One of the most respected folk DJs in North America has lost her job due to a station format change. Mary Cliff, host of “Traditions” on WETA in Washington, DC, has been downsized due to the station going all-classical. As the local airwaves continue to get less diverse, it is even more sad when one of the great over-the-air folk shows disappears. Internet radio cannot take up the slack for such losses.
Washington Post story on Mary Cliff
Update: 1/30: Mary Cliff has been hired by WAMU, another station in Washington, DC, to move her show to Saturday evenings from 11 pm to 1 am. It’s only 2 hours (it was 4 on WETA), and it’s later in the evening, but Mary Cliff is back on the air.
2 responses so far ↓
1 mikelicht // Jan 29, 2007 at 2:07 am
The Sunday Washington Post published a great letter by Lisa Null, “Losing Mary Cliff’s Music,” at
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/opinions/feedback/?nav=left
There’s even a place at the bottom to add comments. Why not do so, and keep this issue alive.
2 Anonymous // Mar 24, 2007 at 9:08 pm
I have listened to Mary Cliff for years and was verty sad to learn she was off the air - Shame on WETA!
As a matter of fact I will not give to them anymore over this. They were very cold to a person who had been with them for so long. Surely they could have left her in that spot.
Good for WAMU but it is a shame that She is on so late. I’m just not up during the 11-1 PM slot she now occupies. I hope she can expand her time.
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