WYPR
Encyclopedia
WYPR is a public radio station that services the Baltimore, Maryland metropolitan area. The station broadcasts on 88.1 MHz on the FM band. Its studio is in the Charles Village section of Baltimore and its transmitter is westward in the Park Heights section. The station is simulcast
in the Frederick
and Hagerstown
area on WYPF (88.1 FM) and in the Ocean City
area on WYPO (106.9 FM). Surprisingly, the two stations on 88.1 are not synchronized. WYPF's sound is about 1/2 second behind WYPR, making listening nearly impossible in the area between the two cities.
WYPR is Baltimore's National Public Radio member station, carrying content from NPR, American Public Media
(the distribution arm of Minnesota Public Radio
), Public Radio International
and the BBC World Service
(on HD2). In addition, WYPR produces several of its own programs, many of which focus on local affairs. WYPR recently added a classical music
format on its HD3 subchannel.
Starting operations in 1979 as WJHU
, owned by Johns Hopkins University
, the station had a Classical format. Over the years it progressively added more content from NPR and its partners, shifting to the format of news/talk in the daytime and overnight weekday hours, and music (mainly jazz) programming during evenings and nights. In the fall of 1998, then-WJHU added overnight coverage of World Radio Network
(WRN), which provides English-language news programs from broadcasters around the world; today the station simulcasts the BBC World Service
during the overnight. The station was sold by the university in early 2002 to Your Public Radio Corp., a locally based group of station talk hosts and listeners, and became WYPR. In 2004 Your Public Radio Corp. bought religious broadcaster WJTM in Frederick, which became a relay of WYPR with the call letters of WYPF. WYPF's signal also covers Hagersown. On July 30, 2007, Your Public Radio Corp. bought Ocean City, Maryland
alternative rock station 106.9 WRXS, which began simulcasting WYPR starting September 10, 2007. That station was renamed WYPO on October 3, 2007.
For many years, the station operated at only 10,000 watts. While this provided a decent signal to Baltimore itself and most of its close-in suburbs, many of Baltimore's outer suburbs, including Annapolis, only got a grade B signal. In 2008, it increased its power to 15,500 watts, giving it a coverage area roughly comparable to the other major Baltimore stations. However, its signal is not as strong southwest of Baltimore because it must conform its signal to protect the University of Maryland
's WMUC, which broadcasts on the same frequency. Due to its transmitter being located in northeastern Baltimore, some areas of Harford County get only a grade B signal.
, the program covers a wide range of topics selected to engage, inform, and entertain the listening audience.
Since its debut, Midday has covered a mix of the serious (politics, the economy, education) and the not-so-serious (National Grammar Day, crab cakes, film noir) with, as one listener describes it, "A certain politeness, good manners, and gentle laughter". Midday is produced by Vanessa Eskridge, Sara Prince, and Thomas Welch.
Simulcast
Simulcast, shorthand for "simultaneous broadcast", refers to programs or events broadcast across more than one medium, or more than one service on the same medium, at the same time. For example, Absolute Radio is simulcast on both AM and on satellite radio, and the BBC's Prom concerts are often...
in the Frederick
Frederick, Maryland
Frederick is a city in north-central Maryland. It is the county seat of Frederick County, the largest county by area in the state of Maryland. Frederick is an outlying community of the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is part of a greater...
and Hagerstown
Hagerstown, Maryland
Hagerstown is a city in northwestern Maryland, United States. It is the county seat of Washington County, and, by many definitions, the largest city in a region known as Western Maryland. The population of Hagerstown city proper at the 2010 census was 39,662, and the population of the...
area on WYPF (88.1 FM) and in the Ocean City
Ocean City, Maryland
Ocean City, sometimes known as OC, or OCMD, is an Atlantic Ocean resort town in Worcester County, Maryland, United States. Ocean City is widely known in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States and is a frequent destination for vacationers in that area...
area on WYPO (106.9 FM). Surprisingly, the two stations on 88.1 are not synchronized. WYPF's sound is about 1/2 second behind WYPR, making listening nearly impossible in the area between the two cities.
WYPR is Baltimore's National Public Radio member station, carrying content from NPR, American Public Media
American Public Media
American Public Media is the second largest producer of public radio programs in the United States of America after NPR. Its non-profit parent, American Public Media Group, also owns and operates radio stations in Minnesota, California, and Florida. Its station brands are Minnesota Public Radio,...
(the distribution arm of Minnesota Public Radio
Minnesota Public Radio
Minnesota Public Radio , is the flagship National Public Radio member network for the state of Minnesota. With its three services, News & Information, Classical Music and The Current, MPR operates a 42-station regional radio network in the upper Midwest serving over 8 million people...
), Public Radio International
Public Radio International
Public Radio International is a Minneapolis-based American public radio organization, with locations in Boston, New York, London and Beijing. PRI's tagline is "Hear a different voice." PRI is a major public media content creator and also distributes programs from many sources...
and the BBC World Service
BBC World Service
The BBC World Service is the world's largest international broadcaster, broadcasting in 27 languages to many parts of the world via analogue and digital shortwave, internet streaming and podcasting, satellite, FM and MW relays...
