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.
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December 2, 2005 - While out of public office for almost 7 years, former Governor Arne Carlson still hasn't stopped thinking about how to improve government. Carlson has taken up the cause of civility in politics and responsibility in public finance and talks with MPR’s Gary Eichten about his efforts.
December 6, 2005 - 2,600 Minnesota Army National Guard troops are in Camp Shelby training for deployment in Iraq. What is on the minds of Minnesota's military personnel? Midday explores that in report profiling the Minnesota Army National Guard's First Brigade Combat Team, followed by a conversation with MPR reporter Mark Zdechlik.
January 4, 2006 - A special Voices of Minnesota program, with Minnesota's highest-ranking elder statesman , Walter Mondale in the studio talking with MPR’s Gary Eichten.
September 1, 2006 - As part of MPR Day at the Fair, former governors Wendell Anderson, Al Quie, and Arne Carlson talk politics at the Minnesota State Fair.
October 17, 2006 - As part of our Meet the Candidates series, Amy Klobuchar, DFL candidate for the U.S. Senate, explains what she would do if she gets to take Mark Dayton's place in the chamber. Klobuchar also answers listener questions.
December 7, 2006 - To mark the anniversary of Peral Harbor attack, Midday talks with local author Dave Kenny on the Minnesotans' memories of Pearl Harbor. He has written a book Minnesota Goes to War. Program includes call-in commentary and questions.
December 12, 2006 - After a quarter century overseeing Minneapolis Public Schools, longtime Minneapolis school board member Judy Farmer attends her last Minneapolis school board meeting. She visits the Midday studio to look back on her 26 years on the board and offers her thoughts on current issues in education.
December 20, 2006 - Senator-elect Amy Klobuchar joins a narrow Democratic majority in the U.S. Senate in January. What does she hope to accomplish over the next six years? Klobuchar talks about what she wants to do in Washington D.C.
February 2, 2007 - Scientists more sure than ever that people cause global warming. A panel of leading scientists have concluded with 90% certainty that people are causing global warming. What can lawmakers and individuals do to about it? Guest Elizabeth Wilson, professor of energy and environmental policy and law at the University of Minnesota's Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs discusses the reports and climate change in general.
February 26, 2007 - Republican Norm Coleman, Minnesota's senior U.S. Senator, discusses the war in Iraq and other major issues facing Congress. He also takes questions from MPR listeners.