WMAL dropping Dr. Laura talk show

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Radio station WMAL-AM (630) will drop Laura Schlessinger's syndicated advice show in mid-February and replace it with a local talk show hosted by Michael Graham, formerly of rival WTNT-AM (570).

"Although Dr. Laura had a very loyal following, we believe that WMAL's programming should reflect the local issues affecting our community," said Chris J. Berry, WMAL's president and general manager, who announced the schedule change yesterday.

WMAL airs Mrs. Schlessinger's program weekdays from 10 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. The station, which ABC owns, ranked sixth among listeners 12 and older during middays in the fall, up from ninth place in fall 2002, according to the most recent Arbitron Inc. research.

Over the years, she has been criticized for her harsh style and condemnation of homosexuality.

When stations in other cities have dropped Mrs. Schlessinger's program, rival stations have picked it up, said Michael Harrison, publisher of Talkers, an industry trade magazine. "Laura Schlessinger is a big enough and successful enough act in this business that I'm sure another station in D.C. will pick her up," he said.

WMAL's contract to carry Mrs. Schlessinger ended late last month. A spokeswoman for Premiere Radio Networks Inc., which syndicates the show, could not be reached for comment.