The name of the station derives itself from the theme of World Youth Day 2002, "You are the salt of the earth... you are the light of the world," part of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:13-14). The National Director of WYD 2002, Fr. Thomas Rosica, was the chief executive officer of Salt and Light Catholic Media Foundation until his resignation on June 17, 2018 after numerous instances of plagiarism were revealed. Fr. Alan J. Fogarty, S.J., has been appointed Chief Executive Officer effective August 1, 2020.