Tampa Bay Radio: Political Reporter Rob Lorei OUT At Non-Com WMNF

Rob Lorei, an iconic figure in Tampa Bay politics and broadcasting, has been fired from his job as news and public affairs director at WMNF 88.5 FM , the non-profit non-com station he helped found some 40 years ago.

Lorei and the station announced the move Monday, according to The Tampa Bay Times.

Lorei, 64, said he intends to continue, at least for now, another local broadcast endeavor for which he’s well known, the “Florida This Week’’ political panel show he hosts on Tampa’s WEDU Public Broadcasting System television station.

In a statement, WMNF general manager Craig Kopp said the station “has ended its long-running relationship” with Lorei.  “We are deeply grateful to Rob for all he has done for WMNF. … We wish Rob well in all his future endeavors.”

The statement said the station will continue its focus on “local issues and how national and international issues affect the Tampa Bay area,” and would undertake a national search for a news director.

In an interview, Kopp said the firing was an attempt to help move WMNF into “a new world” in news media beyond just radio broadcasting.

Lorei said in an interview he hopes to remain in Tampa. He said he doesn’t want to leave “the station I love,” and that the reasons Kopp gave for firing him were “not factual.”

Lorei said Kopp told him the station’s listening audience was low between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., when many public affairs shows air, that “I hadn’t been supervising the news and public affairs volunteers as he wanted, and that I didn’t post enough on Facebook.”

Lorei is known for hosting interview and call-in shows on WMNF as well as interviews and panel discussions on Florida This Week, and for moderating political forums and debates.