Pay at Philadelphia PBS Station Draws Criticism

November 10, 2008

Pay at Philadelphia PBS Station Draws Criticism

WHYY, Philadelphia’s public-broadcasting station, is drawing fire for what it pays its chief executive, reports The Philadelphia Inquirer.

William J. Marrazzo, WHYY’s chief executive officer, received a compensation package totaling $740,090 in the year ending June 30, 2007. His pay exceeds that of chief executives at WNET and WGBH, in New York and Boston respectively, the newspaper reported. It included $280,000 in deferred compensation that Mr. Marrazzo will receive next July if he meets performance goals, the newspaper said.

Leland Ware, vice chairman of the WHYY board and a professor of law and public policy at the University of Delaware, defends Mr. Marrazzo’s compensation. He says, “We also know how this looks to the public. But this is a deliberate strategy we adopted to maintain and grow.”

Comments

Maintain and grow? Hmmm, I wonder how many listeners will still want to write that $100 check knowing their donation is helping fuel a new arms race in pubic TV compensation. I guess the allure of taking a modest salary in exchange for the opportunity to serve a cause larger than one’s self is falling out of favor. The culture of “me-ism” is alive and well at WHYY.

— Scott Nov 10, 03:08 PM #
This sure turns me off to donating to public radio anywhere – and wonder what they pay top execs here in Chicago?? What ever happened to the concept of “serving” because it is the right thing to do? Sure people should draw salaries, but this seems a bit over the top to my way of thinking.

— Madelyn Nov 10, 03:24 PM #
This is the same person who organized a phone drive after 9/11 saying they were in danger of not meeting their annual budget because of 9/11 so would I make an extra gift? turned me off then . . . Someone’s priorities are out of whack!

— Val Nov 10, 03:54 PM #
So much for their $50 million dollar fundraiser. See if they get many more donations. Shame on Mr. Marrazzo for being so greedy. Maybe their board has learned something from this. Shame on them.

— Cathy Nov 10, 04:34 PM #
Sad,Scary,Senseless all come to mind. Most people know that public funding comes in two major forms The ordinary Joe the___ and rich that put money where it make them feel better. Public institutions know that the lions share of there income comes from the second group. Hence they chase that money mostly. What does hurt me as a Joe the ___ is they try to make me feel guilty that the place will close with out me an my friends small donations.

— Doug McKay Nov 11, 06:25 AM #
What a shame, Fresh Air from NPR comes from that station in Philadelphia. Is this a case of the well-heeled all on each other’s boards helping each other?

— David Nov 12, 11:14 AM #

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