Marc Steiner Show

Register for the Annapolis Summit January 14!

CEM — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 08:06:38 -0800

January 14, 2009, 7-9:30 AM
Phillips Seafood Restaurant
12 Dock Street, Annapolis, MD 21401

Your chance to ask questions that matter to you!

Join Marc Steiner for a live two-hour broadcast on the opening day of the 2009 Maryland General Assembly Legislative Session. For the 6th year, Marc will interview Maryland's leaders covering pertinent topics such as the financial crisis hitting Maryland and the country, environmental issues, the death penalty legislation and BRAC.

A breakfast buffet begins at 7:00 AM, followed by Marc's interview with Senate President Miller and Speaker Michael Busch from 7:30-8:30. Governor Martin O’Malley will be interviewed from 8:30-9:30. In each hour, time will be set aside for audience members to ask questions. The show will air on WEAA FM 88.9, in Baltimore and WSCL 89.9 FM in Salisbury.

Advance tickets can be purchased for $15 via Paypal by clicking here.

If you'd like to pay by check, please send to:

Center for Emerging Media

Attn: Annapolis Summit

3000 Chestnut Ave Suite C

Baltimore, MD 21211

Tickets will also be available at the door for $20.

For more information, call (443) 934-1111.

Troy Davis Granted Stay of Execution

CEM — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 11:25:07 -0700

On Tuesday's show, we discussed the case of Troy Davis, who's on death row in Georgia after having been convicted of the murder of a police officer. Today, the federal appeals court in Atlanta issued a stay of execution. Read more about it here.

Steiner's Back! Video Series Part 3

CEM — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 11:26:53 -0700

Here's the third in a 3 part video series created by Andrew Eppig announcing the new daily Marc Steiner Show schedule: 5-6pm Monday-Thursday on WEAA 88.9FM!

Steiner's Back! Video Series Part 2

CEM — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 10:08:14 -0700

Here's the second in a 3 part video series created by Andrew Eppig announcing the new daily Marc Steiner Show schedule: 5-6pm Monday-Thursday on WEAA 88.9FM!

Steiner's Back! Video Series Part 1

CEM — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 08:21:56 -0700

Here's the first in a 3 part video series created by Andrew Eppig announcing the new daily Marc Steiner Show schedule: 5-6pm Monday-Thursday on WEAA 88.9FM!

Marc on Today's Layoffs at The Sun

CEM — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 11:35:53 -0700

Another 100 layoffs with 60 from the newsroom. Our once vaunted paper is being decimated. Owner Zell already informed employees, the reporters and journalists that they were expendable and costly. He instituted a mathematical analysis of how many lines a reporter wrote to determine worth and wondered aloud why it takes 5 or 6 or 9 journalists to turn in one story on Iraq. It has all become bottom line and profit. Sure a business has to make money for reinvestment but news should not be entered into to make a financial killing. Maybe all papers should be non-profit, or maybe owners need to be satisfied with a smaller profit margin.

Who do we turn to understand, get stories and analysis from and of the daily news in our city, state, nation and world? Fox? Tabloids? Blogs? A democracy needs a free press that functions.

There was a time, when I was a kid, that the Sun was read every day in the White House. Now it is fast becoming fodder for the parakeet cage.

The writers and reporters at the Sun are some of the best in their world. I admire and feel their frustration at not being able to work their craft. We all deserve better.

Maybe there is an opportunity to create something new with all that talent now on the loose looking for work.

4/17 From Marc, on WYPR BOD Meeting

CEM — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 12:03:05 -0700

I heard from a number of people what occurred at the WYPR Board of Director’s meeting.

I suppose some of you heard what happened to Kay Dellinger when she left the meeting. She was among the last to leave, and encountered WYPR GM Tony Brandon in the parking lot talking to one of the police officers sent to guard the board from its listeners. They were talking about whether the building was empty.

As Kay passed Tony Brandon she said to him, referring to the board, “You are a bunch of cowards.”

