Marc Steiner, whose radio talk show became a forum for Baltimore and Maryland civic affairs in recent years, was taken off the air yesterday by public radio station WYPR, which blamed sagging ratings.
Barbara Bozzuto, WYPR board chairman, said in an interview that Steiner and management had been at odds over what direction his show should take - and that his show's time period was the only one for which ratings at the station had declined.
Steiner, in an interview, said that was "baloney." He insisted his firing was the result of philosophical and personality differences with WYPR President Anthony A. Brandon.
"Tony Brandon has been trying to diminish my power at the station and move me off the air for six years. It has been his agenda," Steiner said. "It has been one thing after another, and I've always tried to take the high road and never say anything about it publicly."
Brandon could not be reached for comment last night.
Steiner, while acknowledging that his ratings had fallen, questioned whether a public radio station should be primarily concerned about ratings.
WYPR said in a news release that Steiner's noon-to-2 p.m. time slot would be filled with a new locally produced program called Statewide, with WYPR Vice President Andy Bienstock and other guest hosts until a permanent host is found.
Bozzuto said the station has "grown and evolved and has successfully introduced a number of new programs that better serve the community."
"Based on the ratings for this time slot," she said, "the public is telling us that we need a new and better way to share ideas and discuss issues that affect our listeners. We thank Marc Steiner for his dedicated service and insightful commentary and wish him the very best."
Bozzuto credited Steiner for his commitment to keeping public radio in Baltimore.
When the station was facing financial troubles in 2002, Steiner waged a campaign to purchase it, appealing for funds in an e-mail drive that raised $750,000. Eventually the station was saved when eight investors stepped in as guarantors to secure a loan to buy the station. Though the money he raised was used to help buy the station, Steiner was not one of the guarantors and had no ownership in WYPR. He was named vice president then, though he later lost the title.
