Home Login RADIO ONLINE RSS Facebook
Advertisement

Joe Staysniak Suspended from WFNI/Indy for Racist Comments


Joe Staysniak
Joe Staysniak

WFNI-AM (The Fan)/Indianapolis suspended former Indianapolis Colts offensive lineman, and 12-year station vet, Joe Staysniak for one week without pay on Friday for racist comments he made Wednesday, reports Dana Hunsinger Benbow of the Indianapolis Star. The morning co-host of "Jeff and Big Joe" said black people needed to stop "being a victim" and he finds it "harder and harder to believe [black people] are being targeted" by police.

According to the Bleacher Report, co-host Jeff Rickard addressed the situation during Friday's show. "Joe, quite frankly, had statements that were very insensitive to a lot of the folks that are out there fighting for their rights and feel like their voices have not been heard," he said. "And it's time for them to be heard in the wake of the George Floyd murder."

Rickard read an apology statement from Staysniak on Friday's show: "Discussing on air the riots that are happening around the country, I shared views about systemic racism that did not give the proper and due attention to the horrible injustices experienced regularly by African Americans in our society," said Staysniak. "I did not stop to consider that my own experience being raised in a family of police officers is not the same as the experiences of so many in our community and in our county. For this I apologize."

He pledged that, in the future, he would use his show as a "force for change and unification to end discrimination in any form once and for all."

Advertisement

Latest Radio Stories

Urban One Flips WPRS-FM in Washington DC to Tropical
Urban One
Urban One
Urban One has made significant format changes in the Washington, DC, market, shifting its long-running "Praise" Gospel format off of WPRS-FM (104.1) and introducing a new Tropical music format on the signal. As of Thursday, WPRS-FM began airing a Spanish-language Tropical offering More

Kim Komando to Host 2025 Radio Hall of Fame Ceremony
Kim Komando
Kim Komando
The Museum of Broadcast Communications has announced that Kim Komando, a 2021 Radio Hall of Fame inductee and one of America's most successful self-syndicated radio hosts, will serve as Master of Ceremonies for the 2025 Radio Hall of Fame induction ceremony. The event will take place Thursday, October 30 at More

iHeartMedia to Syndicate Black Information Network
Black Information Network (BIN)
Black Information Network (BIN)
iHeartMedia will begin syndicating its Black Information Network (BIN) to stations outside its ownership group starting November 1, expanding the 24/7 news service beyond the 34 markets where it currently airs on iHeart-owned outlets. The new distribution, handled through Premiere Networks, will be offered More
Advertisement

CRB Opens 2026 Rusty Walker Scholarship Applications
CRS 26
CRS 26
The Country Radio Broadcasters (CRB) have opened the application window for the 2026 Rusty Walker Scholarship Program, honoring the legacy of the late Country Radio Hall of Famer, programmer, and mentor Rusty Walker. Applications will be accepted through Wednesday, November 12, 2025. Three scholarship More

Atsinger to Take Salem 2025 Pay in Restricted Stock
Edward G. Atsinger III
Edward G. Atsinger III
Salem Media Group announced Thursday that Co-Founder and Executive Chairman Edward G. Atsinger III will receive the remainder of his 2025 compensation in the form of Restricted Class A Common Stock rather than cash. The stock award totals 218,067 shares, representing $168,500 in compensation for the period More

Robert Barba Named Accountability Editor at WNYC
Robert Barba
Robert Barba
WNYC-AM & FM/New York and Gothamist have appointed veteran journalist Robert Barba as Accountability Editor, overseeing state issues and politics coverage. Barba, who has served on WNYC's day-of team, is recognized for his strong news judgment and sharp editing. In his new role, he will lead Albany-based More

Return to Menu

Advertisement

Subscribe to our Newsletter
Radio news and headlines delivered right to your e-mail box -- and it's free.

Advertisement

Advertisement