Immediately after Mary Lucia signed-off from afternoons at Minnesota Public Radio AAA “The Current” 89.3 KCMP Minneapolis, staffers were informed of the immediate departure of Program Director Jim McGuinn.
In a memo from MPR President Duchesne Drew obtained by the Minneapolis Star-Tribune it was announced, “Jim McGuinn is no longer with Minnesota Public Radio. We are proud of the programming we delivered with Jim and are appreciative of his contributions at The Current. … MPR will remain focused on building a culture that attracts, engages and rewards talented people who share our values and passion for public service.”
The Star-Tribune reports that as Lucia signed-off from the station after she stated, “these last couple days hearing from you I know I’ve made a difference. It doesn’t matter if the company or management doesn’t feel the same way.” In a Facebook post ahead of her departure Lucia wrote, “Why I’ve made the heartbreaking decision to leave my position at The Current is a long and nuanced story. The shortest version is I’ve been trying for years to affect positive change in the company. I’ve been concerned with equity and fair treatment of all of my sisters at the station. Past, present and future. Know your worth, embrace your unique talent and voice and lift each other up.”
Minnesota Public Radio parent American Public Media CEO Jean Taylor told Bring Me The News, “Mary Lucia has been a vital member of, and contributor to, The Current for 17 years. She’s immensely gifted, has built a one-of-a-kind relationship with her listeners, and she will truly be missed. Under my leadership, we continue to strengthen American Public Media Group (APMG) culture and invest in talent, and these are top priorities. I am firmly committed to creating and sustaining a diverse, inclusive and equitable environment where all employees, including women and people of color, are respected and valued. This is critical as we seek to fulfill APMG’s mission to be an indispensable resource for our audiences and an essential public service for our communities.”
McGuinn had programmed KCMP since 2009. He previously programmed WEQX Manchester VT and KPNT St. Louis before a long run in Philadelphia where he programmed 103.9 WDRE in 1995 until its demise in 1996 and “Y100” WPLY from 1997 until its demise in 2004. He then launched webcaster Y100Rocks.com that would be merged into University of Pennsylvania AAA 88.5 WXPN as “Y-Rock on XPN“. He hosted afternoons on WXPN from 2007 until his move to KCMP.
