wedding right here in Detroit!
I can’t wait to share everything I love about Michigan with him, from cider mills and lake days to cheering on the Lions and Red Wings.
If you have a story idea -- or just want to say hello -- I’d love to hear from you. Reach me at lkostiuk@wdiv.com.