Tony replied :”F**k you, Get a life…”

So, elite, well-mannered, calm, cool, collected, tough-minded business mogul tells a woman who is his elder to F**K herself. It shows you what kind of man he really is.
Tony has misled the board, and most of the board has bought his claims, hook, line, and sinker. The board has never asked to talk with me. The board never asked to talk with Ray Blank, the consultant who worked with Tony and me over four years to manage our station

WYPR has attempted to mislead the public with its ever-changing excuses for why it fired me.

At the meeting, board chair Barbara Bozzuto said that I was fired because of philosophical differences. Previously, they claimed that my show was replaced because it focused too narrowly on Baltimore and they wanted a “statewide” show (easily disproved by looking at the list of topics the show addressed and by the fact that they had no “statewide” show lined up to replace me). Then they claimed that there were “personnel” reasons for firing me, but they have never provided any specifics to me, nor to the public, despite my public waiver of any claim of confidentiality. The falsity of their claim is demonstrated by the fact that they offered me $50,000 to keep quiet (which I would not accept) — not the sort of offer an employer makes to an employee who has done something wrong. Then they claimed they dropped me because ratings were down. But Chris Kaltenbach of the Sun showed that the numbers didn’t support their claim. Moreover, the station had cut back on promoting the show. Most importantly, public radio isn’t supposed to be driven by ratings.

Now, it is “philosophical reasons.” At least they’re getting closer to the truth.

Yes, there were philosophical differences — I believed in putting the public in public radio, they did not.. That in combination with Tony Brandon’s ego and determination not to manage the station as a team (but on his own, something he made clear at the first board meeting back in 2002) led to them ousting me as Vice President in the summer of 2005. There were philosophical reasons then, but since 2005 we have hardly said a word of importance to one another. They won control of the station, and we lost, and I decided to produce my show and serve the community as best I could.

Bozzuto said they were moving beyond my “narrow audience base”. Narrow audience base? When they canceled the show, fired me, or as NPR’s Andre Codrescu put it, “carried out a palace coup,” the support for our show and for our public radio was broader than most other public radio shows. Conservatives like Bob Ehrlich and Richard Vatz, leaders of the Jewish and Arab American communities, heads of universities, inner city activists and Hunt Valley dwellers, artists, doctors, lawyers, social workers, teachers, black, white, Asian — that “narrow audience base” for our noon show — have expressed their support of me.

If there were philosophical differences that erupted in the last three years, they revolved around what we did on the air. Some of them took umbrage that I had the temerity to raise questions about their powerful corporate friends and investments, that we did too many “urban” shows, that we brought voices on that did not sound like them. I was given grief about “Just Words,” the very series that won my producer Jessica Phillips and me a Peabody. The voices of the working poor wasn’t considered real journalism.

Well I am sorry, I thought I was finished with this, but maybe I am not. It gets so frustrating at times.

I really appreciate the almost 1,100 people who have now signed the petition to bring back my show, as well as those of you who have stood outside the station, who have written letters to WYPR’s management, made public and private statements, stood by us, taken a stand on public radio and personally supported me and Valerie through all of this.

When people ask would I go back, of course I would love to go back. I loved what I did. As Valerie often says, I lived and breathed my work. Could I do it in that atmosphere, with that leadership in place, after all that has been done? No, I could not.

When you ask what to do, I say keep the pressure on to make public really the public’s radio. It does belong to us.

This week we will be launching our website to bring you great stories and interviews every week. Our site will be a place for unheard voices. I am excited about what we are building with your support.

Keep in touch-

Marc

1/31/08 interesting articles this week…

CEM — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 16:52:05 -0800

Check out the first paragraph of this article:

FINALLY SOME GOOD NEWS—someone is going to help me play music with whales instead of warning me that it’s against the law. According to the U.S. Marine Mammal Protection Act, all “harassment” of marine mammals is illegal, including my idea of playing live music to them just to see what happens. But there are still places beyond the grip of the law.

Read it all here, and hear Marc interview the author, David Rothenberg, at about 1:30 today. For more of David's writing, check out this piece on www.terrain.org.