(on HD2). In addition, WYPR produces several of its own programs, many of which focus on local affairs. WYPR recently added a classical music
Classical music
Classical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...
format on its HD3 subchannel.
History
Serving the metropolitan Baltimore area and the state of Maryland, the mission of Your Public Radio is to broadcast programs of intellectual integrity and cultural merit which enrich the minds and spirits of our listeners and ultimately strengthen the communities we serve. -- WYPR Mission Statement http://www.wypr.org/About_WYPR.html
Starting operations in 1979 as WJHU
WJHU
WJHU is a radio station based in Baltimore, Maryland. The Johns Hopkins University owns the station, a Community radio station with student volunteers, who are mainly on-air deejays and other program hosts...
, owned by Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...
, the station had a Classical format. Over the years it progressively added more content from NPR and its partners, shifting to the format of news/talk in the daytime and overnight weekday hours, and music (mainly jazz) programming during evenings and nights. In the fall of 1998, then-WJHU added overnight coverage of World Radio Network
WRN Broadcast
WRN Broadcast, formerly known as WRN, is an international broadcast services company that works with television channels and radio broadcasters, media owners and brands enabling them to deliver content to target audiences worldwide....
(WRN), which provides English-language news programs from broadcasters around the world; today the station simulcasts the BBC World Service
BBC World Service
The BBC World Service is the world's largest international broadcaster, broadcasting in 27 languages to many parts of the world via analogue and digital shortwave, internet streaming and podcasting, satellite, FM and MW relays...
during the overnight. The station was sold by the university in early 2002 to Your Public Radio Corp., a locally based group of station talk hosts and listeners, and became WYPR. In 2004 Your Public Radio Corp. bought religious broadcaster WJTM in Frederick, which became a relay of WYPR with the call letters of WYPF. WYPF's signal also covers Hagersown. On July 30, 2007, Your Public Radio Corp. bought Ocean City, Maryland
Ocean City, Maryland
Ocean City, sometimes known as OC, or OCMD, is an Atlantic Ocean resort town in Worcester County, Maryland, United States. Ocean City is widely known in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States and is a frequent destination for vacationers in that area...
alternative rock station 106.9 WRXS, which began simulcasting WYPR starting September 10, 2007. That station was renamed WYPO on October 3, 2007.
For many years, the station operated at only 10,000 watts. While this provided a decent signal to Baltimore itself and most of its close-in suburbs, many of Baltimore's outer suburbs, including Annapolis, only got a grade B signal. In 2008, it increased its power to 15,500 watts, giving it a coverage area roughly comparable to the other major Baltimore stations. However, its signal is not as strong southwest of Baltimore because it must conform its signal to protect the University of Maryland
University of Maryland, College Park
The University of Maryland, College Park is a top-ranked public research university located in the city of College Park in Prince George's County, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C...
's WMUC, which broadcasts on the same frequency. Due to its transmitter being located in northeastern Baltimore, some areas of Harford County get only a grade B signal.
Weekday Schedule
- 5:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. Morning EditionMorning EditionMorning Edition is an American radio news program produced and distributed by National Public Radio . It airs weekday mornings and runs for two hours, and many stations repeat one or both hours. The show feeds live from 05:00 to 09:00 ET, with feeds and updates as required until noon...
- 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. Maryland Morning w/ Sheilah Kast
- 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Diane Rehm Show
- 12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. Midday w/ Dan Rodricks
- 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Talk of the NationTalk of the NationTalk of the Nation is a talk radio program based in the United States, produced by National Public Radio, and is broadcast nationally from 2 to 4 p.m. Eastern Time. Its focus is current events and controversial issues....
- 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Fresh AirFresh AirFresh Air is an American radio talk show broadcast on National Public Radio stations across the United States. The show is produced by WHYY-FM in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Its longtime host is Terry Gross. , the show was syndicated to 450 stations and claimed 4.5 million listeners. The show...
- 4:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. All Things ConsideredAll Things ConsideredAll Things Considered is the flagship news program on the American network National Public Radio. It was the first news program on NPR, and is broadcast live worldwide through several outlets...
- 6:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. MarketplaceMarketplace (radio program)Marketplace is a radio program that focuses on business, the economy, and events that influence them. Hosted by Kai Ryssdal, the show is produced and distributed by American Public Media, in association with the University of Southern California...
- 7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. The World
Midday with Dan Rodricks
Midday is WYPR's daily public affairs program heard from noon - 2PM, Monday through Thursday. Hosted by longtime Baltimore Sun columnist Dan RodricksDan Rodricks
Dan Rodricks is a native of Massachusetts, a columnist for the Baltimore Sun newspaper, and host of Midday, a two-hour talk show on WYPR FM 88.1, a public radio station in Baltimore. He formerly was on radio WBAL as the host of Rodricks On The Radio and co-host of The Buzz with Chip Franklin and...
, the program covers a wide range of topics selected to engage, inform, and entertain the listening audience.
Since its debut, Midday has covered a mix of the serious (politics, the economy, education) and the not-so-serious (National Grammar Day, crab cakes, film noir) with, as one listener describes it, "A certain politeness, good manners, and gentle laughter". Midday is produced by Vanessa Eskridge, Sara Prince, and Thomas Welch.