Mark Steiner, who has hosted the local NPR station’s Noon to 2 pm talk show has been fired. They are replacing it with a show called “Statewide”.

It appears that, with WYPR now simulcasting from Western Maryland and the Eastern Shore, that there may have been clashes over the focus of the show. Steiner has spent the bulk of his shows dealing with Baltimore City issues.

In any case, it looks like it might be getting nasty, with Steiner saying that, “his firing was the result of philosophical and personality differences with WYPR President Anthony A. Brandon”, and Barbara Bozzuto, WYPR board chairman, saying that, “Steiner and management had been at odds over what direction his show should take”.

The station’s president’s response is here, but it’s not worth the read. It just mentions unspecified schedule changes, and does not mention Steiner at all.

There’s already been a protest, though that would happen with any major programming change at most public radio stations.

I don’t have a dog in this hunt. I listened to him occasionally, but I’m not generally in the car then.

If anyone has insights, please post them here, or email me (see link on right).