Meet Jacob Aloi

Jacob Aloi is a newscaster and reporter for MPR News where he anchors on weekends and covers and critiques art across Minnesota.  

Jacob started as a contractor with MPR News before being hired to cover the arts full time. He is also a proud member of the American Theatre Critics/Journalists Association. Before coming to MPR News, Jacob was a theater technician and hosted a show at Frogtown Community Radio in St. Paul.     

Jacob’s work has been recognized with an Eric Sevareid Award from the Midwest Broadcast Journalists Association. He is also a past fellow with the National Critics Institute at the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center in Connecticut.  

He received his bachelor’s degree in history with distinction from Hamline University in 2022. He is originally from Hawaii by way of Utah.   

Fun Fact: Jacob loves Spam. While it is a creation of Minnesota's Hormel, it is a staple in Hawaii, and he would do almost anything for a good Spam musubi.