"I think there are going to be some people who are disappointed who are loyal listeners," she said. "But we think that once they hear the new format, that they will be very happy with a change."
Among those surprised by the news was Herbert C. Smith, a political science professor at McDaniel College and occasional guest on Steiner's show.
He said WYPR letting go of Steiner was like The Sun firing H.L. Mencken.
"Marc kind of maintained the Baltimore lyceum," he said. "It really brought dialog to the political process and the intellectual life of Baltimore.
"It was always an incredibly stimulating and challenging experience to be on his show. Marc's hour was not something you could just mail in. You had to be prepared. You had to be ready."
Gerry Altman, a frequent caller better known to radio listeners as "Gerry from Pikesville," said he thinks Steiner's show and the station have become unfocused in recent years.
"It has frankly been my impression for some time ... it seemed to be excessively about the cult of the personality. ... It was more and more all about Steiner, and it should have been more and more about more people," Altman said.
But others said last night that they were taken aback by the news.
Vincent DeMarco, president of Maryland Citizens Health Initiative and also a frequent caller to the show, said he was stunned to hear WYPR's decision.
"Whenever I was on, he was good having a balanced show and good dialog," he said. "It will be a loss for Baltimore, but I'm sure WYPR will replace him with somebody good."
"I'm shocked. I'm really shocked," said socialist and perennial candidate A. Robert Kaufman.
"I always thought he could do the same thing that Charlie Rose does or Larry King does, but I didn't want him to do it because we need him here in Baltimore."
john.woestendiek@baltsun.com jill.rosen@baltsun.com