Before that, after the news at 1pm, join us to discuss genetically modified food. Seems like it was something that was really in the public eye, along with lots of outrage and uncertainty, a few years ago, but all of that has subsided a bit, here in the US, at least. It certainly didn't go away, though, as more genetically modified crops are being grown worldwide than ever, and the highest percentage of any country is right here in the States. Yes, if you're not sure, our food supply is flush with genetically modiefied ingredients. We'll discuss the details, focusing on the company at the center of it all, Monsanto, with Brian Hindo. He wrote the article Monsanto: Winning the Ground War in Business Week.

Every Thursday from 1-2pm for the past few weeks, we've been featuring interviews with the authors of articles that we've come upon and found particularly interesting. If you've caught any of these segments, what do you think? Would you like to see this continue as a regular, weekly feature on the show? Also, comment here with suggestions for articles that you've read and would like for us to consider featuring!

-Justin

1/10 Primary Review

CEM — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 16:37:12 -0800

At Noon today, we welcome you to add your opinion to the never ending analysis of the 2008 Presidential election and the results of the Iowa caucus, the New Hampshire primary, and the Wyoming GOP primary. From Obama's surprise victory in Iowa to Hillary's emotional moment to Edward's attempts to keep from becoming completly irrelvent, the Democratic primary has been providing some exciting times. On the GOP side, things are no less exciting, as McCain attempts to accomplish what at times has seen inevitable and at times completly out of the question-to become the Republican candidate for President. Will he be able to get the Republican base to trust him? Only time will tell.

Poll: If the Democratic primary in Maryland were today, who would you vote for?

Poll: If the Republican primary in Maryland were today, who would you vote for?

-Jessica

12/17-12/21 HOLIDAY MUSIC

CEM — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 21:42:08 -0800

Time for our annual Holiday Music week. Here is what is coming up!

Monday, December 17th

12-1 pm Lea Gilmore shares her favorite music. Want to check out some of what she played? Here is the playlist.

Baby, It's Cold Outside, performed by Eric Byrd and Lea Gilmore

Santa's Got the Blies, by Denise Lasalle

Please Come Home for Christmas, by Charles Brown

Santa Baby, by Eartha Kitt

All I Want for Christmas is You, by Mariah Carey

This Christmas, by Donny Hathaway

Give Love on Christmas Day, by the Jackson 5

So This is Christmas, by John Lennon

Mary Did You Know, by Clay Aiken

I am Not Forgotten, by Israel and New Breed

Hark the Herald Angels Sing, by Norman Hitchens

Silent Night, by Mahalia Jackson

What a Wonderful World, by Louis Armstrong

1-2 pm, Tom Hall shares from of his favorite music.

Oh Come, All Ye Faithful

Come Colors Rise

Thank you, by Dave Brubeck

Gabriel's Message

Yvette in English, by Joni Mitchell

I Wish You Love

It Came Upon a Midnight Clear

Never Will I Marry

Nine Crimes, Damien Rice

Didn't My Lord Deliver Daniel

Hallelujah Chorus

Tuesday December 18th

12-1 pm Jon Carney is the Concertmaster of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and he brought some of his favorite classical music for us. What did he play?

Edward Elgar conducting the London Symphony- 1st movement of violin concerto featuring Yehudi Menuhin at age 16 - 1931

Vivaldi - Largo from "Winter" of the Quattro Stagioni, Jon's recording w/ the Royal Philharmonic - 1992

Camille St. Saens - from his "organ" symphony (#3) - Jean Martinon and French Radio Symphony - 1975

Michael Nyman - Prospero's Books (miranda) - 1996

Beethoven - slow movement from his opus 135 String Quartet - Guarneri Quartet 1987

Bartok - Concerto for Orchestra - last movement - RPO w/ Danielle Gatti - 1997

Bach - Chaconne for Partita #2 in D minor for solo violin - Henryk Szerying

Fritz Kreisler - "La Gitana" for violin and piano - Jon's own recording w/ his mother on piano - 1995

closing music: Michael Nyman - Quartet #4 - track 14

1-2 pm Jason Willett is the co-owner of the True Vine Record store in Hampden, as well as a member of a litany of fine bands including Leprechaun Catering and Half Japanese. We asked him to bring his favorite Christmas music, and this is what we heard - not quite in the order we heard them, go figure -

