WYPR Names Dan Rodricks Host of New Midday Program

Program format continues WYPR’s commitment to community access programming

BALTIMORE, MD (February 12, 2008) – Your Public Radio Corporation announced today that Dan Rodricks will join the staff of WYPR-FM to host a new midday program beginning February 25, 2008.  The program will run during the 12-2 p.m. time slot in which “The Marc Steiner Show” previously aired.  Rodricks, most widely recognized as a long-time award-winning columnist with The Baltimore Sun, has been heralded as “Baltimore’s citizen columnist.” 

The new program will feature the same interview and call-in format that listeners have come to expect from WYPR’s local programming.  Rodricks will hold discussions with newsmakers, analysts, and community members from Baltimore City and throughout Maryland on a broad range of issues as well as tackling topics of national and international interest. Dan will continue to write his regular column in The Baltimore Sun. 

“I have been a long-time admirer of Dan’s journalistic work and community involvement, which is consistent with the values we hold at WYPR,” said Andy Bienstock, programming director and vice president of WYPR.  “We have always prided ourselves on providing a format for engaging community dialogue and we’re confident that this new program will support that mission.  We are very excited that Dan has agreed to be the new host for what promises to be a lively and fast-paced show.”

Since coming to Baltimore in 1976, Rodricks has enjoyed a successful career in print and broadcast journalism, including 25+ years with The Baltimore Sun and Evening Sun, as well as stints on WMAR-TV, WBAL-AM, and WBAL-TV.  His work has garnered multiple accolades, including the Excellence in Urban Journalism Award from the Freedom Forum and the Enterprise Foundation, the Headliner Award for his column writing, and three Best in Show awards in the annual competition of the Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Press Association. 

In 1989, Rodricks published “Mencken Doesn’t Live Here Anymore,” a collection of his columns, and in recent years his work has been recognized as “Baltimore’s Best” by the readers and editors of the City Paper and Baltimore Magazine.  In addition to his journalism endeavors, Rodricks has performed in semi-professional theater with roles in plays including The Pirates of Penzance, HMS Pinafore, and Death of a Salesman.

"I'm grateful for the opportunity to return to talk radio, especially at a station I've listened to and cared about for years.  My goal is a provocative, informative and entertaining show, with great guests, lots of call-in, smart and civil dialogue,” said Dan Rodricks.  “People should be able to tune into the midday show as if they were stopping by a favorite diner for lunch and conversation. We should learn something new each day -- and some laughs once in a while won't hurt."

Your Public Radio (www.wypr.org) serves the metropolitan Baltimore area and the state of Maryland.  Its mission is to broadcast programs of intellectual integrity and cultural merit that enrich the minds and spirits of its listeners and ultimately strengthen the communities in which it operates.
 

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