BALTIMORE (Map, News) - The firing of popular talk show host Marc Steiner from the city’s landmark National Public Radio affiliate, WYPR, was met with anger Monday, as a dozen loyal listeners gathered outside the station’s Charles Village headquarters to seek his return

“I think it was personal and political,” said Maria Allwine, a Green party candidate for City Council president last year who was scheduled to be a guest on Steiner’s show to discuss BG&E rate increases.

“I wonder how much influence Constellation Energy has on programming,” she asked, referring to the utility's parent company.

“We are demanding that his show be put back on the air.”

The roughly one dozen listeners gathered to protest the station’s cancellation of Steiner’s midday talk show, a mid-afternoon topical show that had been on the air since 1993.

Sue Akerman, a listener who joined the protest, said she wanted Steiner to return.

“We are demanding that his show be put back on the air.”

Station management, in a statement issued Friday afternoon, said low ratings had prompted the move. The vacant nooon to 2 pm time slot will be filled by a new program, tentatively called “Statewide.”

In a letter posted on the station’s web site, WYPR President Anthony Brandon said Steiner's show had run its course.

“You have told us through our ratings that a new way of presenting this discussion is needed,” Brandon wrote,

Employees of WYPR speaking on condition of anonymity said most of the staff was not informed of the decision to remove Steiner, leading to low morale.

Steiner, reached by phone Monday evening, said he had secured an office in Hampden and was in discussions with his attorney regarding his next move.

“There’s a lot going on right now; people are upset,” Steiner said.

Steiner was scheduled to appear on "Maryland Morning with Sheilah Kast" from 9 to 10 am today to discuss his removal, followed by an interview with Brandon.

sjanis@baltimoreexaminer.com