Veteran sports columnist and broadcaster Joe Starkey is joining TribLive, the company announced Tuesday, adding one of the most respected voices in Western Pennsylvania to its sports coverage of Pittsburgh’s professional and college teams.
Starkey, who worked at the Trib earlier in his career, is an award-winning sportscaster, radio host and newspaper columnist who has written extensively about pro sports in Pittsburgh over the last 30 years. His reporting on the Penguins beat and his commentary as a columnist have made him a trusted presence for generations of sports fans.
“We are absolutely thrilled to welcome Joe back home to TribLive,” said Jennifer Bertetto, TribLive’s President and CEO. “Joe brings credibility, experience and a deep understanding of Pittsburgh sports. Adding him to our staff perfectly complements our strong stable of sports columnists, including Tim Benz and Mark Madden.”
Starkey, who most recently wrote for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, is known for his authoritative reporting, thoughtful analysis and clear connection to the passions of Pittsburgh’s sports community. For the past 15 years, he has been a sports talk radio host on 93.7 The Fan (KDKA-FM). He is currently the co-host of “Pomp & Joe” from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on weekdays.
Executive Editor Luis Fabregas said Starkey’s background across multiple media platforms makes him a natural fit for TribLive’s newsroom.
“Joe knows this city, he knows our teams, and he knows how to tell stories that resonate with readers,” Fabregas said. “His voice will elevate our sports coverage and bring added depth to the conversations our readers care most about.”
With Starkey joining Benz, Madden and the rest of the sports staff, TribLive continues to strengthen its coverage of Pittsburgh’s sports landscape, offering readers informed, engaging and trusted reporting.
His new column, “Stark Raving,” will publish several times a week on TribLive and in the Tribune-Review newspapers.
Starkey said the favorite story he ever wrote was one for the Trib in 2003 about the advent of instant replay in football – a story for which Steelers patriarch Dan Rooney pulled him aside in the press box and said, “Great job.”
A native of Long Island, N.Y., Starkey grew up in Buffalo and endured four Bills losses in four consecutive Super Bowls, but only after moving to Pittsburgh in 1989 to attend graduate school at Duquesne University. He lives in Green Tree with wife Susie, daughter Mary Ann and a tiny dog named Bailey.
