According to CEO and President Bill Marrazzo, tough decisions have to be made to keep the station viable. “Our goal is to keep all these good people on the payroll,” he says. “Our goal for the community is to keep WHYY in a fiscally sound condition.”

At a time when the U.S. House considers slashing public-television funding, some suggest local cost-cutting could start with spending less money on Marrazzo himself. A 2004 Forbes article, “No Wonder They Need to Raise Money All the Time,” cited the high incomes of public broadcasting CEOs and listed the country’s highest public radio and TV salaries. Marrazzo’s topped the list.

According to the most recent tax documents available in WHYY’s public records, Marrazzo’s salary, benefits and expense account for FY2004 totaled $466,640. By comparison, Fresh Air’s Terry Gross received a package for that year totalling $174,266. Radio Times’ Marty Moss-Coane received $112,023.

WHYY spokeswoman Anna Christopher e-mailed that Marrazzo’s salary is set by the board of directors, and that the 4-percent raise he received in 2006 was based on “outperforming industry benchmarks” in audience growth and fundraising. Those achievements include a 54-percent increase in radio audience between 2000 and 2004. Board treasurer Robert Auritt commented that “based on the board’s conducting third-party national compensation studies, we feel his salary is appropriate given his level of achievement for our organization.”

Still, [Union Rep Thad] Kirk isn’t satisfied. “It’s difficult when they say there’s no money left and you see the raises that are being handed out,” he says, blaming the deterioration of the relationship between union and management on the board of directors. Then again, he adds, “Marrazzo is always welcome to decline his raises.”

CP: Looks Like We Got Ourselves A Convoy!
Previously: Why We Ask Why

This entry was posted on Friday, June 30th, 2006 at 1:36 pm.