James Brown - Santa Claus, Go Straight to the Ghetto

Culturcide - Depressed Christmas

Frieder Butzmann - White Christmas

Hybrid Kids - Good King Wenceslaus

James White and the Blacks - Christmas With Satan

The Jethros - I'm Dreaming of a Wide Christmas

Rotary Connection - Opening & Silent Night Chant

finally, 3 awesome song poems called Snowbows, Santa Came on a Nuclear Missile, and Santa Goes Modern

Wednesday, December 19th

12-1 pm Keith Covington is the owner of the New Haven Lounge, one of the best places around to see live jazz. He brought us the gift of great holiday jazz music; here they are in order:

Slim & The Supreme Angels - Precious Lord

Selah Jubilee Singers - When Was Jesus Born

Kenny Burrel - Merry Christmas Baby

Ramsey Lewis - Christmas Blues

David Benoit - Christmas is Coming

Ramsey Lewis - Merry Christmas Baby

Chris Botti - Ave Maria

Dianne Reeves - Carol of the Bells

The Swan Silvertones - I'm Not Tired Yet

Ramsey Lewis - God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen

Bobby Durham - Jingle Bells

Van Morrison - Have I Told You Lately?

The Original Five Blind Boys of Alabama (not to be confused with the Unoriginal Five Blind Boys of Alabama, seriously they're better) -This May Be the Last Time

1-2 pm Rock and Roll has had something to say about Christmas since the 50's. Former disc jockeys Toby Bray and Michael Butscher came by and spun the following tunes.

Do They Know It's Christmas? - Band Aid

Father Christmas - The Kinks

Wonderful Christmas Time - Paul McCartney

Step Into Christmas - Elton John

Happy Christmas (War Is Over) - John Lennon

Santa Claus Is Coming to Town - Chicago

White Christmas - America

The Christmas Song - Linda Ronstadt

The First Noel - Air Supply

Merry Christmas, Baby - Southern Culture on the Skids

Merry Christmas - The Ramones

Christmas Wrapping - The Waitresses

Blue Christmas - Elvis Presley

Please Come Home for Christmas - The Eagles

River - Joni Mitchell

Santa Claus is Coming to Town - Bruce Springsteen

Little Drummer Boy - Bing Crosby & David Bowie

Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas - Shawn Colvin

The Christmas Song - Nat "King" Cole

Jingle Bells - Frank Sinatra

Let It Snow - Dean Martin

It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas - Perry Como

Santa Claus is Coming to Town - The Jackson Five

Christmas Isn't Christmas (Without the One You Love) - The O'Jays

This Christmas - Donny Hathaway

L'il Saint Nick - The Beach Boys

Thursday, December 20th

12-1 pm Ed Polochick is a busy guy. He's conductor of the Lincoln Symphony Orchestra in Nebraska, Artistic Director of the Choral Artists of Baltimore, and Director of Choral Activities at the Peabody Conservatory. He was good enough to find time to come in and share his favorite classical and choral Christmas Music.

The First Noel, from the album Crystal Carols by Dean Shostak

The Holy Boy by John Ireland, from the album A Christmas Garland

Adeste Fideles, by Liszt, performed by Walker Marshall

Many Moods of Christmas, Suite 2, by Robert Shaw, from the album Festival of Carols

Candlelight Carol, from the album Christmas Night: Carols of the Nativity, conducted by John Rutter

Christmas Night, Christmas Night: Carols of the Nativity, conducted by John Rutter

Many Moods of Christmas, Suite 3, by Robert Shaw, from the album Festival of Carols

Hallelujah Chorus from Handel’s Messiah, performed by the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and Concert Artists Symphonic Chorale

Worthy is the Lamb That Was Slain performed by the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and Concert Artists Symphonic Chorale

1-2 pm Hopefully you'll have some time to relax during the holidays. And if you do, maybe you'll want to go to the movies...but what to see? Never fear, we've brought together a great panel of film critics to tell you what to see. We'll talk to Violet Glaze of the Baltimore City Paper, Mike Speir from Variety, and Michael Sragrow from the Baltimore Sun.

We really hope you enjoy all of this music and special programming. Happy Holidays!

-Jessica, Justin, Marcus