Morning radio host Al Mascitti out at WDEL
Longtime morning radio host and former News Journal reporter and columnist Al Mascitti will no longer greet morning listeners on radio station WDEL.
General Manager Mike Reath said the decision comes with a number of changes to the station, which will now share more programs with downstate station Delaware 105.9. The "Susan Monday Show" took the place of the "Al Mascitti Show" Monday and is broadcast across both stations, Reath said.
"Our goal is to superserve the state of Delaware," Reath said. "So we are sharing some resources and shows."
The general manager did not cite a specific incident that led to Mascitti's removal, and Reath said the station plans to maintain a relationship with the former host. He may fill in from time to time, Reath added.
As for the decision, Reath said there's been some response from listeners.
"I wouldn't say there's been pushback from listeners," he said. "But if you're a good talk host, you have people that love you and people that hate you."
Mascitti, was the morning liberal to Rick Jensen's afternoon conservative show on WDEL. Jensen's show will continue. Mascitti, who has been with the radio station for more than 10 years in the 9 a.m. to noon time slot, did not return calls for comment Monday.
Reath went on to say that WDEL and its sister station in Sussex County have expanded over the past year in terms of reporters, both audio and video oriented, and are now coordinating between the two news departments. WDEL and Delaware 105.9, both owned by the Delmarva Broadcasting Company, plan to "generate or to increase the amount of unique content that we create for broadcast and for the web," Reath said, all while offering it for free.
"We see this as a great opportunity," he said.
Contact Brittany Horn at (302) 324-2771 or bhorn@delawareonline.com. Follow her on Twitter at @brittanyhorn.