Joe Barr has been a journalist for nearly two decades, but he’s always had a passion for radio. He got his start at Clarion University of Pennsylvania on two campus radio stations while also working at a local commercial radio station. Prior to joining Capital Public Radio he was a Senior Producer for Westwood One's Metro Source, a national broadcast wire service based in Phoenix, AZ. While there, Barr coordinated news coverage used by more than a thousand radio stations around the country. He also coordinated coverage and wrote stories on everything from the impeachment of President Clinton to the massacre at Colorado's Columbine High School. Prior to his time at Westwood One, Barr was an award winning reporter at NPR affiliate station KJZZ in Phoenix. He's also worked at commercial radio news stations in Western Pennsylvania.

Barr oversees CPR's growing and award winning news department, including the statewide news service, California Capitol Network which now reaches about 2.7 million listeners on public radio stations in California and Oregon.

He is executive producer of CPR's special statewide programming, including election night coverage and coverage of the Governor's annual State of the State address.

Barr lives in Sacramento with his wife, Nicole.