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Marc Steiner on WJHU's future: "My goal is in five years to have this become one of the flagship stations of NPR." (Sun photo by John Makely) |
In the past eight years, Marc Steiner and his eponymous radio show have woven themselves into the city's civic fabric. The link is about to get stronger as he appears poised to take control of Baltimore's most recognizable public radio station. Steiner recently discussed his plans for WJHU, financing and his views on Hopkins' decision to sell.
How does one get from being a freedom rider to a radio host and budding businessman?
ThatÂ’s 30 years, 40 years, my God, thatÂ’s scary isnÂ’t it? Well, I was a kid when I was a freedom rider, 15, 16, 17 years old. It has not been a direct path. Students ask how to get into broadcasting and I say I donÂ’t know. Because I donÂ’t know. The job here was really almost an accident. I think most of the things that have happened to me in life have been happenstance. You just take advantage of the moment.
I came to WJHU for the first time, I think, in 1990 after I left advertising. I worked for Trahan Burden & Charles for three years. When I got here, the station almost folded back then. Three years after that, I ran into Dennis Kita -- who was the general manager then -- in a dentistÂ’s office. We were talking and he said he wanted to start a public affairs radio show at the station and [since] I knew the city so well from police street corners to corporate board rooms, did I have some ideas for them? I said I have an idea that you should let me be the host. He said you know nothing about radio, and I said, well, 'WhatÂ’s to know? You sit behind a mike, you think, you read, you talk. It should be right up my alley.' For three months we had this conversation till finally he said, 'OK, I give up. IÂ’m taking off All Things Considered every Tuesday night. ItÂ’s your time; you do what you want, no money, no producer, good luck.' So, I said, 'IÂ’ll take it,' and it just started growing from there.
You are about to embark on something new now, managing and running a radio station. Will that be a difficult shift from activism to business?
IÂ’ve thought about that, I see what youÂ’re saying. Yeah, thereÂ’s some contradiction involved. Existence is a contradiction. WeÂ’re all contradictions. Life is complex, so in different parts of your life, you get involved in different arenas. In this process, IÂ’ve learned a lot from a number of small businessmen whose way of managing their companies IÂ’ve really respected. I think that small business, small groups locally, are the backbone of American life. I see that as what weÂ’re going to be, which is why I fought so hard to win the station. IÂ’d rather see business be locally controlled, more responsive to communities. To build Â… a place people really want to come to work, they salivate to come to work, they canÂ’t wait to get to work. You can have that kind of business and a business that responds to community and also makes money. I think we can make a decent living at it and really build a dynamic radio station. My goal is in five years to have this become one of the flagship stations of NPR. So, I think thereÂ’s no real contradiction. If I was to go to work for Exxon to drill oil in the arctic wildlife refuge, then there might be a contradiction. But IÂ’m not going to do that.
How is the fund raising going? You seem to be the last man standing as far as the bids go.
Yes, at this point. We could fall down; somebody could pop up, though we certainly hope not.
When is Hopkins supposed to announce the winning bid?
Our letter of intent was signed at Hopkins on the 13th, I believe. So the 13th of August, unless you have an extension, will be the day that we go in and hopefully say that we have the banks and the investment houses behind us. We do have a quarter of a million dollars weÂ’ve raised from listeners. That will be our deposit to Hopkins. WeÂ’ll have to raise more, and weÂ’ll do that, but I think weÂ’re in good shape.
How much more do you need? The price has been said to be around $5 million.
We need to raise about three-quarters of a million dollars more in cash in the next few months, which I think we can do. The amount weÂ’re paying for the station, we are under a legal obligation on our agreement with Hopkins not to talk about it until the deal is done. Otherwise, I would be glad to tell you. I donÂ’t believe in keeping secrets. But the fund raising is going very well. We are in negotiations now with three banks and one group of investors, and itÂ’s all going very well.
Will you say who some of those investors are?
We canÂ’t do that, either. WeÂ’re not allowed to yet. WeÂ’re legally bound not to. But as soon as we are, itÂ’s not like itÂ’s something I want to hold close to the vest. I think that with the process of negotiations that IÂ’ve learned -- and the process of negotiations for this kind of financing, you should just keep quiet until itÂ’s done.
You are also putting together a board of directors?
Yeah, we want to put together an 18-member board. WeÂ’ve only put together a few people so far who have committed completely, but weÂ’ll have those folks in place by the time the FCC approves the license transfer.
How difficult has it been raising money in this economy? This is not your typical fund drive.
