"I'm not going to be silenced by somebody's $50,000 paycheck to me," he told Kast.
Brandon, who helped secure financing that enabled a group of eight investors to purchase the station, said it was up to him and the WYPR board of directors to look at the ratings and gauge what the community wants to hear.
"I have a great deal of confidence in our senior management team, and I have a great deal of confidence in our board," he said. "Our board ... provides stewardship for this organization. It is the trustee of the license, and it is the ultimate authority over this radio station."
Ever since the station was purchased in 2002 and its call letters were changed from WJHU to WYPR, Steiner has been its most identifiable voice. He helped raise money for the station's purchase ($750,000, according to published reports; $250,000, according to what Brandon said on-air yesterday). Many listeners have long credited Steiner with saving the station, which clearly rankles Brandon.
"Those original eight guarantors should be absolutely praised for stepping forward, with altruism that I've never seen," he told Kast. "They had absolutely no upside, no possible gain financially. They stepped forward for this community to buy this radio station, to preserve public radio. I can tell you that they are committed to the concept of public radio. These people are absolutely community heroes for stepping forward."
chris.kaltenbach@baltsun.com
