Joe Salzone, always on the airwaves

When WHCU’s Joe Salzone was a junior in high school on Long Island, he heard a morning announcement: a local radio station was seeking volunteers. Though Joe was a shy kid, he visited the station. It was love at first sight!

Later on in the year, when his guidance counselor asked Joe what he wanted to do with his life after graduation, Joe replied, “Work in radio!” And so, he has — for the past 21 years.

“To make my way in radio, I was the first to show up each morning, willing to work crazy hours, work overnight and holidays,” he said. “I wanted to learn everything about radio, and it has been great. I’ve loved every minute of it.”

And other than a short stint in Uniontown, Pennsylvania, near the West Virginia border, Joe has been soaring in his career in radio in the Finger Lakes and central New York area, which he loves. Before arriving in Ithaca during the pandemic, he produced a morning show in Syracuse.

In October of 2012, Joe took on the role of reporter, anchor and co-host for the Finger Lakes Morning News on WAUB.

“That’s all it took to become an ‘Auburn guy,’” Joe said. “I rolled the dice and decided to move to Auburn. The rest is history. … I’ve done lots of Auburn and Geneva interviews, and Auburn has turned out to be a great place to live. I love Auburn!”

Joe is active in many community organizations in his adopted hometown. Currently, he sits on the Board of Directors of the Auburn Regional Media Access and the Auburn Chamber Orchestra, where he was a past president. He’s also spent two summers as the public address announcer for the Auburn Doubledays baseball team and emceed music and movie nights at Auburn’s Hoopes Park from 2017 to 2019.

Since June 29, 2020, Joe has been commuting daily to the Cayuga Radio Group headquarters to serve as news director and host of Ithaca’s Morning News on WHCU.

“A big part of my job is reaching out to members of the community and arranging interviews, in addition to gathering news,” he said.

While Joe’s successful trajectory in the world of radio in the part of the country he loves seems like a fairy tale, Joe is candid that he, too, has had to face down remitting challenges.

“While I am comfortable and secure with what I’ve chosen to do with my life, and although I don’t feel I have to compensate for making my career without attending college, I have had to contend with anxiety and depression,” he said. “I’ve been very open about my struggles, and I’ve been lucky enough to receive very thoughtful and encouraging messages.”

Joe said that part of his mental health challenges can be attributed to the nature of his work.

“It’s a very demanding and sometimes all-consuming workload,” he said. “And some of the depression may correlate with the grimness of news I may cover — that’s undeniable. I have learned to be professionally removed from the grimness and solemnity and to let go of anxiety I may take home with me.”

Joe said that close friends and his family can always “spot” his sadness, despite his default stoic demeanor.

Being prone to depression is a constant presence, and Joe kindly noted that people who appear very together and are professionally successful may be hiding anxiety and depression, especially these days.

For Joe, when he is in his work mode, he is top of his game. But he doesn’t want to be “on” all the time.

“I have to remind myself to power down for ‘off time,’” he said. “These days, I drive to Ithaca via tiny, historic towns — Sippio Center, Genoa. It’s a lovely, easy drive. Being on the air and being news director may seem like a strange role for an introvert. But from 5 a.m. to 9 a.m., I focus on sharing what’s happening with those who tune in. I am happiest when I am on the air.”