I am not a fund-raiser. ItÂ’s been hard. Actually, the loan partÂ’s been easier because banks are looking to give loans. The recession actually works in our favor. But raising money from individuals is harder because of the uncertainty of the times.
What are your plans for the station? What would you like to enhance?
How does one get from being a freedom rider to a radio host and budding businessman?
ThatÂ’s 30 years, 40 years, my God, thatÂ’s scary isnÂ’t it? Well, I was a kid when I was a freedom rider, 15, 16, 17 years old. It has not been a direct path. Students ask how to get into broadcasting and I say I donÂ’t know. Because I donÂ’t know. The job here was really almost an accident. I think most of the things that have happened to me in life have been happenstance. You just take advantage of the moment.
I came to WJHU for the first time, I think, in 1990 after I left advertising. I worked for Trahan Burden & Charles for three years. When I got here, the station almost folded back then. Three years after that, I ran into Dennis Kita -- who was the general manager then -- in a dentistÂ’s office. We were talking and he said he wanted to start a public affairs radio show at the station and [since] I knew the city so well from police street corners to corporate board rooms, did I have some ideas for them? I said I have an idea that you should let me be the host. He said you know nothing about radio, and I said, well, 'WhatÂ’s to know? You sit behind a mike, you think, you read, you talk. It should be right up my alley.' For three months we had this conversation till finally he said, 'OK, I give up. IÂ’m taking off All Things Considered every Tuesday night. ItÂ’s your time; you do what you want, no money, no producer, good luck.' So, I said, 'IÂ’ll take it,' and it just started growing from there.
You are about to embark on something new now, managing and running a radio station. Will that be a difficult shift from activism to business?
IÂ’ve thought about that, I see what youÂ’re saying. Yeah, thereÂ’s some contradiction involved. Existence is a contradiction. WeÂ’re all contradictions. Life is complex, so in different parts of your life, you get involved in different arenas. In this process, IÂ’ve learned a lot from a number of small businessmen whose way of managing their companies IÂ’ve really respected. I think that small business, small groups locally, are the backbone of American life. I see that as what weÂ’re going to be, which is why I fought so hard to win the station. IÂ’d rather see business be locally controlled, more responsive to communities. To build Â… a place people really want to come to work, they salivate to come to work, they canÂ’t wait to get to work. You can have that kind of business and a business that responds to community and also makes money. I think we can make a decent living at it and really build a dynamic radio station. My goal is in five years to have this become one of the flagship stations of NPR. So, I think thereÂ’s no real contradiction. If I was to go to work for Exxon to drill oil in the arctic wildlife refuge, then there might be a contradiction. But IÂ’m not going to do that.
How is the fund raising going? You seem to be the last man standing as far as the bids go.
Yes, at this point. We could fall down; somebody could pop up, though we certainly hope not.
When is Hopkins supposed to announce the winning bid?
Our letter of intent was signed at Hopkins on the 13th, I believe. So the 13th of August, unless you have an extension, will be the day that we go in and hopefully say that we have the banks and the investment houses behind us. We do have a quarter of a million dollars weÂ’ve raised from listeners. That will be our deposit to Hopkins. WeÂ’ll have to raise more, and weÂ’ll do that, but I think weÂ’re in good shape.
How much more do you need? The price has been said to be around $5 million.
We need to raise about three-quarters of a million dollars more in cash in the next few months, which I think we can do. The amount weÂ’re paying for the station, we are under a legal obligation on our agreement with Hopkins not to talk about it until the deal is done. Otherwise, I would be glad to tell you. I donÂ’t believe in keeping secrets. But the fund raising is going very well. We are in negotiations now with three banks and one group of investors, and itÂ’s all going very well.
Will you say who some of those investors are?
We canÂ’t do that, either. WeÂ’re not allowed to yet. WeÂ’re legally bound not to. But as soon as we are, itÂ’s not like itÂ’s something I want to hold close to the vest. I think that with the process of negotiations that IÂ’ve learned -- and the process of negotiations for this kind of financing, you should just keep quiet until itÂ’s done.
You are also putting together a board of directors?
Yeah, we want to put together an 18-member board. WeÂ’ve only put together a few people so far who have committed completely, but weÂ’ll have those folks in place by the time the FCC approves the license transfer.
How difficult has it been raising money in this economy? This is not your typical fund drive.
I am not a fund-raiser. ItÂ’s been hard. Actually, the loan partÂ’s been easier because banks are looking to give loans. The recession actually works in our favor. But raising money from individuals is harder because of the uncertainty of the times.
What are your plans for the station? What would you like to enhance?
