After nearly a decade on air every day, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Stephen Henderson announced Wednesday he is leaving Detroit’s public radio station. His show “Created Equal,” a daily examination of the tensions between inequality and opportunity in America, will be discontinued, according to a statement from WDET-FM.
Henderson said in a statement on social media that he chose to leave due to “disinvestment” by the station.
“I’ve made this decision in response to nearly three years of disinvestment by the station in the show, and my work and ideas,” he said in a Facebook post. “That culminated during recent contract negotiations when the station proposed cutting the show back to once a week, with no full-time staff assigned.”
The last episode of Created Equal will air on Friday.
Henderson’s departure comes amid a host of programming changes at WDET that the station outlined Wednesday.
The switchover will begin Monday with an expanded “Morning Edition” followed by a two-hour long “The Metro” from 10 a.m. to noon. “On Point” will move to weeknights from 7-8 p.m. and a new program, “The Middle” with Jeremy Hobson, focused on current affairs will air on Saturdays at 7 a.m. “Fresh Air” will also add a Friday episode. “On the Media” will also be discontinued.
WDET Program Director Adam Fox said in the statement that the station remains committed to community reporting.
“We want to thank and acknowledge Stephen Henderson for his important contributions to our city and our station. Although Created Equal will no longer be a part of our schedule, WDET remains committed to pursuing stories that highlight the challenges of inequality and the promise of opportunity in our communities, throughout our programming and journalism,” Fox said. “ We are extremely proud and grateful for Stephen’s tenure at WDET, and we know Stephen’s commitment to our community will continue.”
Henderson is the founder of BridgeDetroit and remains its Executive Advisor, helping shape the future of the organization and guide coverage plans. He is also the host of “American Black Journal” and is a contributor to “One Detroit” on Detroit PBS, the public television station.
“My work with Detroit News Editorial Page Editor Nolan Finley at our Great Lakes Civility Project also continues, and Wayne State University Press will publish a book we’ve co-written in Spring 2025,” said the former Detroit Free Press editorial page editor and columnist.
Henderson noted the financial situation at the radio station in his statement.
“The station faces severe financial difficulties and must make difficult decisions about which programming to keep, and support. But the proposed cuts to Created Equal represent, in my judgment, an unsustainable withdrawal of commitment to the show (the station’s most-listened-to local program) and its mission.” Henderson said. “Budgets are moral documents – statements of our values and priorities, reflections of the things we hold dear and those we see as expendable. WDET has chosen not to give Created Equal what it needs to thrive.”
WDET is gearing up for its Holiday On-Air Fundraiser, a major source of funding for the station throughout the year. The fundraiser begins Dec. 3 and runs through Dec. 7.
General Manager Mary Zatina said in the statement that WDET leadership made the choice to implement the program and staffing changes before the fundraiser as a way of being transparent with supporters.
“Growing listener and member bases and delivering the exceptional programming expected from WDET Public Radio is important as we improve our financial stability for the next 75 years serving Detroit,” Zatina said. “WDET ended Fiscal 2024 in a deficit, and we are working hard to improve our financial position.”
See an updated program schedule here.
Horrified to hear that one of the most educational sources of important news will be gone so quickly. Salt in the wounds inflicted during this terrible era in our society.
Welp , he’s the only reason why I listen . Guess I’ll be moving on .
Agree. He is, by far, one of, if not the most, intelligent, insightful, interesting hosts and interviewers in local media. Feels like a particularly hard loss right now.
Me too! I have been a regular listener of Stephen Henderson’s show for years. I looked to the Created Equal each morning. Oh well! Money and change. Change happens! Where do I listen now?
Don’t suppose he’d continue to do a “podcast” version still with bridge Detroit?
Hate to see you go from WDET but I understand. Won’t be the same without you.
We need Stephen on the air every day. How can we make that happen?
How about the UAW picking up the tab for Stephen’s show…. ?
( Really, they oughta’ buy the station BACK ( they GAVE it to Wayne State Univ. In 1949… ) & breathe new life into WDET before it accidentally gets turned into really a bad imitation of WWJ !
The sleep-walking, WDET management team definitely wins the all-time, ‘Tin-Ear’ trophy for creating this mess !
Uh… here’s a good idea ! Let’s create a useless vacuum by CUTTING fascinating ,spontaneous & smart live conversations between Stephen Henderson & an endless array of interesting guests ! We can save money & make it up to our disappointed ex-listeners by DOUBLING DOWN on traffic bulletins, weather reports, and …oh yeah… frequent reminders of what time it is !! ( … the time keeps changing too ! It’s never boring 😉
That’ll drag ‘em all back to WDET for sure .
WDET… your convenient , go-to ‘Time & Weather’ resource whenever you lose or misplace yer damn phone !
-suerté, JJ ( union electrician @ Detroit )
SO sad to hear this. I have always been so amazed at how level headed and calm Steven could remain, while being hit with very ugly and racist comments, by some interviewees. He always stayed cool and kept the conversation civil; while I, on the other hand, would be swearing at my radio, at the top of my lungs. Godspeed Steven. I hope that you will be appreciated wherever you land. You are a class act❣️
I have been a loyal listener for over 15yrs. Stephen Henderson’s show was a staple of your radio station and a was a local resource of local and national topics and how these affected the Detroit metro community. This is a disappointing blow and I will seriously reconsider my support of this station.
Thank you Mr. Henderson my favorite Detroit, Mi information source, thankful for bridgedetroit and pbs Black Journal, I will continue to follow you!
Oh no! My favorite “hate-listen” has left the air… Honestly, I did enjoy this show, and I listened almost every day, but only because most of the viewpoints were so far out in left field. Reminded me that are people out there that think waaaaayy differently than I do. I hope you land on your feet soon, Mr. Henderson.
College philosophy, professor once said to us as a class.” The most important book in your life may will be the one that you didn’t read.“ In the world of books, authors thoughts and analysis Stephen Henderson curation is top of the ladder! I worried that we would lose him one day from the local market because the national market could use his wisdom. Sad for a moment as Metro Detroit’s. But I’m sure there will be next moments for Stephen an I’ll be there.
I often started conversations with “on Stephen Henderson’s show today, I was surprised to learn,” and similar. I will miss Henderson SO HARD.
Detroit Today was the most informative, intelligent and well researched daily discussion program on NPR, including the national offerings. It was clear when Created Equal had the opening fifteen minutes filler discussion and the Friday rehash clips show that the writing was on the wall. Thank you Mr.Henderson, and I hope you and your team will be given the national recognition you richly deserve.
I am very disappointed that WDET decided not to give Stephenson Henderson’s program Created Equal the support it deserves, especially given the show’s informative and popular nature. Created gave me a platform and perspective that I have not found anywhere else.
Fact-check: the book mentioned in this article (“My work with Detroit News Editorial Page Editor Nolan Finley at our Great Lakes Civility Project also continues, and Wayne State University Press will publish a book we’ve co-written in Spring 2025,” said the former Detroit Free Press editorial page editor and columnist.) is co-authored by Henderson, Finley and Lynne Golodner. See the project website for details. https://greatlakescivilityproject.com/lynne-golodner/
A great loss for the station-that already lacks diversity!