Longtime Bay Area Broadcaster Michael Krasny to Retire

RADIO ONLINE | Monday, November 16, 2020

Michael Krasny

Michael Krasny, a longtime Bay Area radio broadcaster and Marin County resident, has announced his retirement from KQED's "Forum," the daily call-in program he has hosted for nearly three decades. His last day on the air will be Feb. 15, exactly 28 years from the day he joined the station.

Krasny said, "I want to thank all of the listeners, guests and exceptional colleagues I've had the great fortune to encounter over the years as host of Forum. I've been unusually fortunate to sustain such a long career serving the Bay Area in a role that allows me to participate in such rich and thoughtful conversations about the topics of our times."

Krasny began his radio career in San Rafael at rocker KTIM hosting a program he called "Beyond the Hot Tub," interviewing local celebrities and rock stars such as Jerry Garcia and Grace Slick. In 1983, Krasny landed a job at ABC, where he worked in both radio and television. He joined KQED in 1993 as the host of "Forum." The two-hour morning radio program covers news, politics, health, public affairs, technology, art and culture.

"What makes Michael extraordinary is the range of interviews that he's done and been able to do well," said Scott Shafer, KQED'S politics editor. "It's just a huge spectrum of guests, from science to arts, politics, you name it."

KQED plans a national search for his replacement. Mina Kim will continue to host the 10 a.m. hour of Forum.