Steiner's voice goes silent on public radio
I was both surprised and appalled by WYPR's decision to fire Marc Steiner ("Public radio station cancels Steiner show," Feb. 2).
Mr. Steiner has been the heart of WYPR for many years, and his program is one of the best of its kind in the nation.
As a regular listener to, and an occasional guest on, his program, I have been deeply impressed by the dedication and preparation Mr. Steiner brings to each of his shows.
While my politics are to the right of Mr. Steiner's, I have noted that he has been scrupulous about keeping his panels balanced.
He has been a huge asset to Baltimore and to Maryland.
For a public radio station to claim that he has been fired because his ratings were dropping is ludicrous -- he has been performing a major service to the community.
I sincerely hope that WYPR will reconsider its decision to fire Mr. Steiner -- a decision that could cost it the support of many faithful listeners.
Robert O. Freedman
Baltimore
The writer is a professor of political science at Baltimore Hebrew University.
In an era of cultural and political polarization in talk shows and elsewhere, Marc Steiner has been a rarity.
He listened before he spoke. He gave everyone his or her say, from bigwigs to unsung heroes in poor neighborhoods.
He informed himself and then us. When he did speak, on the radio and in his many community appearances, he spoke for the powerless and the cause of a more united and caring city and state.
In letting him go, the trustees at WYPR have betrayed the ideals of public radio.
Worse, they have dealt a devastating setback to efforts to make us a better community.
Every effort must be made to restore his voice for all to hear.
Kalman R. Hettleman
Baltimore
The Marc Steiner Show was more than a radio program.
Alone in this city's broadcast media, it was an intelligent and dynamic forum that explored the issues that affect our lives. It was unstintingly fair and masterfully probing.
The program was a point of pride for Baltimore and, more important, it contributed to the progress of our city and state.
What kind of corporate idiocy possesses the management of this station to cancel this program?
The station's board chairman, Barbara Bozzuto, states that she was not happy with the show's ratings.
Is that why my family has supported WYPR since its inception? So it could get high ratings?
