Since he led the drive to keep public radio in Baltimore five years ago, Marc Steiner has been the face - the voice - behind the station that became WYPR-FM. Like it or not, like him or not, the gregarious, fast-talking, opinionated Mr. Steiner led his guests, no matter their political, social or intellectual stripes, in lively conversations on the issues of the day. He was the personality most identified with the station's call letters and, more important, its public role. And now, with Mr. Steiner's unceremonious firing late last week (station officials cited falling ratings), WYPR listeners and members should be asking where the station's commitment lies.

Mr. Steiner's show has been a fixture at the noon hour and in the evolution of the station. He gave policymakers, personalities, pundits and everyday people a chance to weigh in and be heard. The host encouraged and respected different points of view, whether pedestrian or profound. And while Mr. Steiner sure liked to talk, and never apologized for his liberal views, his contributions to the public discourse had less to do with what he said than with what was said in his presence, often at his prodding.

Talk show hosts are supposed to stir the pot, but unlike so many commercial radio hosts, Mr. Steiner never did it with rancor or ridicule.

The conversations that played out on the Steiner show aren't less relevant because of ratings slippage. They helped listeners decide for themselves what mattered, what was worth fighting for and what wasn't, where they could make a difference in their own communities and what was better left alone.

The station's 21-member board of directors holds the WYPR license and the responsibility that comes with it, but Mr. Steiner was its brand and community radio, its selling point. Dumping Mr. Steiner puts the onus on the board to find others with serious intent and intelligence to debate the diverse issues relevant to listeners across Maryland, many of whom have contributed to its bottom line. Public radio isn't only about ratings.

WYPR President Anthony S. Brandon told listeners yesterday, "This station is always going to have public access to the airwaves. We believe very strongly that the public needs to express their views ... that are relevant to our city, to our county, to our state. That's absolutely critical to us."

And it's absolutely critical to WYPR's future and the community's support of public radio.