For many who have listened to the airwaves over the previous decades, Gary Eichten’s voice is synonymous to Minnesota Public Radio. The retired MPR News editor-at-large Eichten has worn many hats during his 40-plus-year career at MPR, including news director, special events producer, and station manager. He routinely served as host for Minnesota Public Radio's live-special events news coverage, and has hosted all of the major news programs on Minnesota Public Radio, including Midday (which he hosted for more than 20 years!).
It all began on April Fool’s Day in 1967, when Eichten started his career at Minnesota Public Radio as a student announcer at Collegeville’s KSJR, MPR’s first station. He became the station’s one-man news department and quickly found that turning up his headphones forced him to speak more intimately, which gave him that radio voice.
In the fall of 1992, Eichten moved from hosting the regional late-afternoon edition of All Things Considered to hosting Midday. In his new role, Eichten personified the art of hosting, a tradition begun by the program’s previous host, Bob Potter. It also solidified Gary’s distinct tone and insightful questions that listeners came to hear as being MPR.
As Midday host, Eichten let his guests answer those questions and sought to understand their responses. With daily early morning research, his respectful but direct on-air style, and assistance from his long-time producer Sara Meyer, Eichten found himself making memorable radio…from a poignant sign-off of the original regional “All Things Considered,” a live on-air moment with a contentious Governor Ventura, to even a pledge drive.
Among the honors Eichten received during his MPR career is the Corporation for Public Broadcasting Award for Best Local News Program and the prestigious 2011 Graven Award by the Premack Public Affairs Journalism Awards Board for his contribution to excellence in the journalism profession. He also assisted in the development of two Peabody award-winning documentaries. In 2007, Eichten was inducted into the Pavek Museum of Broadcasting's Hall of Fame.
Simply put, Mr. Eichten is a Minnesota treasure, on and off the air.
This large curation is indicative of the breadth of that work.
April 29, 1996 - Jerrold Peterson, economist at University of Minnesota-Duluth, discusses the state of economy in northern Minnesota with the decline of mining operations in the region as a major employer.
May 1, 1996 - Local sports commentator Howard Sinker gives his impressions of the Minnesota Twins during the first month of 1996 MLB season.
May 13, 1996 - Tim Giago, publisher of Lakota Times, comments on Chip Wadena, tribal gaming, and the varied forms and challenges of tribal government.
May 20, 1996 - Midday speaks with Minnesota 8th District Congressman Jim Oberstar, whose in the studio to talk about aviation safety, the BWCA, the congressional debate over the budget, and more. Oberstar, the senior member of Minnesota's congressional delegation, also answers listener questions.
June 3, 1996 - Midday’s Gary Eichten talks with with veteran broadcast journalist Sylvia Poggioli, who has been National Public Radio's Central Europe correspondent for years. Poggioli covered the civil war in the former Yugoslavia. She is in the studio to talk about post Cold War Europe, life as a foreign correspondent, and answers listener questions.
June 5, 1996 - Spike Jones shares his views on why Black community members are wary to communicate with Minnesota police officers. Jones discusses efforts by residents in acting independently of police to curtail crime and bring about a safer environment in neighborhoods.
June 6, 1996 - Midday discusses same-sex marriage and the Defense of Marriage Act. MPR’s Gary Eichten gets different perspectives on the ‘definition’ of same-sex marriage from guests Fritz Knaak, attorney and former State Senator; and Minneapolis family law attorney Suzanne Borne. Knaak and Borne also answer listener questions.
June 7, 1996 - MPR’s Gary Eichten presents a retrospective of 1978 Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party State Convention. It was noted for a fierce battle within the DFL party over the Boundary Waters Canoe Area and Voyageurs National Park in northern Minnesota. It fractured the party and paved the way for a Republican sweep in the November general election.
June 19, 1996 - On this Midday program, a discussion on religion and spirituality in the 1990s and the role of churches in society with guest Al Quie, former Minnesota Governor and Chairman of the Greater Twin Cities Billy Graham Crusade. Quie also answers listener questions.
June 26, 1996 - The Reform Party's endorsed candidate for the U.S. Senate, Dean Barkley, is on Midday to answer listener questions, as part of a series of programs with the candidates for U.S. Senate which will be running on Midday during summer and fall.